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Locals finish strong at Boston Marathon

| 23 Apr 2014 | 11:01
    Team Eastern in Boston prior to the race.
    Team Eastern in Boston prior to the race.
    Jeremy Scheid, Laura DeLea and Justin Scheid (the day before the Marathon).
    Jeremy Scheid, Laura DeLea and Justin Scheid (the day before the Marathon).
    Laura Delea and boyfriend Rob Nicholson (of Eastern Propane).
    Laura Delea and boyfriend Rob Nicholson (of Eastern Propane).
    Team Eastern.
    Team Eastern.
    Paul Meyer.
    Paul Meyer.
    Boston Marathon finisher's medal.
    Boston Marathon finisher's medal.
    Photo by Karl Fenske A spectator's sign.
    Photo by Karl Fenske A spectator's sign.
    Karl Fenske snaps a photot while running the Boston Marathon.
    Karl Fenske snaps a photot while running the Boston Marathon.

By Alexis Tarrazi
BOSTON — Local runners from Team Eastern took to the streets of Boston on Patriot's Day, April 21 and conquered.

Soaking in the crowd's excitement helped drive each one to the finish line.

"The spectators were so energizing!" said Laura DeLea of Sparta. "They lined the streets 20 rows deep for 26.2 miles... Music blasting, fans cheering, the people of Massachusetts thanking us as we ran for not giving up on Boston and for being there for them. I can’t explain it... It made me laugh, it made me cry but most of all it made me keep on going even when I thought I had nothing left.”

The running group, made up of 11 locals across Sussex County, each finished the Boston Marathon. Some even ran a personal best — including Brendan McDonough of Sparta, Paul Meyer of Hackettstown and Lauren Huffman of Branchville.

Out of the thousands of runners that came to Boston, two from Team Eastern were able to finish in the top 400. Justin Scheid of Sparta finished in 99th place overall with a time of 2:30:20 and Billy Washer of Ogdensburg came in 392 with a time of 2:41:29.

Karl Fenske, another member of Team Eastern, ran last year and was yards away from finishing when the two bombs exploded at the finish line. This year he was able to finally cross it.

"It wasn’t my first marathon, I wasn’t a virgin or anything," Fenske said. "I know the feeling of finishing and it's a good, good feeling to be done with it."

Fenske attempted to listen to music during the race but said the crowd was so loud it was impossible to hear over them.

"There is elation from mile 20 where all you want to do is finish," Fenske said. "Everybody is a mess at that point. You see people falling over, going into a fetal position, stretching, grabbing their thighs and what not... and you just hope that is not going to be you.

"You are just so tired and think one more mile," Fenske continued. "And the finish looks like the most beautiful thing in the world. So glorious. You can't even imagine how good it feels. It is Heaven on Earth to finish."