by Cabot Lee Petoia
Curtis Rowe and Mandy Wolfe participated in the Boston Marathon on April 16, finishing at 3:38:23 and 4:08:02, respectively.
This years’ Boston Marathoners ran through 80-90 degree heat resulting in more than 100 racers being sent to the hospital.
Because of the heat, around 4,300 registered racers decided to skip the marathon this year. Rowe and Wolfe realized the severity of the weather, and adjusted accordingly by slowing down and taking advantage of the water stations.
“I even put ice in my hat,” Rowe said.
According to Wolfe and Rowe, the spectator involvement remained incredible – around 500,000 people not affiliated with the marathon stood on the sidelines handing out extra water, sports drinks, wet sponges and oranges, and spraying racers with garden hoses.
Rowe and Wolfe have both been running off and on since high school, and have been racing for about five years. Wolfe said she participates in 5ks, 10ks and half marathons regularly.
This year’s Boston Marathon was Wolfe’s second marathon and Rowe’s fifth.
“Running is our nice little addiction,” Wolfe said.
The two are both members of the Tryon Running Club.