Board member Dave Ryan represented the ASU contingent in the 2008 Boston Marathon. When Dave is not busy running in marathons, biking for charity or competing in Iron Man competitions, he volunteers his time on the Parents Association board of advisors. A member since 2000, Dave is active on the scholarship and Professor of the Year committees. Dave and his wife Fran are proud parents of 2004 WP Carey graduate Matthew, and Julie, who will graduate from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in May 2009 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Spanish.
Here is what Dave had to say about his experience in Boston:
"The Boston Marathon weekend is truly a family weekend in Boston with multiple generations from thousands of families coming out to watch and picnicking on their lawns. The entire 26 mile course from Hopkington to downtown Boston is lined with people. The third Monday of April is 'Patriot's Day', a state holiday in Massachusetts, so the course is lined with kids and families but the most memorable points are where the college students congregate ... and so many of them instantly recognized the ASU t-shirt I was wearing. 'Scream Tunnel' at the 13 mile mark is where Wellsley College students come out in force and create a sustained noise that can be heard from two miles away and it is deafening when running past the college. Starting at mile 16 and through mile 20 is the 'Heartbreak Hill' series of hills and the college students and families picnicking are sitting and standing 10 deep cheering runners through the hills. Cresting the final hill at mile 20 it is six miles into downtown Boston and the finish line on Boyleston Avenue. That final six miles is filled with college students. So starting at mile 13 and through the next 13 miles to the finish there was not more than a few hundred yards that went by without one or more people yelling out 'ASU' and cheering me on. Judging from the positive reaction to the ASU t-shirt by the college students and the parents along the course I guess we have sent our kids to a pretty popular place."
And Dave’s challenge: Calling all ASU parents, send us your photo in your ASU T-shirt!
Photo courtesy of MarathonFoto