Tens of thousands of fans cheered as Principal Ernest Remillard, along with nearly 30,000 other athletes, walked towards the starting line of the 127th Boston Marathon on Hopkinton Street, April 17. A grueling 26.2 miles stood between him and the finish line.

“It’s a three-quarter mile walk from where the buses drop you off to where you get to the start line,” Remillard said. “There are people the entire time in front of their homes cheering you along as you’re walking to the start line, and then for 26.2 miles, there is nothing but energy from the crowd.”

Having trained for 22 weeks in San Diego, Remillard said he felt ready for his third time racing Boston in person (his 15th full marathon), having competed in Boston Previously in 2012 and 2022 and having raced virtually in 2020. At last year’s race, Remillard completed the course in 3:04, qualifying him to race again this year (3:12 being the cut-off for his age range), where his goal was to run a time of 2:55, four minutes faster than his personal record of 2:59. Naturally, Remillard nervously anticipated the start of the race.

“People are nervous [at the starting line],” Remillard said. “Most people have trained for 20 weeks or so to prepare. Especially because the weather wasn’t so good, I think that there was a lot of wonder as to how bad it [was] going to rain. So really, there’s a nervous energy, and the first three miles are downhill, so that kind of gets you shot out pretty quick.” 

As the race progressed, Remillard said he felt good: his running was smooth and he was satisfied with his mile splits. In spite of the obvious tribulations of running the most prestigious marathon in the world, Remillard said that he was able to maintain a positive outlook for the majority of the race. 

At mile 23, however, the light drizzle that had been present throughout the race became large raindrops. Though affected by the weather, Remillard reminded himself that all of the other runners were facing the same obstacle. 

As Remillard neared the end of the race, seeing his daughter cheering him on encouraged him to continue pushing towards the finish line.

“[Finishing the race] was pretty emotional,” Remillard said. “The challenge for me was giving it all I had, [and] my legs didn’t have as much [energy] as I wanted [them] to in that last quarter mile,” Remillard said. “It’s a quarter mile that you turn onto Boylston, and you can see the finish line, and you’re just trying to push as hard as you can, but the fans and people on the streets [provide] so much energy, and that’s what gets you through.”  

Remillard finished the race in three hours flat, with mile splits of 6:49. Though this was five minutes short of his goal, it was four minutes faster than his time last year, and a 40-minute drop from his first time racing the marathon in Boston. Given the weather conditions, Remillard is satisfied with his time, and proud of what he has accomplished. 

Post-race, Remillard keeps a blue rubber bracelet with the word “inclusivity” etched onto it on his wrist. He received this bracelet at the Boston Marathon Expo, a three-day convention that takes place in the days directly leading up to the race where sponsors set up shop, and athletes pick-up their bibs. Remillard keeps that message of inclusivity especially close to him, as it applies not only in the running community, but is also a key pillar in his philosophy as a school principal.

“One of the things that I noticed in this race was that there were a number of visually-impaired runners, and they’re not only running the marathon, but they have a guide with them as well guiding them through the 26 miles. That was really special. I get to go out every day. I can just run on my own. I can run early in the morning, late at night, and I don’t need that support, and seeing just that community piece of people coming together was awesome.”

Along with helping inform his perspective on community, running can be a time for Remillard to practice mindfulness, and think about the day that he had, or the day ahead of him. 

“It’s a huge balance piece—life balance,” Remillard said. “I’m fairly busy as a high school principal and a dad, and [running] just gives me that time to kind of think about the day, and think about my next steps, but also enjoy the out[doors].”

Now, back in San Diego, Remillard reflects on his race in Boston as he prepares to move forward towards his next big race: the Chicago Marathon.