Patrick Downes Finishes Boston Marathon
Patrick Downes lost his left leg in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings while he was spectating near the finish line with his wife. Three years later, he crossed that same finish line wearing a prosthesis and became the first Boston bombing amputee to complete the marathon on foot. He finished the race in 5:56:46. Recently, Downes has been busy promoting the new film Patriots Day, in which his story of survival is depicted.
Adrianne Haslet was another amputee bombing survivor to enter this year’s race, and she finished the marathon after spending about 10 hours on the course. (Runner’s World caught up with Davis after the race, when she spoke about her future plans when it comes to running.) Read more.
2/10 KIRBY LEE/IMAGE OF SPORT
College Runner Takes on a Stereotype
Rachele Schulist, a senior distance runner at Michigan State University, shared an Instagram post of two pictures: one showing her body as a sophomore, and the other as a senior.
In the picture on the left, Schulist is on her way to a fourth-place finish at the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, where she ran 19:54.30 in the 6K and led the Spartans their first women’s national title.
In the picture on the right, she is 20 pounds heavier. In the same race two years later, she finished 12th at nationals in 20:07. But for Schulist, that 12th-place finish represented a much bigger victory.
“The idea that you have to look a certain way and be thin to be a fast runner is bullshit,” she said in her Instagram post. “It's a lie that a lot of people in the running community buy into.”
It started a conversation and shed light on that widely shared perception within the running community.
3/10 KIT FOX
A Marine Finishes Strong
Jonathan Mendes, a 96-year-old World War II Marine, is believed to be the oldest unofficial finisher in the New York City Marathon after completing this year’s race in 11 hours and 23 minutes.
It was past 8 p.m. and about 45 minutes after the official clock stopped tracking runners, but Mendes continued down the final stretch with two guides by his side. When asked why he was still out there, about to finish his 16th New York City Marathon, he said, “You have to have goals in life. They don’t have to be important. But at this stage I’ve done it all.”
After finishing the race, he was helped to a bed in the medical tent, where a nurse asked him if he would like something to drink. Why yes, he said. Make it a scotch.
4/10 QUINN ROONEY/GETTY IMAGES
A Golden Swim, Bike, and Run
Gwen Jorgensen won the women’s Olympic triathlon in Rio, becoming the first U.S. athlete to take gold in the event. She garnered that medal with the help of an impressive run. Jorgensen was able to take the lead during the 10K run portion of the race, following a 1.5K swim and a 38.5K bike ride. She ran the race in 34:09 (5:30 pace), the fastest run of all the competitors in the triathlon. Later in the year, she went on to run her first marathon in New York City, finishing in 2:41.
5/10 PATRICK SMITH / GETTY
Sportsmanship on a Worldwide Stage
Abbey D’Agostino, a 5,000-meter runner for the U.S. at the Rio Olympics, was involved in an on track-collision with Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand during the first round of their event.
It was the two athletes’ reaction to the collision, however, that stood out. D’Agostino was about to continue running when she stopped and helped Hamblin up from the track. As they both started to run, the injured D’Agostino fell to the track again. This time, Hamblin stopped to help her up.
Both finished the race and were advanced to the 5,000-meter final. Unfortunately, D’Agostino’s injury—a complete tear of the ACL, a meniscus tear, and a strained MCL—ended her Olympics. Hamblin finished last in the final—hobbled by the ankle she turned in the crash.
Neither had the Olympic race they hoped for, but both have a memory of comraderie that will last forever. At the end of the Games, they were awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal, presented to those who most show the Olympic spirit.
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