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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-05-03, Page 14Crossroads 14 Wednesday, May 3, 2006 Exeter Times Advocate Local runners cross fmish line in Boston By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GRAND BEND — Two local runners took different paths but ended at the same destination April 16 as Hubert Haccius of Grand Bend and Adam Kuo of Exeter crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon. Three years ago when he turned 50, Haccius started treadmill running at the fitness centre in Grand Bend. Although he said he couldn't run five kilo- metres when he started, by April 2004 he was able to complete a half marathon in London, "although I was done when I did that," said Haccius. But continuing to increase his distance, Haccius ran the Toronto Marathon hoping to complete his goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, He describes it as the "flagship of marathons, even 30 or 40 years ago." Haccius said the appeal of running is that you can do it on your own. "If you don't feel like it, nobody says anything. It's your own guts and inspi- ration. After 20 miles your body says quit but you have to push through. You need internal fortitude." Needing a time of 3:35 for his age group of 50-55, Haccius finished the Toronto marathon in 3:26. Haccius said the Toronto crowd was fantastic with bands playing that got his adrenaline pump- ing. "You step to the starting line and you're pumped." He said he was ner- vous before the race. "You don't know what the body will do. Something can go wrong," and noted the favourite runner in Boston didn't fin- ish the race because of stomach cramps. "It's frustrating for runners at all levels because anything can set you back." Haccius said at the 22 mile mark in Toronto he was ready to quit with a runner beside him screaming he could- n't go on. But both Haccius and the runner beside him made it to the end, with Haccius telling himself in five more minutes he would be done. After crossing the line, Haccius said his thought was "I'll never run again," but kept moving forward to find his family. After seeing his time, Haccius said he was happy and as soon as the pain was gone start- ed prepar- ing for the Boston Marathon. Four weeks after the Toronto race, Haccius had regis- tered for the Boston run. His time in Toronto qualified him for two years in Boston but after thinking about waiting for a year, Haccius decided to run in 2006. "You never know what could happen. I'm not getting any younger." Haccius said it is an unbelievable specta- cle at the starting line in Boston with 100,000 including runners. For the first time, the race had a wave start with Haccius in the back of the first wave with 9,000 to 10,000 other run- ners. "Everyone takes one step, then it takes 10 minutes to walk to the starting line." By the time he got to the line, Haccius said he had quite a bit of room. "They're all good runners, it was a good pace." All along the run, spectators were try- ing to touch the run- ners, which Haccius said took a lot out of him but overall he enjoyed the cheering experience. "I fed off it. There were runners from 95 countries all with one goal, just to fin- ish." According to Haccius the runners support each other in the first half but as the miles pass the talk ceases as the runners zone in try- ing to complete the race. He said he felt good up until the 20 -mile mark when he expe- rienced a slight cramp in his thigh but ran through it. "Feet, don't fail me now." - GRAND BEND RUNNER HUBERT HACCIUS AT THE BOSTON MARATHON Adam Kuo of Exeter ran his seventh marathon April 15 at the Boston Marathon. (photo/submitted) people, 20,000 With his legs telling him to quit, Haccius said downhill was hard on his calves until he finally hit the wall at 23 miles. With Haccius think- ing, "this is it," other runners urged him on and he said the crowd was a tremen- dous support. Passing his wife and children at the 25 -mile mark, Haccius said he did- n't know they were there and coming down towards the finish line, Haccius was telling himself, "feet, don't fail me now." Crossing the line, Haccius was sur- prised at his 3:32 time but said without the crowd he proba- bly wouldn't have made it." One of the biggest challenges in the Boston race, accord- ing to Haccius was the distance set in miles instead of kilo- metres. "Kilometres are easier to run...it's just a mental thing. You always look for the next point or sign and a mile apart is a challenge." After crossing the line, Haccius walked towards his family but his legs finally gave out and he col- lapsed. Suffering cramps and excruciating pain, Haccius w a s taken to the first aid tent and with- in 10 minutes was feel- ing better. Back from Boston, he is getting back into his running and while he has no plans to increase his dis- tance by entering an ultra -marathon, Haccius said he would like to com- pete in the marathon circuit, including Chicago and Detroit. For 42 year old Kuo, who moved to Exeter with his wife in 1993, it was a New Year's resolution that started him on the path to Boston. Although he had run growing up in Toronto, Kuo decided in December 2002 he wanted more out of life and decided to get into better shape. Although with his "All long d runners se Boston as Holy Grail - EXETER AD Local runner Hubert Haccius of Grand Bend was among the over 20,000 runners who competed at the Boston Marathon recently. (pho- tos/submitted) first run he could only do 800 metres, "it just took off' and within a month he was up to five kilo- metres. Not knowing any- thing about running, Kuo said he didn't know he was sup- posed to take days off and ran istance every day. e B y the January 2003, Kuo said he dove RUNNER in and AM KUO signed up for the Forest City marathon in the spring. Wanting a time of 3:45, Kuo ran the 26 miles in 3:57. "All long distance runners see Boston as the Holy Grail," says Kuo. Hoping to qualify for Boston, Kuo ran the Toronto Marathon in the fall of 2004 and finished with a time of 3:18 which was under the 3:20 mark he need- ed. Although Kuo could have ran the 2005 race in Boston, he decided to wait until this year so his fami- ly could make the trip. "I never saw any- thing like I saw in Boston," said Kuo who couldn't hear anything after the race for three hours. "Boston people take their marathon very seriously. "It was the most difficult course I've ever ran...hills after hills." At the 17 -mile mark, Kuo said there is a steady climb for what seemed like 20 minutes. "And after that climb, you have another climb at the 20 mile mark." With what seemed like 1,000 runners within 150 feet of him at all times, Kuo said he tried to relax and enjoy the run. "With the first Boston, I didn't think I could do a personal best...maybe two or three years I'll go back and try to do a fairly good time." According to Kuo, he didn't have any problems during the race except his legs started to feel heavy towards the later stages of the race. "You can hear the crowds and you've got no choice but to run...I've never had to stop in any marathons I've gone into. I've been pretty fortunate." Prior to Boston, Kue said he was run- ning to Kirkton and back almost every three weeks which is a distance of 23 miles and was running 45 miles a week for his training. He hopes to increase his training distance to 60 miles a week but doesn't see himself running more than a marathon distance. Other future run- ning plans include entering the Toronto Waterfront marathon again this fall where he hopes to set a per- sonal best time of 3:10 which will put him close to the front of the Boston Marathon time. "The closer I get to the front, the better I can do. "I'm surprised how quick it took off," says Kuo referring to how his distances have increased. "Who would have thought you would start running and within four weeks you're doing five miles? "Each one of these smaller marathons I'm going into is prepping me up for the next Boston...I know what it takes to train for it and I know what I need to be at the start."