Balancing Priorities
Planning ahead helps Francesca fit in work, family, and training. Training, she said, “is an anchor in my life.” Even on unusual days like Harvard’s Commencement.
 
“Training is a priority to me…..I needed to run 7 miles and swim 40 laps on Commencement day.”
 
According to plan, she attended Commencement in full regalia, with an ermine cloak earned with her Ph.D. in Statistics from the University of Padua, Italy.
 
She ran 7 miles at 5:30 a.m., before the celebration and the gathering of Harvard faculty march would begin.

Running a 5 lapper on the Brookline Reservoir, training for a marathon.....

Honoring and celebrating with students and faculty were important. As was her swim. Commencement over, during the lunch break she ran to Malkin Athletic Center in full regalia. She had 60 minutes to change, swim, and return to Commencement. She was wearing the swim suit under the regalia – which – you can imagine – surprised the pool attendant.
 
She swam. 

42 laps, with 10 X 100s and 10 X 50s

She ran back to Commencement. 

And continued to enjoy its celebrations.

With her husband Harvard Professor of Biostatistics Giovanni Parmigiani, and others.....