Though an Achilles injury forced him to quit 18 1/2 miles into the race, New Canaan’s Larry Ikard was thrilled to run in the Boston Marathon in April.
That echoes the sentiment of virtually everyone who returned to Boston following the tragic events of last year when two exploding bombs near the finish line killed three and wounded many others.
“It was pretty inspiring,” said Ikard, who ran the marathon for the third time. “The vibe there was pretty cool. There were a third more people this year running in it and the crowd was terrific. Overall, a pretty amazing and emotional vibe.”
About 36,000 runners participated in the marathon, second only to the 1996 race in number of entries.
However, more than a million people line the marathon route to watch the race, which is twice the normal average.
“Everybody wants to do that race, period,” Ikard said, “but you definitely wanted to go back this year.”
Ikard finished well in advance of the explosions last year and was out of harm’s way, but several of his team members were near where the second bomb went off.
“I was waiting for someone to pick me up and saw it on TV,” Ikard said. “I was pretty far away. I was lucky, but my whole team happened to be right above where I think the second explosion took place.
“They were in a building watching people finish and they escaped out the back. Nobody was hurt from that team, thank God, but it was close.”
Ikard, 39, finished fifth in the Norwalk Lightfoot Series’ three-mile race on Saturday.
KIC IT TRIATHLON: While the area racing schedule shuts down this weekend for the 34th annual Stratton Faxon Fairfield half marathon, Stamford will be the site for the sixth annual KIC IT Olympic triathlon.
The USAT-sanctioned race, which starts on Sunday at 6:30 a.m. at Cummings Beach, consists of a 1.5K swim in Long Island Sound, a 40K bike ride into the countryside of North Stamford, and a 10K run featuring a new one-loop course through the streets of downtown Stamford.
On Saturday, children ages 6-13 get in action with the fourth annual KIC IT kids triathlon beginning at 7:30 p.m. at Cove Beach.
In addition to the Olympic triathlon, race organizers have announced a new sprint triathlon involving an 0.8K swim, 22K bike ride and 5.1K run. The sprint triathlon gets under at 7:15 a.m. at Cummings Beach.
The weekend raises funds for Kids in Crisis, the area’s only temporary emergency shelter and counseling center for families and children of all ages.
Since 1978, Kids in Crisis has helped more than 118,000 parents and children struggling with abuse, neglect, homelessness and other issues.
Easton’s Christopher Thomas (1:58:59.2) and Greenwich’s Emma Langley (2:28.02.7) are the defending champions. Langley finished first among females last year as a 17-year-old senior at Greenwich High School.
NO DOUBTING THOMAS: Thomas competed this past Saturday in the Pat Griskus Olympic distance triathlon in Middlebury.
His reign as seven-year champion in the event ended, however, as the 42-year-old Thomas finished second with a time of 2:04.41.
Thomas was just under two minutes behind Ryan Siebert, 23, of Patchogue, N.Y. Siebert, nearly 20 years younger than Thomas, posted a winning mark of 2:02.48.
Thomas won’t look to defend his Stamford KIC IT title as his next event is a 70.3-mile race on Sunday in Syracuse, N.Y.
LOOKING AHEAD: The Westport Road Runners begin their 52nd season on June 28 with the 2.3-mile race at Staples High School.
The summer season includes a weekly series of 10 progressively longer races, culminating with a 10-miler back at Staples on Aug. 30.
Darien’s Justin Lubeley (12:37) and Westport’s Staci Huelet (13:20) are the defending champions in the 2.3-mile race.
LEWIS PLACES THIRD: Wilton’s Julia Lewis, 17, placed third among all women in the Trifitness Seaside sprint triathlon in Bridgeport on June 8.
Lewis posted a time of 1:09.33 that was good for 35th overall. Of the three disciplines, Lewis did best in the swim, where she was third overall (11:33).
Lewis is a member of the Wilton High School and Wilton Wahoos swimming teams.
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