Hanscom personnel set to run Boston Marathon

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Runners here are preparing to participate in the annual Boston Marathon on Patriots’ Day, which is being celebrated on April 16 this year.

Michael Menovich, who has completed more than 80 marathons in total, has run the Boston Marathon every year since 1991. He belongs to an organization called the “Quarter Century Club,” for those who have run the Boston Marathon 25 or more times in a row.

“As long as I keep the Boston Marathon streak going and finish within six hours, I will automatically be able to enter into the next year's Boston Marathon,” said Menovich, a test and evaluation engineer for the Battle Management Directorate’s Wide Area Surveillance program.

The other Hanscom participants are running for the first time.

“As a military spouse, I am honored to be selected as the first team member, and only military spouse, for the inaugural USO [United Service Organizations] Boston Marathon team,” said Jacqilyn Edwards, a spouse of an Army active duty colonel whose family lives on base. “I have personally experienced how this incredible organization keeps service members connected to family, home and country through acts of caring, comfort and support.”

Stacy Hughes is running her first marathon for a Boston-based education program that assists students in more than 50 schools across the Commonwealth.

“I will be running the Boston Marathon on behalf of Boston Partners in Education,” said Hughes, a requirements engineer for Battle Management’s Airborne Warning and Control System program. “This non-profit organization helps at-risk children in Massachusetts receive individual mentoring so they can receive a healthy positive educational experience and the self-confidence needed to succeed.”

The runners spoke about the opportunity to participate in the nation’s longest continuously run marathon, spanning 122 years.

“This unique race, from Hopkinton to Boston, continues to bring people together from all over the world,” Edwards said. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to experience it all firsthand while being stationed here as my husband attends Harvard as a War College Fellow.”

Preparing for his 28th consecutive Boston Marathon, Menovich discussed the race in 2013.

“I finished about 15 minutes after the first bomb detonated near the finish line in 2013,” Menovich said. “I was near the buses and changing my clothes when it went off, which I thought was a generator exploding. When the second explosion happened and I could see emergency vehicles responding, I knew it was more significant than that.”

Since then, interest has grown in the marathon.

“Being part of this marathon encompasses the spirit of Boston,” said Hughes. “The unfortunate events that took place in 2013 were devastating, but the outcome did not break the spirit of the community. In fact, I believe it made us stronger.”

Edwards, who has only lived at Hanscom since last summer, agrees.

“I am tremendously grateful to have the opportunity to run the 2018 Boston Marathon,” she said. “Running Boston symbolizes passion, dedication, strength, determination and resiliency.”

Approximately 30,000 people are registered to run this year’s marathon.

For those unable to obtain a marathon qualifying time, runners are able to participate through the Boston Marathon Official Charity Program.

Edwards also spoke about what she hopes for while running the 26.2 mile course.

“My goal is to represent the USO well, to take in all of the positive energy from the local community, and to have faith that I am able to conquer this challenging course on Patriots’ Day,” Edwards said. “To set a new personal record [beating 3 hours 42 minutes 44 seconds] and re-qualify for next year would be icing on the cake.”