Runners bask in the Boston experience

Lauren Shaub was among the thousands crossing the Boston Marathon finish line almost an hour after Salina Kosgei and Deriba Merga won this year’s race in the women’s and men’s fields respectively. That doesn’t mean the glory of the experience is diluted.

“It’s the most humbling experience of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” the native of Reading, Penn. said. “There’s nothing more satisfying than sucking in the Boston Marathon.

“The crowd is everything. They pull you right in and they made the difference. It was amazing.”

Shaub’s finish time of 3:20 wasn’t far off from her desired time of 3:10, and the enthusiasm in her voice after finishing the 26.2-mile course was evident in any number of other runners.

“This is the greatest marathon in the world, and it’s an honor to be able to run in it,” said Mike Shalhoub, of Santa Barbara, Calif., who said his favorite memory from the day was not necessarily joining the other finishers along Boylston Street.

“I want to say crossing the finish line, but it’s really at the starting line,” he said. “Because it’s a lot of hard work to get there, and it’s just an experience.”

For San Diego’s Erin McManus, the chilly, windy conditions were less of a hindrance for a California runner than the stress fracture that she was dealing with, still managing to finish in 3:21.

“Best marathon by far,” she said. “Little chilly for a San Diego person, but very nice once you get running.”