Curtis Rowe’s feet hit the ground six days a week logging mile after mile in his quest for health and personal achievement.
He’ll see early next week just how far he can stretch his body in pursuit of crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon, one of the largest marathons in the country.
“The whole experience is supposed to be unbelievable,” Rowe said, “with fans and support lining both sides of the course.”
Rowe, a Columbus resident, qualified to run in the Boston Marathon by running a      personal best time of 3 hours, 6 minutes at the Little Rock Marathon in Little Rock, Ark. back in March 2011.
He’ll take his spot in the sea of runners in Boston Monday, April 16, while his wife, 3-month old child and his parents cheer from the sidelines.
The Boston Marathon draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, along with more than 20,000 runners, to the city each year after starting with just 18 participants in 1897. Considered the third largest marathon in the United States, 26,895 people entered the race in 2011.
“It’s the hardest marathon to get into because you have to run a fast qualifying time at another marathon,” Rowe said. “I’ve trained harder this winter and this spring than I’ve ever done in hopes that I can reach another personal best in Boston.”
Rowe said he runs six days a week, sometimes twice a day, to get in the miles he needs to improve his stamina and speed. His shortest runs each week have him logging no less than 8 miles, while his longest runs can be up to 22 miles.