Star Alpine Physical Therapist to Run the Boston Marathon - dennis mccrea

Hooray for Alpine Physical Therapy star, Dennis McCrea, as he steps up and out to run this year’s Boston Marathon. Here’s his take on it:

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Missoula Marathon last summer and thought it would be my first and last marathon since it was crossed off my bucket list. But here I am training for another one, the Boston Marathon.

My course time in the Missoula Marathon qualified me for Boston in my age group 60-65. So many people I know who have run the Boston Marathon have told me it’s a great experience and THE marathon to run in if I had the opportunity. So I went ahead and sent my time in, and it was good enough. My thought is there must not be many 60-65 year olds running this year. But they kept my entry fee, so here I am.

The training has been a bit different compared to the Missoula Marathon. This time I am training by myself and without the help of the Run Wild Running group. I started training last Fall very gradually building up my mileage after having left back, hip and knee issues that kicked in with the Missoula marathon. Then mid way through training I had to take a couple of weeks off for a surgery.

Also, I didn’t think about it at the time, but shorter daylight has meant running in the dark a lot, and I am not a fan of that or a fan of running on a treadmill. And of course, winter training is much different than the spring and summer–a little colder, wind chill, and ice. Having said that, I am thankful this winter has been mild unlike last winter, and compared to Boston’s winter this year, I really can’t complain.

So now that March is here and the days are longer and a little warmer and since I only have a couple of more long runs left I’m seeing light at the end of the tunnel. I just keep my fingers crossed that I stay healthy and that all the mileage won’t catch up with me. And for those marathon and ultramarathon runners who do this all the time, you are to be commended for your efforts.

I will keep you posted on how my last month of training goes and as I as I head to Boston.  
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Dennis McCrea, PT