Support from Spectators Helps Attleboro Man Cross the Finish Line

Having run in it 10 times before, Attleboro resident Kevin Downing knows a lot about the history, preparation, challenges and rewards of the Boston Marathon.

In fact, Downing knows a lot about running, period. In addition to his Marathon runs, he was one of the founding, and still very active, members of the Wampanoag Road Runners, a group of more than 200 Attleboro area-running enthusiasts. For nearly three decades, Downing has been advising thousands of runners, who have come through the doors of his North Attleboro store, DB Sports, on the appropriate and proper fit of running shoes.

The Boston Marathon is the oldest annual marathon in the United States. Starting in Hopkinton and finishing 26.2 miles later in Bostons's Copley Square, the marathon was first run in 1897.

The race was modeled after the first Olympic Marathon held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. In fact, Downing and his wife Ellen attended the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. “We were invited courtesy of New Balance," Downing said. "Along with hundreds of New Balance running shoe dealers we were guests at many events including gymnastics, swimming, boxing and US basketball.”

"The opening ceremonies were spectacular, so much better than what you see on television," Downing added. It was the most amazing trip of my life!” 

“My first Boston Marathon run was in 1985 and only injury has prevented me from running every one since,” Downing said. “Running is the most efficient form of exercise out there. It’s fantastic! It has many incredible benefits including keeping me in great shape and reducing stress. When I’m out there running, I think about and plan out my whole day.”

Long-Time Preparation 

To prepare for the marathon, Downing builds up slowly to running 45 miles a week, he says. Because, by his own account, he is old school he avoids runing on a treadmill and favors running outdoors on the roads and sometimes on trails through the woods.

“I would say that the biggest challenges of running the marathon are training through the cold New England winter and increasing your mileage without getting injured," he said adding that the worst danger is not snow, but motorists. 

“You have to have your wits about you," he said. "People are not only talking on cell phones; they are looking down at their I-pads. 

“Qualifying over the years has become more difficult but the number of runners remains around 25,000. The largest field of runners was in 1996, the 100th anniversary of the marathon, where 38,000 runners competed.”

In order to qualify you need to meet the designated time required for your age and gender, according the Marathon's rules.  For example, for next year’s marathon, a male between 60 and 64 years of age must run a marathon time of three hours and 55 minutes, Downing said. “I qualified for this year’s marathon with my last year’s time of three hours and 35 minutes.”

His best time was two hours and 47 minutes.

“Attleboro’s best known and unsurpassed runner, Mark Coogan ran the 1994 Boston Marathon in two hours and 13 minutes," Downing said. "He later ran on the U.S. Team in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Mark and I ran a few times together and he was also a store employee."

Wampanoag Trail Runners

Downing and a few other running enthusiasts from Attleboro and North Attleboro founded the Wampanoag Road Runners in 1984. “It’s a lot of work preparing for any race especially a marathon, but training with a group of runners makes it much easier.”    

Support is one of the reasons the runners created the club. They have been meeting every Sunday morning at DB Sports for the past 26 years. 

"Out of our more than 200 members, about 50 are running in this year’s marathon and several others are volunteering at water stops along the way," he said.

The group will travel to Hopkinton in a chartered bus. Once runners arrive in Boston they will gather, shower and change before heading back to North Attleboro. 

Support from Spectators

“A huge part of the marathon is the crowds," according to Downing who said the  approximately 500,000 spectators lining the course offer runners encouragement.

"There’s a big crowd at the start of the race and then at the more difficult parts of the course, especially at Heartbreak Hill," he said. "At the halfway mark, Wellesley College girls are offering you beer and kisses!”

“There is no better feeling in the world when you begin the last straightaway into the finish," Downing recalls. "Thousands of people are cheering. You take it all in but, words can’t describe the feeling of accomplishment.”