Brandon Twp.- It’s been more than 30 years since Bill Snyder, Brandon Middle School principal, first laced up his running shoes and joined legions of area athletes who hit the pavement each day.
‘I once weighed more than 200 pounds,? said Snyder, 63, who has since trimmed down considerably. ‘I didn’t want to die of a heart attack’so I started running.?
And run he did.
On Monday, Snyder joined 22,500 other runners in the 26.2 mile, 111th Boston Marathon’his 20th trip to the April classic event.
‘I was running pretty well,? said Snyder.
‘The weather this year was not as bad as people made it out to be. It was pretty windy and it rained, but we live in Michigan so it was pretty normal for me.?
Snyder, a Grosse Point Park resident, completed the marathon in 4:30:43, a 10:20 minute per mile pace. He qualified for Boston in the Rocket City Marathon, in Huntsville, Ala. Dec. 8 with a sub-4 hour marathon, required for the 60-64 year old group.
‘Boston is a great city. The (Boston) marathon is the oldest and the support from those along the way is amazing, it’s very loud. Just about the entire length of the race it’s all people. It’s quite a rush.?
Snyder has no thoughts of slowing down. He still averages about 40 miles each week and joins running clubs on Belle Isle and Kensington Park on the weekends.
‘I want to live until I’m 120 years-old and I want to be healthy and happy’that goes hand-in-hand, if you’re healthy, chances are you’re happy.?