Mission accomplished


Blind River runner Brenda Guitard fulfilled a goal this week when she completed the Boston Marathon: It was an amazing experience'


By ROCCO FRANGIONE
Special to The Star


BLIND RIVER — It wasn't a personal best, but a top finishing time wasn't what Brenda Guitard of Blind River was trying to achieve in Monday's Boston Marathon.


Guitard, a phys-ed and science teacher at W.C. Eaket Secondary School, finished the marathon in a time of three hours, 43 minutes and 10 seconds.


"It was the slowest time I've ever had in a marathon," Guitard said. "But that was intentional."


Guitard has been running full and half marathons for the past four years; she had been seriously considering the Boston Marathon for the past two years.


She qualified for the prestigious event last October when she participated in the Canadian International Marathon in Toronto.


"It was an amazing experience," Guitard said of the Boston run. "There was a sense of accomplishment afterward that almost brought tears to my eyes."


What Guitard will remember most about the run, in addition to finishing the 26.2-mile trek, is the people.


"There were about one million lining the streets and they cheer for you the entire time," she said.


"The (constant) sound is probably the equivalent of what you hear when a baseball player hits a home run and the fans cheer. That's what it was like for the entire 26 miles."


Guitard said the constant cheering didn't rattle her concentration, adding the sound "was very supportive."


Guitard decided to run in the Boston Marathon after hearing so much about it over the years.


"I always thought it would be interesting to say I've run in the Boston Marathon," she said. "You hear about all these stories and it's known as one of the world's most famous
marathons. I thought I had to give it a try sometime."


Guitard trained for the event by running four days a week.


Living in Northern Ontario means fighting snowy conditions because that's the period of time when most of her training" takes place.


Guitard would run at least four times a week for 90 minutes to three hours each time.


The workout included running up hills and speed work.


When it comes to running full marathons, Guitard said she takes the event "one mile at a time."


In the Boston Marathon, the first half of the event was run quickly by Guitard because the terrain was mostly flat and downhill.


"But I slowed down in the second half because miles 17 to 21 are mostly uphill," she said. "By the half-way point I could feel my legs were starting to stiffen up. However, there was never a moment that I thought I was not going to cross the finish line. When I did finish, I could stand up and walk, but that was it."


Guitard said she'd like to run the Boston Marathon again, but she doesn't plan on any running for the next one to two weeks so her legs can recuperate.


Then she'll begin training again and will likely compete in at least one half marathon this summer.


She may also consider participating the Toronto marathon in the fall.


Guitard was back at school on Thursday teaching her students.

Photo - KELLY JAMES

BRENDA GUITARD wasn't worried about her time at Monday's Boston Marathon; she just wanted to finish the race.