Man with Muscular Dystrophy Guts Out 20-Hour Boston Marathon Journey

As an athletic event inspired by the story of a guy who finished it and then died, the marathon is a grueling physical meat grinder of will and endurance.

Professional runners complete the distance in a freakish two hours and change, while the average weekend warrior suffers for about twice that long over the course of the 26.2-mile race. 

Maickel Melamed is not among this “average” majority. He’s a Venezuelan native born with a rare muscular dystrophy condition that renders running an impossibility and walking a challenge, yet he still managed to complete the Boston Marathon despite all inherent disadvantages. 

Susie Steimle of WBZ-TV News (CBS Boston) (h/t Sporting News’ Marc Lancaster) brings us the story of Melamed’s journey through Boston. Starting out at 8:50 a.m. on Monday, the 39-year-old began making his way to the finish. By the time race-winner Lelisa Desisa crossed the line at 2:09:17, Melamed was still working his way to the 10-kilometer mark.

Melamed finished the cold, soggy race early Tuesday morning—more than 20 hours after his start. He was the final participant to finish the race, guided along by a supportive crowd of friends and strangers who would catch him when he fell and help him to regain his feet.

The finish marked the Venezuelan’s fifth marathon, and Melamed says he’s grateful to Boston, the city whose hospitals saved his life with surgical procedures as a youth.

“For me, I’m so grateful for Boston and to Boston. This is an amazing city,” Melamed said. 

He said he hopes to receive a finisher’s medal from the marathon committee, and apologizes for his tardiness.

“I’m so late,” Melamed said as he finished the race. 

Due to the physical tolls exacted on Melamed’s body, the Boston Marathon will be the last long-distance event Melamed participates in. He’s still happy that he managed to gut out this final race in such difficult conditions. 

“The wind, the rain, the distance, the cold—I mean, everything today was overcome,” Melamed said.

Dan is on Twitter. He couldn’t finish a marathon right now if you paid him.