I have been competing in marathons for the past 15 years. I began in this endurance sport in the fall of 1994 in the Ocean State Marathon, a race that began at Narragansett Beach and ended at Warwick Veterans High School. At the time hardly anyone gave me a chance of finishing the 26.2-mile course, but 12 hours later I crossed the finish line. My marathon career had begun.

Over the next 14 years I raced in 40 marathons across the United States, but I have always looked forward to one marathon in particular: the Boston Marathon. This is known worldwide as the most challenging endurance race anywhere. Because of the strict qualifying times and the way I have to race because of my disability (propelling my racing chair backwards with my legs), I had to fight to be treated as an official entry. After several years of racing this marathon unofficially, I was granted the right to officially race the Boston Marathon. I was thrilled and I look forward to heading up to Beantown every year.

This year I felt as prepared as in any year in the past. I had a couple of injuries but I recovered from all of them several weeks before the race. This was also my second year racing for the Providence Ronald McDonald House Running Club (PRMHRC). Being a part of this unique club motivates me to get out there and train even harder than before.

On Monday, April 21, I headed up to Hopkinton, Mass., to compete in my 14th consecutive Boston and my 41st career marathon to date. I couldn’t have asked for better weather. Temperatures were in the high 50s to low 60s all day.

Both the New York and the Boston marathons are not only races, they are major sporting events. This is apparent as soon as you arrive on the scene.

As I warmed up I felt very well, and I couldn’t wait to get under way. At 9 o’clock, when I started my 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to the heart of Boston, I could feel the excitement in the air. This year my guide runners, Randy and Q, accompanied me.

The first two miles of this marathon is all downhill, so I get a good start but it is difficult to get my legs warmed up. I enjoy this race because there are people watching everywhere along the course. Sometimes the people cheering leave your ears ringing. For Massachusetts this race and day is one to party and have fun. As the race went on I became aware I was not going to set any personal records, but this is one year I will remember because of all the people that followed me along the course. My guide Randy had made a shirt with writing on it that said “Go Jason.” I must have heard my name called a million times that day.

Pushing my way up and down the hills I took time to look at some of the spectators. I saw people of all ages, business people, families, children and a few disabled individuals. Unless you compete in one of these endurance races you really can’t imagine how much energy you can draw from the crowd. I especially enjoy hearing the small children yelling, “Go, Jason, go”. As I reached heartbreak hill at mile 18, a woman drove up with her son in the car. She got out of her car and approached us and asked if her son could meet me. We took a short break and talked to him and gave him one of my trademark Team Pisano rubber bracelets and continued on our way. As we traveled on to Boston we met many more special people. Everyone is so encouraging on marathon Monday. I started hearing, “You’re almost there” with about 2 miles to go, and I think I heard those same words about 5 feet before I crossed the finish line.

Monday was not a banner day in my marathon career. However, it was a very rewarding day in my life. I hope as I make my way to my ultimate goal of 51 marathons so that I can continue to inspire people of all ages and walks of life and show them that nothing is impossible.