Hawai'i runners get through heat
Advertiser Staff
Despite a cramp in his chest that made breathing difficult, Kailua's Bob Dickie persevered and made himself "proud" in becoming one of the top finishers in yesterday's Boston Marathon.
Dickie, 29, an Air Force captain, who has lived in Hawai'i three years, finished 46th overall, was the 13th American overall and second military runner. His time was 2 hours 39 minutes, 10 seconds in 85-degree temperatures, far above the average high of 57 for April 19 in Boston.
Kenya's Timothy Cherigat was first overall in 2:10:37.
"It was pretty horrible (marathon) conditions for everybody," Dickie said in a telephone interview. "One of the guys from the hotel (Charlesmark Hotel near the finish line) who has been running 15 years said it was the worst conditions that he's ever seen."
Dickie said his time "was slower than I wanted, but I'm really happy with myself that I finished."
Dickie was on pace to run a 2:28 but caught "what runners call a stitch," or a bad cramp, at the halfway point of the race.
He was forced to walk about 200 yards.
"Basically from the halfway point to the finish, it plagued me," said Dickie, who finished 23rd overall at 2:30:21 last year in Boston. "It was a brutal experience that last 13 miles."
But he said: "I made a pact with myself that I would finish no matter what, even if I had to walk the entire way. ... I was proud I was able to do that."
Dickie said he was assisted by the crowd that encouraged him the entire way.
"I was wearing an Air Force uniform," he said. "They were screaming, 'Go, Air Force,' the entire way.
"When you're feeling bad and you have a few thousand people screaming for you, it has a way of motivating you."
Dickie was among one of the largest contingents — 38 registered entrants — from Hawai'i to participate in the 108th running of the event.
Honolulu's Martin Murphy, 40, was the second Hawai'i finisher at 2:55:57, followed by Lyman Perry, 37 of Volcano, Hawai'i, at 3:04:51.
Sayuri Kusutani, 45, was the first Hawai'i women's finisher at 3:16.13. She was the 60th female overall.
Kusutani said the weather and the hilly Boston course proved quite difficult.
"Around the sixth mile, my hamstrings started cramping," said Kusutani, who suffered from dehydration. "After 20 miles, I walked four times. I even didn't walk straight. After I was finished, I was taken to the medical tent by wheelchair. I had cramps everywhere. If it wasn't for the spectators (encouraging me), maybe I wouldn't have finished."
Laura Schoenrock, 30, at 3:35:34, and Paula Vanderford, 46, at 3:53:12 followed as Hawai'i's top female finishers.
