BOUND FOR BOSTON
Cape Breton runners ready for Monday’s Boston Marathon
Cape Breton runners to take part in upcoming Boston Marathon.
Herbie Sakalauskas has some unfinished business he plans to attend to at the 122nd edition of the Boston Marathon.
Two years ago, Sakalauskas was 10 miles into the hallowed race when he was sidelined by an injury. This time around, he’s determined to best the 2 hours, 58 minutes and 59 seconds he posted at his first trip in 2015.
“I took a year off. I was still running, I just didn’t go to Boston,” said the 37-year-old from Sydney River. “It’s a big commitment, so I really want to go back and see what I can do this year and hopefully, aim for a 2:55 would be pretty nice.”
Sakalauskas is among a handful of dedicated Cape Breton runners who are making the trip for the Boston Marathon that will be held Monday morning. It’s the same race the late, great Johnny Miles of Sydney Mines won in both 1926 and 1929.
Coincidentally, Sakalauskas re-qualified for this year’s Boston Marathon at the Johnny Miles Marathon in New Glasgow, where he placed third in a time of 2:56.43.
“My first year, it was my first time, so I kind of took it easy,” said Sakalauskas who will run in Wave 1 of the race. “This year, I’m well trained. I trained with some good friends all year in Cape Breton. I know the course better in my mind, so mentally, I’m ready to go in and kick butt.
“I’ve never experienced anything anywhere else like it,” he added. “It’s just people everywhere yelling, they see the name on your bib and they’re yelling your name. It’s quite a feeling.”
Donna Burns will be running in her fourth Boston Marathon on Monday. She said she’s hoping to reach the finish line and not be in too much pain, since she’s nursing a foot injury heading into this year’s race.
“It’s a goal to try to achieve every time you go out because you have to pick it up every time to qualify. It’s hard — it’s a lot of work,” said the 54-year-old Sydney resident, who will head out in Wave 3.
Her goal this year is to finish under four hours. She trains upwards of six days per week, which includes 20-mile jaunts.
“You never know on race day what you’re going to get,” she said of the Boston Marathon. “This year they’re forecasting thundershowers and cold.
“We’re used to running with whatever,” she added about training in Cape Breton weather.
Joining Burns in Wave 3 is training partner Gary Ross of Sydney. The 61-year-old has been running for the past seven years and will compete in his 14th marathon.
“I think everyone wants to qualify for Boston because it’s the holy grail of running,” he said.
He qualified for Monday’s race last May along with Burns and Kara MacKinnon of Westmount at the Toronto Goodlife Fitness Marathon.
Ross believes patience is a virtue when tackling the just over 26-mile (about 42-kilometre) Boston route, and that not going too fast early on is key.
“Any marathon you run, you get to the 20-mile mark, just will gets you through the last six miles. But here, you have to will yourself up (the so-called Heartbreak Hill), too,” he said. “But once you get up the hill and you get to the 22-mile mark, hopefully, the crowd pulls you through — and a good wind at your back, too.”
Other Cape Breton runners registered to compete include Andrew Clarey of Margaree Forks and Carol Dakai of Sydney.