Jamaica Plain District City Councilor Matt O'Malley Training for Boston Marathon

Being a non-election year for the Boston City Council, District 6 councilor Matt O'Malley isn't facing a gruelling marathon campaign season this fall. Instead, he'll just run an actual gruelling marathon this spring.

O'Malley is training to run the Boston Marathon in April. It will mark his sixth 26.2 mile dash overall, and his fifth on Patriots' Day.

"I'm a bit of a clydesdale," joked O'Malley. "I'm slow but I come on strong at the end."

O'Malley last ran the race in 2010, but took last year off. Last spring was his first as a councilor, and he said the demands of the job made it difficult for him to make time for training. This year, however, he's been able to consolidate training with his duties as an elected official, he said.

"I run around the district," he said. "The Parkway, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale all have great places to run. I'm alone with my thoughts for a couple hours, and I've been able to notice some potholes" and other problems that he's reported to the city. "It's a great way to really see the district," he added.

District 6 includes most of JP and West Roxbury.

O'Malley, who lives in Jamaica Plain, has also been training with fellow Parkway marathoners, including members of the , he said. This has afforded him the opportunity to discuss district issues with constituents while training, he said.

O'Malley is raising money for Project Hope as part of his training. The Boston-based non-profit, according to its website, "provides low-income women with children with access to education, jobs, housing, and emergency services; fosters their personal transformation; and works for broader systems change."

The Boston Marathon will be run April 16 this year.

[Editor's note: Here's a link if you'd like to donate to the team.]