KINGMAN – Kingman’s Anna Benson ran her Boston marathon at home Saturday, since last Monday’s race in Massachusetts has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Benson and many others who registered for Boston ran virtual marathon’s that will be recognized with medals mailed by race officials once times are submitted by athletes.
Benson’s friend Nikki Short decided to make Benson’s run a community event. “She said ‘since you have to run it anyway, we might as well make it fun.'”
And Kingman did! As she meandered through the community Benson she was greeted by children on bicycles, folks sitting on lawn chairs in their driveways and some friends ran along for a mile or more. They honked horns, rattled clappers and cheered as she ran by.
“It was absolutely amazing. Every time I saw somebody different, especially their signs, it just brought tears to my eyes. And I thought ‘oh my gosh this is so amazing that all these people are out here for me,” Benson said. “It made it better than Boston. This was way better. I run Boston with 30,000 people who I don’t know but here I get to run through my community and it really warmed my heart to see so much love and kindness…these people were out here really showing what true community is.”
Benson said Kingman offered glorious weather for her Saturday run, while she said rain and wind and poor conditions were her reality at her last two marathons in Boston. Benson said she slowed her pace Saturday so she could better embrace the warmth and love.
“Normally I’m running as hard as I can to get to the finish line and be done to go eat a big cheeseburger and this was just all about enjoying the time,” Benson said. She said her Saturday experience will provide motivation and inspiration for her to run faster at the Boston marathon, rescheduled for September.
- Dave Hawkins
