Jack McDermott isn’t kidding.
“I’ve now spent more than half of my adult life running the Boston Marathon,” McDermott said.
The Tallahassee resident completed his 25th consecutive Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, covering the 26.2‑mile course in 3 hours, 27 minutes. The 57‑year‑old averaged 7:54 per mile under what he described as nearly ideal conditions.
Temperatures hovered in the 40s, with a mix of sun and clouds and just enough wind to notice—but not enough to disrupt the race. Rain threatened at times, but never fell.
“From a conditions standpoint, it was perfect,” McDermott said.
Tallahassee marathoner McDermott turns in another steady performance
It was another steady performance on one of running’s most historic and demanding courses. McDermott finished just two minutes off his pre‑race goal of 3:25.
“I think I say this every year, but I wasn’t in the best shape,” he said with a laugh.
The milestone now makes McDermott eligible for consideration into the Quarter Century Club, a honor reserved for runners who have completed 25 consecutive Boston Marathons.
Each year, the Boston Athletic Association and the Quarter Century Club review records and vet candidates before extending invitations, according to Boston.com. Heading into Monday’s race, the QCC reportedly had 119 active members
McDermott’s streak nearly ended once when travel demands from another job limited his training. Needing a 3:25 to qualify, he ran a 3:23 at a marathon in Albany, Georgia.
Through it all, McDermott has remained remarkably healthy, avoiding major injuries by backing off at the first sign of trouble.
Monday’s race went exactly as expected, he said, buoyed by enthusiastic crowds that felt larger than usual.
And McDermott, who completed his first marathon at age 30 in the Jacksonville Marathon in 1990, isn’t kidding about another remarkable milestone:
He has now completed 276 marathons overall.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee runner completes 25th consecutive Boston Marathon
Reporting by Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
