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Sports

NK Residents Ready to Tackle the Boston Marathon

If you’ve ever witnessed the Boston Marathon first-hand, you’ve probably been struck by just how fast a pace the lead runners maintain over the 26.2 mile course to the finish line. Television doesn’t capture it properly.

To see these people sprint past at a seemingly unsustainable pace over such a long course is to gain a new appreciation for what they’ve accomplished as athletes.

Then again, the lead runners aren’t the only ones worthy of fantastical appreciation. The everyday folks who hold down regular jobs and yet still find a way to adhere to a grueling training regimen during the harsh winter months ultimately finish that harsh hill-laden course deserve every bit as much of our applause.

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North Kingstown Patch recently caught up with six North Kingstown residents who will be participating in the legendary race on Monday. Here’s what each had to say about their unique experiences and expectations.

Ken Abrams

Age: 55

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Profession: Veterinary ophthalmologist (specialized veterinarian for pets with eye diseases)

Qualifying time: 3:29:52

Have you run marathons before this one?

“Yes. I’d done a lot of long distance cycling events but never a long-distance marathon until three years ago when I did the one at Disney. I was really lucky in that I qualified for Boston in that first marathon so I figured if I qualified for Boston, I had to do it. Since then, I’ve repeated that Disney/Boston pattern. This upcoming one will be my sixth marathon total, three of them being in Boston.”

So you had this fitness level in place from being a long-distance cyclist and you were able to qualify as marathon runner your first time out?

“Right. I made it by less than a minute. I really didn’t have Boston as a goal in that first one but I knew what my qualifying time was and as I was getting later and later into the race at Disney, I saw that it was possible so I went for it and made it. I was pretty lucky.”

What motivated you to come back to Boston this year and do it?

“It’s like participating in the World Series of running. For me on the bike it would be like an impossible dream of being in the Tour de France with Lance Armstrong but as a runner I can be part of it with the best runners in the world.”

Patrick Langone

Age: 33

Profession: Complex manager for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney

How many have you run so far?

“I’ve never ran a marathon. This is my first one.”

Are you running it for a cause?

“I am. I’m running it for the Perkins School for the Blind.”

What inspired to run this as your first marathon?

“I’ve actually lost about 96 pounds in the last year and a half. I started running when I started on my diet. I just kept running and losing more weight and I fell in love with running. I ran my first ever 5K last March and I loved the racing atmosphere so I went on to do a whole bunch of races last year. After awhile, I started thinking about running a marathon and Boston seemed like the best one because I grew up in the Boston area, went to school in Boston and I thought the Perkins School for the Blind would be a great organization to run for because both of my parents are involved in eye care.”

Fredric Silverblatt

Age: 73

Profession: Physician

Qualifying time: 4:21:31

Personal tidbit: Dr. Silverblatt finished first in his age group in the New Bedford half-marathon last year.

How many marathons have you run so far?

“I’d say about 25. This is my third time at Boston.”

What inspires you to run marathons, and this one in particular?

“I’m actually a tri-athlete and I’m planning to do my first Iron Man in November. I wanted to use this as a springboard for my training so I’ve been working out all winter for the marathon. I’m hoping to be in pretty good shape to start my triathlon training from there.”

Where is the triathlon going to be?

“In Panama City. I‘m 73 years old so it’s an ambitious goal. I’ve done a bunch of half-irons. I started out in college and high school as a swimmer so I’m pretty confident in that area and I’ve done all these marathons so I’ve been working up on my running. The cycling is the part that I need to work on.”

Kristi Miller

Profession: Physical therapist

Qualifying time: 3:36:31

Personal tidbit: Kristi and her fiancé bought a house together in North Kingstown last March.

How many marathons have you run so far and what led you to run Boston this year?

“My fiancé (Curt Mason) and I will both be running Boston this year for the first time.  We both qualified at the Indiana marathon back in October while visiting his family. Boston will be our fifth marathon. We have both always wanted to run Boston as avid runners and tri-athletes.  I personally have wanted to run in the Boston Marathon since I was a college student at Northeastern University.  I always enjoyed cheering on the runners and am so excited to be on the other end as a participant this year.”

Linda Hurteau

Qualifying time: 3:50:10

What’s your marathon experience?

“This will be my third time running Boston.  I ran it in 2008 and 2010.  I actually qualified for Boston this year when I ran Boston last year.  This is my 13th marathon, I think. I have been running for about 30 years and love the challenge of a marathon.  The Boston Marathon is especially challenging because training has to be done in the winter and this winter has been extremely difficult.  Because there are qualifying times and is the oldest annual marathon, it is special to be able to run Boston.  The course is difficult and heartbreak hill can be just that – heartbreaking!”

Have you done any running for charities?

“Over the past few years, I’ve run for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.  I went to Alaska with the team in 2007 and ran the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon, and in the 2009 Nike Women's Marathon.  Those two events were run for Payton Watson, who lived in NK and tragically passed away from her disease.  I ran in honor of her when I ran Alaska and in memory of her when I ran Nike.”

Ian Kulin

Profession: Project Manager at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Qualifying time: 2:58:49

How has your training been going?

"I am actually in Turkey on Dr. Robert Ballard's ship the E/V Nautilus until five days before the race. I did not plan it this way so it makes for a difficult training schedule.”

What’s your marathon experience?

 "I have run 16 marathons so far, including six in Boston. This will be my seventh there.”

What draws you to the race in Boston?

“I run Boston because I have a lot of friends who run it as well so the weekend gives me an opportunity to meet up with friends from different parts of the world. This year will be different than most because I will stay in Rhode Island to watch the ‘Gannsett Marathon on Saturday prior to heading up to Boston.”

 

Watch our hometown runners take on the Boston Marathon on April 18.

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