At least not easily.

Six weeks is a long time to hold a secret.

“We couldn’t email and I didn’t want to make a paper trail,” he said.

But just before 9:30 a.m. Thursday, the hard work paid off.

Brooke Adams is greeted by some of the students at Southwestern Elementary School on Thursday. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Assistant principal Brooke Adams entered the gymnasium, saw the hundreds of students and her colleagues cheering, heard the music playing — “The Final Countdown” — and covered her face with her hands.

For the 29-year-old Randolph native and distance runner extraordinaire, this is one finish line she never could have imagined crossing.

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Brooke, along with four friends, leaves Saturday for Japan where she will run in the Tokyo Marathon on Feb. 25. It will mark, for her, the completion of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which is a series consisting of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world — Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Tokyo.

“I’m just so proud of her,” said her father, David Adams, who joined his wife, Lisa, in the celebration yesterday. “She always says I’m her inspiration, but she’s my inspiration.”

Pictured are some of the more than 600 students who attended the assembly. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

See ADAMS, Page B3

Brooke started running marathons after returning to Randolph to teach in 2012 after college. Needing a hobby and inspired by her father, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, she took up the sport in earnest.

“My father always told me, ‘Don’t take your health for granted,'” she said. “He’s always been a big motivator and super supportive.”

With that as a springboard, Brooke has taken on road races near and far ever since. She will run in the Boston Marathon for the fourth time in April; and she’s successfully broken three hours in Boston, Chicago, New York and London. The only time she’s failed to finish in under three hours was in Berlin.

“The marathon is the most rewarding,” Brooke said. “You train for six months and you experience every step of 26.2 miles.”

Joining in the celebration for Brooke Adams, back right, are her father, David, in front; and in back, from the left, Judy Porpiglia; and Brooke’s mother, Lisa. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

She’ll have company next weekend, too.

Joining her in the Tokyo run will be Sinclairville resident Judy Porpiglia, 48, who has successfully completed the Boston, Chicago and New York marathons. Knee surgery prevented her from keeping the same “Majors” schedule that Adams has, but Porpiglia plans to complete that one day, too. Jen Giebner, a teacher at Pine Valley Central School, also plans to run the Tokyo Marathon, Brooke said, while Judy’s husband, Mike, and another friend, Michelle Carlberg of Frewsburg, will be there for moral support.

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The assembly went off without a hitch yesterday.

The staff and faculty wore specially designed T-shirts, members of the Southwestern High School band played and Brooke, well, beamed throughout.

“This is a really big deal and a really big accomplishment,” said teachers Sarah Rounds and Shannon Sauder, who spearheaded the surprise. “The students and staff all love her and we just wanted her to know how much we support her.”

Added Langworthy: “It’s a great lesson for all the kids on what hard work and dedication can do for you. Those are lessons we’re always trying to teach, even at the youngest ages.”

Some of the students even took to the microphone and delivered a message to Brooke that included:

“We wish you safe travels.”

“We wish you fast feet.”

“We wish you strong muscles.”

“We wish you a focused mind.”

“We wish you a determined spirit.”

“We wish you a proud heart.”

Brooke’s heart was already proud, because of the school where she works.

“I’m just so overwhelmed with how awesome you guys all are,” she told the gathering of more than 600. “I’m blessed to teach at the best school ever (with) all these amazing teachers and students.”

Later, in a private conversation with a reporter, she offered this:

“I’m just blown away. I feel very loved.”