Sundberg lives dream of
running in Boston Marathon

By DAWN SLADE
Mille Lacs County Times
Posted 5/15/03

Many adjectives described Joyce Sundberg¹s first time competing in the historic Boston Marathon on April 21. Overwhelming, challenging, hot, humbling and inspiring were some of the words Sundberg used to describe the experience.

Sundberg, an employee of East Central Energy and a Foreston resident, said of the event, ³It was extremely emotional. You¹ve been waiting for this for so long and the overwhelming enormity of the event...I just wanted to finish and I did!²

The Star Spangled Banner was played at the start of the race, while two F14 jets flew overhead.

³The reality sets in,² Sundberg said of the emotional start.

Competing with so many other runners (Sundberg was number 14,891) was a factor.

³Just seeing the people at the expo was rather intimidating,² Sundberg admitted.

Once she was lined up with the thousands of other runners, it took Sundberg 12 minutes to get to the actual start of the race.

Sundberg said she was on track the first eight miles of the race, which was mostly down hill.

³The adrenaline rush is so great, you just go with it,² Sundberg said.

As she proceeded further into the race, the 70-degree temperature started to take its toll.

There were some rough, stressful moments, especially on the hills, and Sundberg admits she wondered if she would even finish the race.

Adding to the pressure was witnessing other runners getting sick and cramping up during the race.

³Running the course and seeing people struggle and trying to block that out and still finish it was difficult,² she said.

Each runner was given an electronic chip that was laced into their shoe. The chips were programmed with each runner¹s pertinent information and nine separate check points recorded the runners¹ times as they passed by.

The chips also allowed family and friends to check on Sundberg¹s progress throughout the race via the internet.

Knowing there were family and friends watching the event on the internet was motivational for Sundberg.

In just over four hours, Sundberg completed the 26-mile course in warmer temperatures than expected and with more hills than she¹s used to running on.

And though she finished roughly 15 minutes behind her qualifying time, Sundberg didn¹t mind, saying she was relieved just to finish.

³For me, getting across that finish line at the most historic marathon - it¹s priceless,² Sundberg said.

Sundberg is now gearing up to compete at Grandma¹s Marathon in Duluth in six weeks.