Student Lacks Endurance To Watch Entire Marathon

by: Daniel Riehs			Email Story
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      BOSTON—Boston College sophomore Patrick Gossard was unable to watch the entire Boston marathon Monday, sources reported. The 20-year-old biology major likewise failed to complete the race in 2003, but a year of rigorous training had convinced many that 2004 would be different.

      "I had been standing there for about two hours when I really started to feel like I had to go to the bathroom," Gossard told reporters. "Then I got a craving for a hot dog. . . . Everybody cried when I went back to my dorm. I don't know. Sometimes you just can't go on."

Above: Marathon runners, file photo.

      Until just before he left his standing area, Gossard appeared determined to remain in his place for the duration of the race, but fellow watchers said that Gossard never pushed in front of the other spectators.

      "We were all just sitting behind him, waiting for him to make the first move," said freshman Sally Jansen. "As soon as he stepped away from the rope separating the crowd from the street, everyone just pounced. It was fierce. . . . but it does kind of make you sad. I'm sure [Gossard] trained real hard, and to lose it all in an instant. . . ."

      Gossard said that his training this year was much better than in 2003, when he grew bored with the race after only 39 minutes.

      His coach, fellow sophomore James Mason, explained what this year's training program entailed.

      "Well, there's a lot of standing involved," said Mason. "I tried to encourage him to stand in a variety of places: sidewalks, cafeteria queues, lawns. He had been doing pretty good, but a couple of weeks before the race I noticed that he tended to fidget more than usual. I suggested that Pat get a checkup, but he just told me not to worry, that he'd be okay."

      Mason refused to speculate when he was asked whether he felt that Gossard's restlessness and his failure to complete the race could somehow be connected, but suggested that in the sport of marathon watching, "Nothing is impossible."

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