Some people run because they want to win, or lose weight, or beat a personal best. Scott Flagg runs because he loves running.

He's been an avid runner for 25 years.

Flagg and his wife, Janet Martin, divide their time between Boothbay Harbor and Manhattan. Martin grew up in Brooklyn and had never been to Maine when the couple came to Boothbay Harbor and started looking for a second home. They found one in 2006.

The house, formerly Brud Pierce's on Atlantic Avenue, was in need of some repair, but the location was ideal, and they had a good feeling about it. They bought it and after remodeling and updating, the space is open, airy and modern.

While here, Flagg runs from his house to the Southport General Store, where he drinks a bottle of water, then back to the harbor, a total of around 12 miles.

The New York City Marathon is the largest in the world, and not an easy one to get into. There is a lottery to gain entrance. Flagg had entered the lottery twice, in 2011 and 2012, and lost. Lucky for him, the third time was the charm. Marathon rules state that if you enter the lottery twice and lose, you're guaranteed a place the third year.

Because he wasn't able to run in the New York race in 2012, Flagg went to Oslo, Norway and ran that marathon on September 21, where he achieved his “personal best.” He came back feeling elated, and started gearing up, physically and mentally, for the New York race.

Ten weeks later, while back in the harbor, he suffered a heart attack.

Flagg and Martin were at home on November 29, 2012. Flagg had been complaining about “heartburn” and some aches and pains on the left side of his upper body for a while, but hadn't thought much about it. “He went down to the basement for something,” Martin said, “and when he came back up I took one look and knew something was wrong.”

Martin called 911. He was taken to St. Andrews Hospital and checked by a cardiologist, then immediately transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

Heart disease is a genetic disorder in Flagg's family. His father and brother both died of heart attacks. His father was 63. His brother was 52. Flagg is 60.

Judy Adamson, who drove Martin to Portland following the ambulance, said Flagg told her that he thought the lights on the ceiling of the ambulance were the last things he'd ever see. “But once he was out of pain and imminent danger, his biggest concern was that he'd never run again,” she said.

An angiogram showed significant blockage, and on December 5, 2012, a quadruple bypass was performed by Dr. Scott Buchanan, a thoracic and cardiac surgeon.

No stranger to runners, Dr. Buchanan and his wife Kirsten have volunteered for several years at the Boston Marathon. He was there on April 15 when things went into emergency mode and he and his wife found themselves helping injured spectators.

With Buchanan's blessing, Flagg started running again by early March, 2013.

On the first Sunday in November, a few weeks ago, people lined the 26.2 mile route of the New York City Marathon to cheer on the 50,304 runners. Among the spectators was a group from Boothbay Harbor, including Martin, Bob Nissenbaum, Judy Adamson, Lynne and John Seitzer, and Anne Ford, an elite runner in her day. They were there to cheer on #44470: Scott Flagg.

“Anne Ford and Bob Nissenbaum had smartphones and were tracking him,” Martin said. “Anne's marathon experiences allowed her to very precisely estimate when we should be seeing him enter Manhattan from the 59th St. Bridge.” When they spotted him, the group began chanting, “Scott Flagg, Scott Flagg, Scott Flagg.”

Flagg heard them and waved. “I was very touched by the people who came from Boothbay Harbor to cheer me on,” he said. He's also thankful for the people from the harbor who contributed to the American Heart Association Fund. “I ran the marathon in honor of my father and brother,” he said. “These people helped me raise more than $2,500.”

“When he crossed the finish line, I was relieved, of course, but also very proud of the outcome of all his efforts,” Martin said.

Flagg's finish time was 4 hours, 11 minutes and 39 seconds. He almost made qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. “I promised my wife and doctor I wouldn't run that hard. I didn't want to have another heart attack.”

These days, Flagg is the picture of health, due in large part to the support of his wife. “She has been a critical element in this whole process” Judy Adamson said, “particularly in terms of his diet.”

Because of Flagg's genetic makeup, in order to sustain maximum heart health, it is imperative that he maintain a zero, or very low, cholesterol diet.

“I'm a flexitarian, (which is) 90 percent vegan,” he said. “I eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and soy products, but I occasionally eat fish; basically anything without cholesterol, which only comes from animal products. I avoid meat and dairy and take vitamins and minerals.”

He said he’s glad that there’s no cholesterol in wine or beer. After a little prodding he admitted to the occasional Manhattan, too.

Flagg has been instructed by his doctor to run, “every other day.” Otherwise he'd run every day.

“I love to run,” Flagg said. “I would love to someday run the Boston marathon but right now I'm just relaxing.”

The New York City Marathon was the final stage of a year of ups and downs for Scott Flagg.

“When I crossed that finish line,” he said, “I felt like my recovery was complete.”