By David Fleet

Editor
On Monday, three area residents were among 27,491 runners who participated in the 120th Boston Marathon.

Brian Harville, 47, completed the 26.1 miles in 3:23:30. He finished 5,834.
“This is my second Boston (Marathon) I also ran in 2010 and my eighth marathon overall,”
said Harville, an Atlas Township resident who has been running for about 10 years. “It tu

rned out to be my second slowest marathon ever—we had just a little head wind and I saw a lot of people struggling with that. Actually for a marathon I saw many who had to walk part of it.”

“Spring races are oftentimes pretty tough considering you have to train in the winter,” he said. “But the history and the town here is very unique so I decided to make the run. Any other race I would not have done it. Also, along the course there are a lot of people out there supporting you and it’s great to run with others, too.”

“The race went smoothly, they all did a great job,” he added.

Erin O’Mara, 31, a 2002 Goodrich High School graduate, raced her fifth Boston Marathon. Her sister, Kaitlin O’Mara, 27, a 2007 GHS graduate, qualified for the race, but did not participate. Erin O’Mara completed the race in 3:15:41, good for 3,929 place among all runners.

The Boston Marathon is a special race, said O’Mara.

“All Boston Marathons are unique races,” she said. “For so many runners it’s a goal just to be a part of the Boston Marathon. There are so many people, your time is really limited just by the pack.”

O’Mara and Harville were not at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013 when terrorists exploded two pressure cooker bombs. The explosions killed three civilians and injured an estimated 264 others.
O’Mara said security is very tight at the Boston Marathon now.

“You can’t check gear and leave it at the start of the race like you could before 2013,” she said. “You just have to leave it at the start of the race and it’s donated to Good Will or to others that may need it. Along the course of the race people were along the side with signs and tributes. They also had a moment of silence during the expo a few days before the race.”

Jill Maggi of Ortonville also ran the 2016 Boston Marathon and finished in 4:15:27.