Lauren Allen completes 2015 Boston Marathon
By CAITLIN RYAN
The Highland County Press
New Vienna runner Lauren Allen recently joined an elite class of athletes, as she completed the 2015 Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20.
After running over 26 miles of challenging terrain, Allen finished the course at 2:02 p.m. with a time of 03:35.26.
Allen ended the race in 11,919th place overall, finishing 3,395th among females in the race and in 2,568th place in the females ages 18-39 division.
As previously reported in The Highland County Press, Allen qualified for the race in November 2013 at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon with a time of 3:30:36.5, approximately four and a half minutes better than the required qualifying time for her age group. She found out in October 2014 that she was one of 30,000 applicants who were accepted to race in Boston on April 20.
Allen said that she spoke with as many fellow runners as she could, meeting individuals who live “as close as Cincinnati and as far away as Holland.”
“I loved getting to listen to and share stories of how we all made it to this one, huge and historic event,” Allen said.
Allen said that she enjoyed a “beautiful” weekend in Boston before the weather “turned sour” Monday morning, with temperatures in the 40s, 20-30 mile per hour winds and rain, according to accuweather.com.
“While the weather was miserable, it was easy to forget, as the race began and I became immediately immersed in the experience,” Allen said. “I was completely blown away by the thousands of spectators who braved the weather to cheer on each one of the runners who were complete strangers.”
Allen thanked her trainers and loved ones for their help in her journey to Boston and said that without their support, she may not have even made it to Boston due to an injury she suffered over the winter.
“I have the most amazing gentlemen at the Highland County YMCA who have encouraged me every morning at 5 a.m.,” Allen said. “They were especially supportive after I sprained my ankle approximately one month ago on the ice. I was not sure if I would even be able to participate in the race.
“Every morning, however, as I limped into the weight room, they gave me encouragement to continue to rebuild my strength.”
Allen also thanked the Buckeye Running Company in Mason.
“I have never met a more talented and genuinely loving and encouraging group of individuals,” Allen said. “I was especially blessed to share the Boston Marathon race experience with three other runners from Buckeye, Brett Arnold, Alexander Bruns and Justin Sanker, who also ran an amazing race.
“Last, but not least, my family and friends have from the beginning given me more love and support than I could ever ask for.”
As Allen stated before, “complete strangers” also provided an unexpected boost during the race. Allen said the course, which includes a number of grueling hills and winding roads, was “not an easy race by any stretch of the imagination,” but the support of the onlookers carried her through.
“Hearing the cheers, high-fiving the small children and the adrenaline of running in such a historic race kept me motivated until the end,” Allen said. “There is nothing like crossing the finish line after 26.2 miles. It is completely exhilarating, and I thank God for giving me the ability to run race after race.”
Running “race after race” is what Allen, who has also completed half iron bike/runs, 5Ks and triathlons, plans to continue doing.
“I look forward to competing and improving in the future,” Allen said. “I just may be crazy enough to try out the Flying Pig Marathon in a couple of weeks.”