It wasn't even fast enough to win the women's division.
But, Amber Hanes' time of 3 hours, 11 minutes and 14 seconds was fast enough to place the Belpre resident among the top 290 women to compete in the Boston Marathon on Monday.
"I was excited," said Hanes. "The whole experience was amazing."
Hanes, who played basketball and softball for the Cougars of Frontier High School, was competing in only her second marathon.
"The first race I ever ran was a half marathon," said the Marietta College graduate. "I was kind of hooked on it after that."
Hooked to the point where she joined the local River City Runners and Walkers Club.
"That (joining the club) is what really got me hooked. I started training with a group of very competitive runners and I found my niche."
A niche that allowed her to move from the 2-mile race two years ago to the News and Sentinel Half Marathon last summer and then to the Columbus Marathon in October.
Following her effort of 1 hour and 44 minutes in Parkersburg, Hanes began to train in earnest for the longer distance. She, and a group of other club members then traveled to Columbus where her time of 3 hours, 35 minutes and 43 seconds qualified her for the Boston Marathon-deemed the oldest and most prestigious marathon in the world.
"I had heard and read a lot about it (the Boston Marathon), but it was really something to see all of the people lining the course and cheering for you. You even had kids high-fiving you all along the race."
Traveling with Hanes to compete in Boston were club members Phyllis Brown, Christy Brague, John Carter and Eric Stanley. Carter covered the distance in 3 hours, 17 minutes and 14 seconds followed by Stanley (3:18.49), Brague (3:30.25) and Brown (3:57.05).
Winning the women's division with a time of 2 hours, 22 minutes and 36 seconds was Kenyan Caroline Kilel while finishing second, just two seconds behind, was American Desiree Davila.
Hanes, who averaged 7:18 per mile, covered the first 5K in 22 minutes and 15 seconds and the first 13.1-miles in 1 hour, 31 minutes and 49 seconds.
Finishing second-and fifth overall-among American women was Kara Goucher (2:24:52) while former Doddridge County and West Virginia University standout Clara Grandt was the third American (16th overall) to cross the finish line in 2:29:54.
Monday's race won't be Hanes' last, however, as she and others from the club plan on competing at the Cleveland/Rite Aid Marathon and Half Marathon on May 15 and the former Belpre head girls' basketball coach hopes to run in the ING/New York City Marathon on Nov. 6.
Article Photos
Amber Hanes, shown crossing the finish line at the News and Sentinel Half Marathon, was fast enough to place the Belpre resident among the top 290 women to compete in the Boston Marathon on Monday. (News and Sentinel File Photo)