In April of this year, Al Colin of St. Barnabas Parish in Long Beach, completed his 8th consecutive Boston Marathon.
“Crossing the finish line in Boston is so addictive,” Colin said. “I can’t wait to get back and do it again.”
Boston isn’t the only finish line where Colin has gotten that rush — he has ran a total of 49 marathons in his running career, and he has no plans to slow down. Boston is one of 9 marathons he has planned for this year.
Among Colin’s most memorable races are his first Long Beach Marathon in 2004, his first Boston Marathon in 2011, and the 2017 New York City Marathon. But the highlight of his running experiences was carrying the Olympic Torch in 2004. He was selected to run a leg when the torch made its way through Los Angeles, en route to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
“I run because I’m able to,” Colin says of his hobby. “I’ve found ‘a foundation of Youth’ and a way to stay healthy. Running gives me clarity and sets my mind free.”
