Gary Pool, the county engineer, will run in the Boston Marathon for the first time. Thursday, April 14, 2022.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
HANCOCK COUNTY — Day-in and day-out, Gary Pool, county engineer for the Hancock County Highway Department, is focused on making sure the county’s roads are in good shape. His work includes fixing bad roads, planning new paving projects and dealing with construction needs to keep roadways running smoothly and safely.
On Monday, Pool will be dialed in on his own path — 26 miles and 385 yards of the prestigious Boston Marathon, the oldest annual foot race. The Boston Athletic Association has organized the marathon annually since 1897 except in 2020 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the marathon was held but later, in October. The event is hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston and is traditionally held on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April.
Pool, 44, New Palestine, will be participating in his first Boston Marathon, a lofty goal for someone who just took up long-distance, competitive running a few years ago. Pool, who attended Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology where he earned his engineering degree, started running for fun when he was in the U.S. Army.
He said he has only been running seriously for about four years after he picked up a few pounds and decided he wanted to get in better shape.
“Turns out I don’t have the discipline to control what I eat, but I do have the discipline to go out and run,” Pool said.
While running for better health is one thing, stepping out to participate in the Boston Marathon is a whole different ballgame.
Fortunately, Pool, who said he’s always been a “quick runner,” qualified for the Boston Marathon fairly early in his competitive running career and was able to pick up some advice on what it’s like to run the Boston Marathon from another local runner.
Deputy Prosecutor Michelle Wade is a veteran long-distance runner and has taken part in several Boston Marathons. She offered Pool some solid advice.
“Michelle has experience with the course, and that matters a lot,” Pool said. “Her advice has been sound — to take it easy at the start with so much excitement.”
Wade, 50, Greenfield, picked up long-distance running several years ago from her father, she said. Wade and her brother, Mark Lund, who is also an accomplished runner, are both Greenfield-Central High School graduates who run again in this year’s Boston Marathon.
Wade will participate in her 11th Boston Marathon on Monday. Her personal best came in 2015 when she finished the Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 36 minutes. However, like any good runner, she’s hoping for a new record time in 2022. Her most enjoyable Boston Marathon however was in 2014 when she participated as a guide, running the marathon with a blind runner, Indiana attorney Kristin Fleschner.
“She was looking for someone to run with her and, while her pace was slower than mine, that way I could guide her,” Wade said. “It was the best experience.”
Wade also ran at the Boston Marathon in 2013 when bombs went off near the finish line. She had, in fact, just finished running when she heard the explosion a few blocks away killing three people and injuring more than 260.
“It was extremely chaotic that day,” Wade said.
Both Wade and Pool say they are hoping for a safe race, one with cool weather because cooler temperatures is what they’ve both trained in.
“I like it in the 40s and overcast,” Wade said. “There have been times when it’s been hot there, and I never do well on those days.”
Pool, who enjoys being outdoors, said he’s run in four marathons so far and was able to learn about patience and dealing with setbacks. He decided to try marathon running after performing well, earning a couple of Club Medals in Indianapolis Mini-Marathons.
“After doing the Mini and earning two medals, someone suggested maybe I should try and do the Boston Marathon, and I thought, why not?” Pool said.
He began training and qualified with a time of 3 hours and 9 minutes and knows he’ll have to curb his biggest temptation in Boston on Monday, going fast at the start, if he wants to have a solid run.
“I don’t want to crash at the end,” Pool said. “A marathon isn’t painful, like some shorter races. It’s more of a good, solid misery and, in all honesty, is terrible. But it is a big sense of accomplishment.”
Wade noted Pool is correct, running marathons is grueling. Plus, the Boston Marathon is a difficult course, particularly at the end.
“The hardest part is inbetween miles 16 and 21,” Wade said. “You know going in it will be difficult.”
Before the run, Pool plans to take in the sights while on the east coast. That includes eating some good Boston food, he said. Wade noted she and her brother will probably try and have a carbo-loading meal before the marathon with Pool, who is excited to see the historic city.
“I want to see what all the hoopla is about and enjoy the town,” Pool said. “I’m excited because I didn’t realize the Boston Marathon is as big of deal as it is, but people are really into it.”
