Indeed there was, and Bush was described as our "fastest president".
Posted on 10/15/2004 11:10:49 AM PDT by Land_of_Lincoln_John
Wrote to BAA, this is what I got back.
Dear Mr. S.
It was reported (Summer 2004) to the B.A.A. by aides of the John F. Kerry campaign for President of the United States that the Democratic nominee ran the Boston Marathon in the late 1970s [1977, 1978 or 1979 most likely]. He reportedly ran as an unofficial entrant and finished the entire 26.2-mile race (i.e., without an official bib number); as an unofficial participant, his performance (name, place, time) would not appear among the official record or in any results book publication. Beginning with Kerry's role as Massachusetts Lt. Governor during the Dukakis administration, the presidential hopeful has been involved with the world's oldest annual marathon on various levels: as ceremonial official starter from Hopkinton, as part of the finish line ceremonies and crowning of the champions with the traditional olive wreath and diamond-studded gold medal, and supporter of the wheelchair division.
Accurate as of Oct. 6 , 2004 with the information provided to the B.A.A.
Thank you for your question.
Sincerely,
Jack Fleming
Director of Communications
Boston Athletic Association
40 Trinity Place, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02116
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert S
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 2:01 PM
To: Mile27
Subject: John Kerry's number when he ran the marathon
Hello,
I wondered if this information was available to you.
John Kerry ran the marathon sometime in the 70's.
Is it possible to find out what year, what his number was, and the time he finished?
Thank You,
Robert S
Posted by: Robert S at October 6, 2004 10:26 AM
I edited some of the personal information from the message posting.
It's essentially a way of life. There is no friggin' way he ran it.
Hope he had kept himself in shape for the strain of all this.
Pretty darn hard to get a bib number. Again, this is the BOSTON marathon!!! For Kerry's age group in the late 1970s, he would've had to run a sub 3 hour race in a QUALIFYING marathon, meaning he would have had to run a prior marathon. Which one was that? In 1980, Rosie Ruiz's year, that time was 2:50. Charity exemptions came later in the 1980s.
AFAIK there are corps that sponsor the event which receive entries as well. So it's entirely possible for him to got it through one of Mama T's connections...
Bush run's the 5K in about 20:30 with breaking the 20 occasionally. There was a great article in Runners World about him...
This smelleth to high heaven. Hugh Hewitt commented on Kerry's Marathongate about a week ago, noting as other FR runners on this thread have that anyone who's ever run a marathon -- especially if it's only one -- could give you weather conditions, time, and a host of even the most miniscule details.
But, if you run it officially you get some type of letter, certificate of other recognition, right?
Indeed there was, and Bush was described as our "fastest president".
There you go.
His campaign aides state that he ran (may have run) as an "unofficial entrant". Or, to un-parse the statement: "he did not officially run in the Boston Marathon".
Official is official. He may have run on the same course as the Boston Marathon...but he did not run "IN" the Boston Marathon.
All that stuff, plus a finsher's medallion. Runners like myself keep all those kinds of things, until we die.
But perhaps Kerry threw his medallion over a fence? Ribbons, medals, medallions, these terms can be used interchangeably.
I sent the following to Jack:
Dear Jack,
Is the BAA verifying the fact that John Kerry in the 1970s ran in and completed the entire 26.2-mile Boston Marathon? (see below, in blue)*
Doesn't this written response document John Kerry's participation and completion of the race, an event that may never have happened, just like Cambodia?
I lived in Boston for 65 years, one block from the corner of Lake Street and Commonwealth for 35 of those years. I was at the Marathon every year except those I was in the service.
I know who and what John Kerry is. He soils everything he touches and now he he has touched the Boston Marathon.
I would like to know if you, as an official of the Boston Marathon, are stating that John Kerry ran in and completed the Boston Marathon? If so, I would like to know in what year this event occured and what documentation you have?
Regards,
PS
Florida
Retired
* Email from Jack Fleming
Dear Mr. S.
It was reported (Summer 2004) to the B.A.A. by aides of the John F. Kerry campaign for President of the United States that the Democratic nominee ran the Boston Marathon in the late 1970s [1977, 1978 or 1979 most likely]. He reportedly ran as an unofficial entrant and finished the entire 26.2-mile race (i.e., without an official bib number); as an unofficial participant, his performance (name, place, time) would not appear among the official record or in any results book publication. Beginning with Kerry's role as Massachusetts Lt. Governor during the Dukakis administration, the presidential hopeful has been involved with the world's oldest annual marathon on various levels: as ceremonial official starter from Hopkinton, as part of the finish line ceremonies and crowning of the champions with the traditional olive wreath and diamond-studded gold medal, and supporter of the wheelchair division.
Accurate as of Oct. 6 , 2004 with the information provided to the B.A.A.
Thank you for your question.
Sincerely,
Jack Fleming
Director of Communications
Boston Athletic Association
40 Trinity Place, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02116
I sort of took, simply for the sake of the argument, the premise that Kerry had been able to qualify (or even finish) and therefore would have no excuse. Naturally, I know he was no where near the marathon and therefore did not try to get a bib or signed up. ;)
Then, sad to say Beckwith, you know all about "Massachussets-style politics." And so does Jack Fleming.
They should be able to verify that!
Thaat's the first time I have seen the spin that Kerry was an unofficial entrant. I guess using that rationale, I guess anyone can say hean whatever marathon he wanted and we must accept it because he was an "unoffical participant." I subscribe the Runner's World and read the article. No mention was made about the contention that Kerry was an "unofficial participant."
What would be the reasoning behind running a marathon "unofficially," especially the Boston Marathon?
Only one I can think of..If you're a narcissistic putz, you'd worry about being embarassed if you either didn't finish, or ran a really bad time..then if you could run "unofficially" there'd be NO record of your dismal accomplishment. FWIW, after the Rosie Ruiz mess. they were pulling people off the course who didn't have the NUMBERS on their shirts..I don't think you could do it..
There you have it..."reportedly ran". No documentation of proof though..just the lying scumbag's word for it. We should believe him though..after all, he was a Vietnam Vet.
But this "reportedly" will be good enough for Dan Rather.
Kerry's Valet ran the Marathon carrying Kerry on his back.
By the way, has anyone seen his man servant lately?
As an "unofficial" participant, could it be that Mr. Kerry took a quick detour down a side street where a car was waiting for him, and magically showed up emerging from another side street somewhere near the finish line?
Ha ha, I cracked myself up with that last comment.
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