Sader still proud to compete in Boston Marathon

Times Reporter   

 

Every year hundreds of runners gather in Massachusetts to take part in the annual Boston Marathon. Though this year was filled with horror by the end, the prestigious event is still an impressive trek to undertake and is one its participants are proud to have run in. 

Two Strathmore residents participated in this year’s marathon, Ben Sader and Rob Geortz. It was Goertz’s first time running the Boston Marathon, but for Sader it’s the third time he’s been fortunate enough to qualify. 

Sader started seriously running in 2000. He jumped right into the sport, completing his first marathon in 2001. He credits his own competitiveness for pushing him to become the athlete he is today. 

“I did pretty well, I almost qualified for Boston back then (2001) and I then decided to make that a goal and keep running,” said Sader. 

It wasn’t until 2011 that he was able to qualify for his first Boston Marathon. In the 10 years between his first marathon and his Boston qualifying one, he had two girls, which changed his training quite a bit. In 2009 he began to run marathons on a regular basis.

“It was just a sense of accomplishment, I was happy for myself, but it was nothing really more than that I don’t think,” said Sader. 

“So my best time for Boston was my first one and it was three hours and 10 minutes and my best marathon time was in Edmonton last summer and it was three hours and eight minutes.” 

This year Sader ran the marathon in three hours and 21 minutes. 

“One of the most challenging things about Boston is that it’s in April so it limits how much running you’re going to do, you end up having to do more on the treadmill which I think is tougher,” said Sader.

He read something a couple of years ago that said if you can get over your most difficult challenge training day, then your race should be easy by comparison. 

“I always think of that when its -25 with the wind chill and you made it through your run, you think well I made it through this run in January in Alberta, why couldn’t I race in a beautiful place in the middle of the spring and not do it then?”

The Boston Marathon is a 42.2 km race that goes through eight different Massachusetts cities. It can be a challenging race to prepare for, but the reward and satisfaction upon completing the race is hard to match for many runners. 

“I consistently aim for a minimum of three runs a week and hope for four or five, but it’s challenging. Part of (training) all year round and trying to run some longer runs on the weekend is that you’re a little (better)…prepared for a marathon when you’ve got that kind of base,” said Sader.

 “You try to have a good base of fitness and then you just gradually build up towards running longer distances all the time. Probably the bottom line is you just have to get out there and get some miles, and then you gradually increase your long run distance every weekend until you get comfortable doing that distance.”

There are approximately half a million spectators at the Boston Marathon who come out year after year to cheer on the runners. At the Wellesley College it has become a tradition for the students to cheer on the runners in the ‘Scream Tunnel.’

“It’s one of the reasons I have gone back to the race three times is because of the amazing amount of fans and volunteers that have become part of that race,” said Sader.

“Initially there was a draw to it because it is one of the only races you have to qualify for, but then once you’re there it’s the fact that it’s such a big deal to the city of Boston, more than any other race I have ever seen.”

Next up for Sader is the Sinister 7 in Crowsnest Pass this July where he will be running with 19 other runners, 14 of whom are from Strathmore. For closer to home though, he is involved with the Brentwood School Run Club. 

“I’m really quite excited about our Run Club at Brentwood School because it has just been so much fun to get these kids going and seeing the various levels of competitiveness and achievement. They get more confident too and that leads to them coming back,” said Sader.

He said they have had a great retention rate; some of the kids they didn’t think would keep up with the program have been since Sept. 2011. 

Running has become a passion for Sader and is something that he plans to keep up with for as long as he can. 

“Every day it’s fun to be out running in town and seeing people now that know I run, it makes it more enjoyable,” said Sader. 

He said it’s nice to see other people he knows and run with them. Sader’s advice to anyone training for a marathon, whether it is a half marathon or the Boston marathon, is that “Anything is possible if you’re passionate enough. Enjoying it makes it easier to dedicate yourself to what you really need to do to get there. It’s hard work but its not impossible.”

After the events at this year’s Boston Marathon, Sader can’t say for sure yet if he will run in it again next year if he qualifies. 

“Honestly it has crossed my mind to think about doing other things now, other races or other events. I don’t want my family to feel uncomfortable.”

He said it’s disappointing that it’s something that needs to be considered, but at the same time he does need to consider it for his family’s sake.