Hoban coachers complete in 114th annual Boston Marathon
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May 17, 2010
Evan Luse
According to legend, the ancient foot soldier Pheidippides ran 26 miles from the city of Marathon to Athens to tell the news of an astounding victory over a dominant Persian army.
Now thousands of years later, the Boston Marathon is held worldwide as one of the most prestigious marathon races. It is held annually in Boston, Massachusetts on Patriots’ Day (the third Monday in April) and is the world’s oldest annual marathon. Over 23,000 athletes began the quest on April 19 and among them were Andrea Hoffman, third-year distance coach of the boys track and field team and the cross country team, and Amy Hovan, fourth-year head boys and girls swimming coach. They finished with times of 3:35 and 4:05 respectively. The two coaches sat down with the Visor to remark on their journey through Boston.
Amy Hovan
What motivated you to train for this marathon?
I ran the Boston Marathon last year and I wanted to come back stronger this year. Although the end result was not what I had hoped, it was an amazing experience.
What gave you the idea to run?
I ran a 3:22 in my first marathon a year and a half ago in Columbus and that’s how I qualified for Boston. Everyone said, “You have to go to Boston” and they were definitely right.
What was one memory that you will never forget?
Being able to finish after spending 20 minutes in a medical tent at mile 22 with a painful right hip. I never gave up and I was going to get to the finish line and get my medal no matter what. When you finish the Boston Marathon and you feel that medal around your neck you think, “If I can do this, I can do anything.”
When will you compete again?
I am always competing but it will be a LONG time before another marathon.
What did you do before and after the race?
Before: Andrea and I were in the same corral so we calmed each other’s nerves.
After: I ate all the food that I possibly could.
Andrea Pollack Hoffman
What motivated you to train for this marathon?
It has been my dream since I was 14 years old and last October my father died, and he had always followed my running at every meet. We had talked about Boston together, and we began planning the trip just before he got sick. I ran for my dad, for all he did for me.
What was one memory that you will never forget?
When there were tons of people cheering the runners over Heartbreak Hill.
What other competitions do you plan on completing before you die?
I’d like to do a triathalon but I’m not a strong swimmer so maybe not. I want to do the New York Marathon sometime.
What was the first thing you did after the race?
After the race I laid down on some grass: I was exhausted. I called my family, who were waiting for me and told them I couldn’t move—they had to come and find me.
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