WORCESTER, Mass. - A mom to three children, running a CVS Pharmacy and now training to run the Boston Marathon - It’s the challenge Vicki Saengkheune has given herself.

"You can achieve anything you set your mind to, right," Saengkheune said. "So no matter how hard it sounds, as long as you stay committed, diligent, and disciplined, I really feel like you can achieve anything beyond your wildest dreams."

When Saengkheune takes off from the start line, it will only be her second time being at the marathon. Her first time she was a spectator in 2013, the year of the bombing.

"I was on the phone with my boyfriend, high school sweetheart and now husband at the time," she said. "I remember the call dropped because the horrific bombings went off. But I remember during that phone call, I had told him, I was like: 'one day, I'm going to run this.'"

Fast forward a decade, she's making it a reality. But, it's a different tragedy bringing running into her life. In 2016, Vanessa Marcotte was killed while out for a jog in Princeton. Saengkheune grew up with Vanessa, and her death was hard to come to grips with.

"It's so unfair that she doesn't get to have this future," Saengkheune said. "Like, she doesn't get to have kids, she doesn't get to have this fulfilling life that she so much deserved."

Looking for a new hobby following Vanessa's death, Saengkheune looked to running. This year, she will represent the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation at the marathon.

"I am so inspired by the foundation's mission to advocate for a world where women live boldly and fearlessly," she said. 

Saengkheune said she has kept her goals at a minimum, as she doesn't want to create an opportunity for disappointment. But, she said ultimately, she just wants to finish the 26.2 mile race, not just for herself, but for Vanessa and the foundation.

"Not everyone gets the opportunity to run Boston," said Saengkheune. "I'm going to make sure that I give it my all for all those people."