COMMUNITY JOURNALISM: Boston Marathon was 'amazing'

Two local runners took the time to share their experience of running in the 116h Boston Marathon on Monday. Although the day proved to be challenging, both finished the 26.2-mile race. Stephanie Kliethermes of Iowa City finished in 3 hours, 57 minutes and 27 seconds, just behind Tami Loan of Cedar Rapids (3:49:32).

Here are their stories:

Stephanie Kliethermes

The marathon was amazing.

Because of the extreme heat, I refocused my goals away from my goal time and chose to fully experience Boston instead. One of the many heat related emails we recieved from the BAA officials in the past few days stated "you should adopt the attitude that THIS IS NOT A RACE. It is an experience."

I took their advice to heart and dropped my goal pace by a minute a mile - and had the time of my life.

It certainly helped that my Garmin died 1.5 miles into the marathon and so I was forced to run by feel for most of the race.

From loading the buses to head out to Hopkinton, to hanging out in athletes village, to high-fiving kids along the way, to eating popsicles and running through water hoses along the course, it was certainly a birthday I will never forget. There is nothing like running through Boston College with all the students cheering wildly, cresting Heartbreak Hill knowing the hardest is behind you, or making the last turn towards the finish when you are about to realize your dream.

A huge thanks goes out to all the volunteers, the crowd, the individuals passing out ice, water and popsicles and those spraying us with hoses, as well as my brother and parents for making this experience amazing and my countless supporters from all over who encouraged me to live in the moment.

I will most definitely be back.

Tami Loan

The race itself was tough. I started out thinking I could still manage my eight-minute pace. Right around mile 10, I realized I would not be able to maintain it.

I started out with my sister, Tara. It was really neat that we were able to share the experience - this was something we both had been working toward for many years. We ran the first couple of miles together.

We also had a great cheering squad.  Our mother and younger sister, Christy, were at Heartbreak Hill - and I was so glad to see them. I probably would have walked up the hill if they had not been there. Then just before I turned the corner to finish,  my boyfriend, Keith, stepfather Rex and brother-in-law Jake were there. All wore bright pink bandanas so that we could find them. It worked.

The crowds at the finish - and actually all along the course - were amazing. They definitely kept me going.  I think the hardest part was not the hills but the last four miles. It seemed like it was so close, but they were the longest four I had ever run.

Overall, the experience was incredible. Just being there with some of the world's best runners was am amazing feeling.

Area finishers

MEN: Juerg Tschirren (Iowa City), 3:12:59; Adam Frye (Decorah), 3:15:05; Brett Stephenson (Cedar Rapids), 3:31:22; Ezra Hallam (North Liberty), 3:31:52; Nicholas Dolan (Cedar Rapids), 3:36:52; Matt Miller (Iowa City), 3:47:25; Jeff McClure (Cedar Rapids), 3:51:45; Andrew Papendieck (Coralville), 3:57:58; John Renning (Cedar Rapids), 4:11:20; Zach Cloe (Cedar Rapids), 4:15:52; Duane Boelman (McGregor), 4:18:11; David Reid (Fairfax), 4:22:13; Monte Marti (Mount Vernon), 4:23:50; Chad Pfhol (Iowa City), 4:36:57; David Carney (Cedar Rapids), 4:37:03; David Moser (Iowa City), 4:47:18; James Langholz (Decorah), 4:50:33; William Lack (Iowa City), 4:50:43; Paul Garcia (Marion), 5:06:49; Adam Koch (Cedar Rapids), 5:08:51.

WOMEN: Lacey Worth (Coralville), 3:36:10; Heidi Skildum (Decorah), 3:39:17; Sara Stewart (North Liberty), 3:43:07; Elaina Mertens (Cedar Rapids), 3:47:14; Tami Loan (Cedar Rapids), 3:49:32; Stephanie Kliethermes (Iowa City), 3:57:27; Katie Klocke (Iowa City), 3:57:41; Rita Taylor-Stewart (Atkins), 4:06:51; Amanda Harris (Earlville), 4:13:13; Tara Loan (Iowa City), 4:18:05; Beth Pfohl (Iowa City), 4:36:56; Sarah Clark (Iowa City), 4:49:49; Lisa Benton (North Liberty), 4:58:40; Kim Wander (West Union), 5:02:12.