Boston’s ‘Ripken’ is running for record
BOSTON — Ben Beach was a scrawny 18-year-old who had never run more than 5 miles before he started training for his first Boston Marathon in 1968.
A half-century later, at age 67, the Bethesda, Md., resident has a chance to set a standard by becoming the first person to complete 50 consecutive trips down the city’s hallowed course.
The current Cal Ripken of the Boston race is one of just 81 people who have current streaks of at least 25 consecutive trips down the 26.2-mile Boston route. Only nine have a streak of at least 40.
But Beach’s love affair with the event actually began on a whim. He was a high school senior flipping through radio stations in his bedroom at a Massachusetts boarding school when he came across a broadcast of the 1967 marathon. The race was run in low 30-degree weather and sleet. Set to attend Harvard the following year, he perked up.
“The whole idea of running 26 miles in that kind of weather just kind of appealed to my senses — the bizarre,” he said. “I just said to myself that day ... I’m gonna run that.”
He signed up in 1968.
Beach, who had consumed a steak the night before the race and run 20 miles only two days prior, said he was naive about marathon prep back then.
“You got in line for the doctor and when you got up to the front ... the doctor puts a stethoscope to try to determine if you could make it to the Prudential Building [finish line],” Beach said.
He did finish, in 3 hours, 23 minutes., and after waiting in line to use the only available shower went up to the cafeteria for a bowl of beef stew. He didn’t finish that, but did get down four glasses of milk.
“I was lucky that I didn’t collapse in a heap,” he said.
The past 10 years have been particularly challenging following his diagnosis for a movement disorder called Dystonia in 2002. The ailment causes involuntary and uncontrollable muscle contractions and cramping.
“Last year went better and I’m hoping this year will as well. But you never know,” Beach said.