Earlier in April I wrote a story profiling the four runners from the Flathead Valley competing in the Boston Marathon, which was held April 18. It was a fun story to write, and one that showcased the diversity of those drawn to running, as well as providing a snapshot of some local folks doing extraordinary things. I haven’t spoken to any of the runners since, but I hope they enjoyed running the race. They are certainly all deserving of a big congratulations, so if you see them, give them a pat on the back. When looking at their numbers, I also think it’s worth noting 24,338 people ran in the 2011 Boston Marathon, and the winner, Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya, set a new world record of 2:03:02, surpassing the previous world record by 57 seconds. Here are the Flathead finishers’ times:
Kent Laudon, Age: 47, Official time: 3:48:24, Overall place: 12,924
Gil Jordan, Age: 65, Official time: 5:04:46, Overall place: 22,749
Jill Clark, Age: 44, Official time: 3:52:47, Overall place: 14,191
Richard Briles, Age: 56, Official time: 3:32:45, Overall place: 8,427