My first love has been running which I started as a freshman in High School. I ran my first Marathon in 1968 and it was special. I knew that the Boston Marathon was the oldest and most prestigious long distance race in the world. Even more famous than the Olympic Marathon.

After many years of trying I finally made it this year as you have to qualify for this race or be invited to run in it. And it was all that I had hoped for and more. The 26.2 miles runs through eight cities starting in Hopkinton and finishing in downtown Boston. Some of the high points are the girls of Wellesley College whose cheers are defining to Heart Break hill and the Boston College boys cheering from the roof tops.

My wife Maureen and two of my children Roger and Aileen came along with me as my cheering section. I was born in Boston so I had a lot of family there to cheer me on. Add to this they held the Women’s Olympic marathon trials the day before our race. Also one of my former employee’s who had made the men’s Olympic trials ran the race and finished 10th and was the first American to cross the line.

I took my time in the race, enjoyed every mile, the fans were great, the weather perfect and I did not want the day to end. The greatness of this sport is that everyone who finishes is a winner the medal they give to the one who comes in first is the same one that they give to the last place finisher.

There is a thing they call a runners high and this race gives all those who participate in it one that last a long time.

Bob Mignosa
Snail's Pace Running Club