The unicorn, lovingly referred to as Spike, has been a symbol of the Boston Marathon for decades.
Many theories surround the mythical creature’s appearance on nearly everything to do with the world’s oldest annual marathon. “Spike” was created by the Boston Athletic Association, the organization founded in 1887 that hosts the iconic 26.2-mile run. One common belief is that the unicorn was on the family crest of one of the B.A.A’s founding members.
For myself, and I believe many other runners, the unicorn is a symbol of the grit, determination, strength, heartache, and belief it takes to get to the starting line in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
I watched my first Boston Marathon in April of 2001. I lived a few blocks from Route 135 in Ashland, the second community along the race route, and was astounded by the energy from both the spectators and runners.
It was a blast, and I was hooked.
I watched every marathon during my seven years in Massachusetts. Although I had never run a marathon before, I hoped one day I would be on the other side of that course. That day came on April 17, 2017. My first Boston Marathon did not go well. I tore my hamstring during mile three and struggled, through lots of tears, to finish.
That, however, did not deter me from trying again.
On Monday, 30,000 runners from around the world will make their way from Hopkinton to Boston’s Boylston Street. Among those are eight who call Rapid City home. Mike Albin, Dan Bjerke, Kory Bockelmann, Lori Harley, Roger Heacock, Emily Person, Sarah Strain, and I are all set to complete the 127th Boston Marathon.
The Boston Marathon is traditionally held on the third Monday of April also known as Patriot’s Day, a Massachusetts state holiday that commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord and the start of the Revolutionary War. The marathon is not only the oldest, but also one of the most renowned road races.
“I think the biggest draw for Boston is that it is not only the oldest marathon, but also the most prestigious,” said Albin, who will be running his fifth Boston. “For me it is the celebration of all the hard work I have put in to get there.” Albin, owner of the Black Hills Running Company, is running his fifth Boston Marathon. He also recently completed the Abbott World Marathon Majors, a series consisting of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world. Aside from Boston, the series includes New York, Chicago, Berlin, London, and Tokyo. Only 10,000 runners worldwide have completed the series since its inception in 2006. Albin is the third South Dakotan to achieve the six stars.
For many runners, earning a spot in the marathon field is like making it to that championship game.
“For me, the Boston Marathon is the Super Bowl for runners because you have to qualify to run the race,” said Heacock, who will be running his ninth Boston and his 81st marathon. He has run a marathon in every state in addition to Washington, D.C. “It is not easy to run a marathon fast enough to meet Boston’s stringent qualifying standards. Many runners train for years to qualify for Boston, some succeed, many do not.”
A Boston Qualifier, or BQ, is a time at another qualifying marathon that allows a runner to register for Boston. Just qualifying to run the historic race is an accomplishment. Earning a BQ brings with it a sense of triumph, an immense reward for the months of sacrifice, early-morning training runs, exhaustion, sore muscles, and lost toenails – and I have lost my share of those. However, not everyone who achieves a BQ makes it to the start line. The increased competitiveness of the race requires running faster than the qualifying time to make the cutoff.
“I think that is what makes Boston alluring to me is that it is a qualifying race. It’s not a race that anyone can just sign up for,” said Strain, who will be running her third Boston Marathon, but only her second in Beantown. She ran the 2020 marathon virtually after the event was canceled due to the pandemic. Strain, who owns Strain Chiropractic, started running during chiropractor school and has not stopped. She will be running her 10th marathon.
“Marathons are very challenging and grueling, and I like them because it shows a lot of dedication and mental fortitude to finish a race of this magnitude,” Strain said. “I always tell myself at mile 20 that most people would never start a race like this, and I have already finished most of it and all I have to do is put one foot in front of the other and get across the finish line.”
While the journey to the Boston Marathon can be a challenging one, the reward is worth the ride. Runners travel through eight Massachusetts communities on their way to the finish line, each town and city packed with thousands of cheering spectators.
“Boston offers a lot of history to see and experience. The people are very friendly and throw out the red carpet for all the participants and their families,” said Bjerke, who ran his first marathon in 2016 and will be running his fifth Boston.
Some of the most famous cheering sections are the Wellesley Scream Tunnel around the halfway point, Heartbreak Hill in Newton around Boston College and, of course, the final stretch along Boylston Street before the finish. “The all-female Wellesley College students create an unforgettable experience with their loud cheers, screams and high-fives, as well as motivational signage,” Heacock said. “This section is the highlight of the race as runners can hear the students’ loud cheers a half mile away.”
Not everyone who runs the prestigious race has qualified. In exchange for a coveted race bib, many runners pledge to raise thousands of dollars for a variety of organizations – a feat in itself.
This year, the Boston Marathon has 42 official charity teams with each runner required to raise a minimum of $5,000.
Whether you BQ’d but didn’t make the cutoff, fundraised for a charity, or qualified for a spot among the 30,000, your achievement is to be commended.
For all my fellow runners competing Monday, especially my Rapid City comrades, Good Luck. Enjoy the experience. Enjoy the moment. Enjoy the city. Enjoy each other. You all worked hard to earn that unicorn.