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Sports

Larosa Readies for His Fourth Boston Marathon

The 115th Boston Marathon will mark the fourth time Union Street resident Mark Larosa has run the famous race.

Name: Mark Larosa

Age: 32

Marathon Experience: 2011 will mark the fourth Boston Marathon for Mark Larosa, who has resided in Melrose for the past five years. 

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Reason for running: After running in 2005, 2008 and 2009, the Union Street resident will be making a return to the most famous 26.2-mile course in the world this Patriots’ Day, albeit under slightly different circumstances than in the past. After undergoing back surgery last summer for a blown disc, Larosa decided to enter the race as a means to motivate himself in his recovery. Normally running for speed, Larosa will be happy just to finish this year after recovering from surgery.

“I’m not really training in terms of mileage,” he said. “This year will be a much different race for me than in the past.”

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Larosa’s best ever time in Boston is 2:32, while his fastest Marathon time overall was 2:32.48 at Chicago in 2006.

Training Tip: Larosa advises those considering their first Boston Marathon run to get out on the course and become familiar with it. “Living in the area, and being able to run the course is a big advantage,” he said. “Being able to get on it and familiarize yourself with it.”

Larosa also cautions runners to not only heed the course’s famous succession of hills, but to be mindful of the downhill portion near the starting line, as runners who hit the decline too zealously run the risk of burning out their legs before the finish line.

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