Jason, Ryan and Brian C. at the 2021 Boston Marathon.
The 129th Boston Marathon is set to take place on April 21, and Rogue Racer Ryan A. is set to run his 10th straight Boston Marathon. Runners who finish 10 straight Boston Marathons only have to qualify for the marathon to get in if they continue their streak every year. We caught up with Ryan to ask him about the Boston Marathon and what it means to him.
When did the idea of running 10 Boston Marathons in a row come across your radar? I started considering the idea of getting to 10 straight Boston Marathons after I had completed about three in a row. It took me four years to qualify for Boston and after running my first one in 2016, I made it a priority to continue to go back. I honestly did not think I would get to 10 straight but I am very grateful that I have gotten to this point.
What has been the biggest challenge of getting to your 10th straight Boston Marathon? Training for Boston every winter has been challenging due to the weather combined with added intensity of needing to get hill work in as well. The course is challenging and over the years it really beat up my body. I think that over time I have adapted to the demands of the course as I have been training with hills for a while and have a good feel for how to pace the course.
What is your Boston PR? 2023: 2:55:24
What are your most memorable Boston races so far and why?
- 2016: This was my first Boston Marathon, and it will always be my most special one. All my siblings and my kids came out to watch me run the marathon and I got to spend time with them before and after the race. I was not prepared for the downhills, and my quads were shredded by mile 17. It was a warm day, and my body was pretty destroyed but I was so thrilled to be racing my first Boston that I still enjoyed the experience very much. Ironically, I was able to locate my friend and teammate Jason H at the end of the race as we were turning left onto Boylston and we finished the race together which was very cool.
- 2018: This was the year where the weather was the worst that I have experienced in any race in my life. We were facing pouring rain and 30-40mph winds in cold conditions. Waiting around for the race to start was very challenging as it was cold and rainy, and everyone was cold before they even started. I wish that I had done the charter bus that year. LOL. When I started the race, my calves were so cold and tight that I felt off balance for the first few miles. At around mile 17, I experienced a hip strain which slowed my pace and made the race extra challenging. I was grateful to finish that one and made my way to the medical tent to get treated for hypothermia.
- 2021: This was a unique Boston Marathon in that it was moved to October due to Covid. This made for a very memorable experience in that there was no official wave starts and basically you just went up and started running when you felt like it. LOL. I got some great pictures with my friends and teammates Jason H and Brian C. It was a warm day but a very good experience. This was the first Boston where I finally broke 3 hours.
- 2023: This was a very memorable Boston for me. My sister traveled from Connecticut to visit and watch me race which was nice. One of her good friends used to come out and cheer me on each year on the Boston course and he passed away the previous fall. We were able to make a nice visit to his grave site and pay our respects. I dedicated this race to him and felt his presence during the race. The race came together very well, and I managed to get a Boston PR. I was able to rebound from a hamstring issue a couple weeks before after taking a week off and I was really pleased with how the race came together.
What do you like about running Boston over other marathons? I really like the tradition of Boston. It is the oldest marathon in history and the town is very supportive and proud of the marathon. Boston is my favorite race overall due to the storied history and the positive energy that surrounds Patriots Day in Boston.
Do you intend to keep running Boston next year if you achieve the goal of 10 straight races this year? At this point I am considering continuing to run Boston but I also like the idea of traveling to other areas of the country to participate in a different spring race. At this point, I am keeping my options open.
What is your favorite part of the course? My favorite part of the course aside from turning left on Boylston to get to the finish is the Wellesley Scream Tunnel. You can hear the girls cheering from a mile away and it provides a nice lift at around the halfway mark of the race.
What advice do you have for people who have never run Boston before? Train for the hills and make sure to get a fair amount of downhill training in. I feel that one of the most challenging aspects of Boston is the consistent hills throughout which can take its toll on the body. My main advice is to enjoy the experience and take it all in.
