Merritts finally get to Boston

Posted 4/26/16

“We had qualified for it plenty of times before, but just never had the chance to go,” Jeanna said. “Whether it was the timing, or with having our kids when they were younger, it wasn’t something we were able to do.”

After racing in a …

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Merritts finally get to Boston

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For Ladell and Jeanna Merritt, competing in last week’s Boston Marathon was a long time coming, but worth the wait.

“We had qualified for it plenty of times before, but just never had the chance to go,” Jeanna said. “Whether it was the timing, or with having our kids when they were younger, it wasn’t something we were able to do.”

After racing in a marathon in Salt Lake City last spring, with Ladell’s time once again qualifying him for the prestigious race in Boston, a decision was made.

“He came home one day and said, ‘guess where we’re going,’” Jeanna said. “When he told me we were going to be in the Boston Marathon I realized I needed to get in a race to qualify, since my time at Salt Lake didn’t.”

She would get that qualification and it was off to Beantown to finally take part in the experience.

And it was an experience on a whole different level indeed.

“At Salt Lake, I remember there being 7,000 racers in all, but that included all the different side races as well,” Jeanna said. “In Boston, you’re talking over 25,000 runners. So many that they send you off the start in waves and you’ll be walking for a while before you even get to the starting line. Ladell walked for five and a half minutes before he got to the start.

“Most marathons you’ll do, as you go, the runners will get somewhat spread out, so you might be 100 yards away from the nearest runner,” she added. “There, you were never alone, and you could always reach out and touch someone. Then there were the fans lining the streets. There was one area that may have been blocked off, but other than that, there were just so many people everywhere.”

Both of the Merritts did what they came to do, finish the race and be able to say they completed the Boston Marathon.

“It was a great experience, for sure, and we’re glad we finally were able to take part,” Jeanna said. “I don’t know if it is something that we could, logistically or financially, or would do it again, but it was certainly something to experience.”

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