Marathon runners conquer Boston, Heartbreak Hill

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Martha Petersante-Gioia
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
BOSTON (AFPN) --  Runners from around the world hit the streets of Boston and its suburbs April 17 on a winding, 26.2-mile course that is the Boston Marathon -- a Patriot's Day tradition here in "The Hub."

Mixed in with the world's elite sneakers pounding the pavement, were runners from the Air Force and the military community, including Air Force Academy cadets.

Some experienced the pain of "Heartbreak Hill" in Newton, Mass., for the first time as others passed the summit again, looking up at the statue of Johnny Kelley for inspiration.

Mr. Kelley holds the record for the most Boston Marathons completed with 61 -- he won in 1935 and 1945.

For one captain from Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., the dream of finishing Boston was something she couldn't pass up, especially after watching a friend complete last year.

"This was my first time running Boston," said Capt. Sabine Peters, Electronic Systems Center financial management office. "It was a wonderful experience with all the crowds and people. Yes, it was a challenge -- any marathon is -- but it was worth it."

When asked about Heartbreak Hill, this Boston newbie revealed it was all a mental game.

"There is definitely hype and anticipation with Heartbreak Hill but you set yourself up -- I stopped for a Gatorade and thought, 'I'll get this and I'm good,' and then at the next stop, I got energy gel and thought, 'OK, I can do this.'

"I ran up Heartbreak Hill, thinking, 'No, I'm not going to let you get me.' And I didn't," she said.

It was this motivation to finish that carried Captain Peters through those last six miles and around the corner onto Boylston Street.

"Running to the finishing line you really get emotional. I never saw myself as a marathon runner," she said. But there she was, "surrounded by the crowd, the clock ticking, it was just 'wow' -- your legs are in pain, screaming at you to stop, but you're thinking, 'No, I will finish.'"

And she did -- in 4 hours, 2 minutes, 26 seconds -- a full 30 minutes under her goal.

The Boston Marathon isn't just an individual event like some may think. Teams were also competing in both open and master's events. This year the Air Force entered four runners in the men's open competition -- 2nd Lt. Andrew Boone, 1st Lt. Levi Severson, and Lt. Col. Jon Schoenberg from Hanscom, and Lt. Col. Mark Cucuzzella from Andrews AFB, Md.

Together, these Airmen paced at sub-6 minute miles to run into a second place finish overall in the Men's Open competition with a combined time of 7:41:55.

Keeping with the team mindset many viewers watching this event were introduced to "Team Hoyt" -- a father and son team that has participated in Boston since 1981. Dick Hoyt pushes his son, Rick, who cannot walk or talk, in a wheelchair for the entire race. However, running quietly out of the media spotlight in the second wave of people was Ray Phillips of the ESC contracting office, competing in his 50th marathon.

Mr. Phillips is partnered through the Boston Children's Hospital charity, with 10-year-old Andy Martin Jr., who was born with spina bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down.

The two met in 2000 when Andy was 4 years old and have continued to finish together for the last 600 yards for the past six years.

"His positive attitude on life is an inspiration to me," Mr. Phillips said. "When I'm on the course, I can't let him down. He's patiently waiting for me at the corner. Andy gets there at 9 a.m., and (knowing this) keeps me going -- it gives me a purpose for running and finishing.

"The big message here isn't me running a marathon; it's Andy and our partnership," he said. "Since he was 4, Andy has wanted to do this. He keeps planning and looking forward to 2014, when he'll meet the age requirement to be a wheelchair entrant.

"One of the biggest moments for me was when he told me he wanted to enter and we'd continue to finish together. If he's strong enough, I'll be the one waiting at the corner for him and if not, then we'll do the entire course together, side by side," he said.

There are only eight more marathons to go until 2014 when Mr. Phillips will accompany Andy but until that day comes, he will stop at the corner of Hereford and Boylston Street to pick up inspiration and a friend for those last strides, together. 

These athletes, though they may be tired and sore, now can say, "I finished Boston."