Phoenix runners to step up for virtual Boston Marathon

PHOENIX — Who needs to travel to participate in Monday’s Boston Marathon? More than two dozen runners from the Phoenix area will “race” virtually for charity.

Those racers will each run one mile, starting at 7 a.m., on a treadmill set up next to a Boston Marathon finish banner outside of Runner’s Den at 16th Street and Maryland Avenue in Phoenix.

Money raised from the virtual race will go to One Fund for Boston, the charity established last year after the bombing at the event. Donations can be made on-site, at the store’s website or buying raffle tickets.

Ron French with Runner’s Den said the race will be streamed on a TV set up in front of the treadmill so that the runners can “race” with field in Boston. They will virtually cover the course from the start in Hopkinton, Mass., through the Newton Hills to the finish in downtown Boston.

“This event filled up quickly,” French said. “Within 10 minutes of announcing it we had our 26 runners and I think we could have easily of done it three, four or five times.”