Austin runner completes Boston Marathon

Published 10:53 am Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Shelly LeTendre may not have finished the Boston Marathon with the time she wanted, but the Austin native was pleased to finally accomplish her goal.

“It was a tough run,” she said. “It was super hot.”

Nearly 22,500 participants braved unseasonably balmy conditions at the 116th running of the storied 26.2 mile race. Organizers stocked extra water and pleaded with runners to slow their pace to avoid heat stroke. Some 4,300 participants registered to run opted to sit out.

Email newsletter signup

Organizers said that as of Monday evening, just under 2,000 participants had received some level of medical attention, and about 120 were taken to hospitals in ambulances. One person was taken from the course in serious condition in Wellesley, though the details of their condition were unavailable Monday.

Medical volunteers scanned the finish line for runners displaying signs of heat stroke, assisting those in need to nearby medical tents. By mid-afternoon, dozens of wheelchairs carrying pale and weakened runners stretched outside the tents.

LeTendre never needed medical attention during the race, though she had difficulties about halfway through the race. Her feet cramped during her 13th or 14th mile, forcing her to abandon her shoes and ultimately run in socks.

“It was a great race,” she said. “It really pushed you.”

LeTendre finished the race at about 4 hours and 30 minutes, though she’s not sure what place she ended up in. She said it was one of her worst times, worse than her marathon qualifying time of 3 hours and 48 minutes.

“It’s disappointing, but I finished the race,” she said.

At the end of the day, she finished the race and completed a dream.

“It was great. I made it here,” LeTendre said. “I had this goal for three years. Just to be here is absolutely great.”

—The Associated Press contributed to this report.