After all other participants had long finished their Boston Marathon journeys on Monday, April 17th, Race Director Dave McGillivray crossed the finish line at 19:28 ET.
McGillivray oversaw the course throughout the race earlier in the day, taking runners across the starting line and helping to ensure their safe arrival on Boylston Street.
This year’s 127th running of Boston Marathon was McGillivray’s 51st consecutive completion of the Boston Marathon and the 36th of which he has completed at night after seeing to his race day duties.
“It doesn’t feel so long ago that I was 18 years old, sitting on the curb at mile 21, wondering if I would ever get a chance to finish the Boston Marathon,” said McGillivray.
“If I could go back and tell my younger self that he goes on to finish that day and 50 more editions, I can’t imagine his reaction.
“I’m grateful for the more than a dozen friends and colleagues who joined me on the journey to the finish line today. I had to dream big to get to this moment, and I couldn’t do it without my community and my family that support me every step of the way.”
The weekend featured two other special moments for McGillivray. On Saturday, Team With A Vision inducted McGillivray into its hall of fame during a dinner at the Westin Copley Place. Team With A Vision pairs blind and sighted runners together to complete endurance races across the USA.
In addition, McGillivray was a featured speaker during the Boston Marathon Expo, where World Marathon Challenge champion Becca Pizzi interviewed him about his long history with the race. He shared photos, videos and stories with the crowd, and signed copies of his books for attendees at the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation booth following the presentation.
McGillivray is one of just a handful of runners who have marked half a century or more of completing the world’s most famous marathon. Alongside his rich connection to this race, his running resume includes:
- Completing the World Marathon Challenge (seven marathons in seven days on seven continents);
- Nine IRONMAN World Championships;
- A 1,250-mile run along the US East Coast in 1980 to benefit the Jimmy Fund;
- A 24-hour run (120 miles,) a 24-hour bike (385 miles,) and a 24-hour swim (27 miles); and
- He ‘triathloned’ around the six New England states by swimming one mile, biking 80 miles and running 20 miles every day for 32 consecutive days.
Over the span of his life, he estimates he’s run more than 150,000 miles.
www.davemcgillivray.com
www.baa.org
