Even though I’m a lifelong runner, my marathoning career didn’t begin until I was 55, 11 years ago. Since then I’ve managed to plod through at least one marathon each year, getting slower and hurting longer with each attempt.

When I began marathoning my goal was to complete 26.2 miles in under four hours. These days I’m happy with five+ hour runs.

With every marathon, as I cross the finish line, I declare, “That’s it. I’m retired. No more marathons for me.” But within a week or two, I’m already planning next one.

At 66 years old, I should have hung up my sneakers years ago. But, like any addiction, it’s hard to give up. That, plus my son, Brian, also a marathoner, keeps pushing me, “Come on, Dad, you can do one more.”

Lately, Brian has been encouraging me to complete the “World Marathon Majors,” the six most prestigious marathons on the planet, which include: New York, Chicago, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo and London. With five New York Marathons under my belt, as well as Chicago and Berlin, that’s three down, three to go. The Boston Marathon had always been on my bucket list, so with the assistance of my Boothbay Harbor neighbor, Suzanne Battit, I was able to secure entry by fundraising for the Family Aid Boston charity. Finally, I was in!

This summer, while most Boothbay Harbor residents were still sleeping, I have been training for the Boston Marathon.

I know what you’re thinking: “Wait, the Boston Marathon occurs a week after Easter, on Patriot’s Day Monday.” While that was true for 123 years, COVID-19 put an end to that and most annual traditions. The April race date was postponed until September before being scrubbed altogether because the pandemic had not abated. As an alternative, it was announced that registered runners could run a “virtual” Boston Marathon from anywhere in the world. For me, that would be Boothbay Harbor.

After vacationing and summering here for years, Southport Island has become my annual pre-marathon training ground. I believe I know every inch, every hill and every house, around that nine-mile loop. Running from my house near the footbridge, I find the Southport route safer than running on narrow Route 96 around Ocean Point.

Toward Labor Day each year, my running gets serious and I run two laps of Southport. Like many marathoners I increase my weekly “long run” by two miles, capped at 20 miles. Yesterday, with the air temperature a fabulous 55-degrees and humidity a low 65%, I ran my pre-race 20.

As usual, I packed enough Gatorade and energy Gu for four-hours of running, drove my truck over the swing bridge and parked in the gravel lot across from Robinson’s at about 5 a.m. I ran two laps in the counter-clockwise direction (which I have determined is more runner-friendly than the clockwise direction), and by adding two side excursions — through the Newagen Inn parking lot and down to the Town Dock — I completed two 10-mile laps, for 20 miles total in three hours and 45 minutes. That’s roughly the distance from downtown Boothbay Harbor to Route 1 and back again. Satisfying for sure, but exhausting.

I must explain to my neighbors: if you saw me walking slow and stiff around town last Thursday, I was aching from head-to-toe.

Race organizers have allowed participants to choose any day between Sept. 7 and 14 for their virtual marathon, so I’ve decided to start at 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12. I hope to complete the marathon distance by 2 a.m. You’re asking: “Why the middle of the night?” Three reasons: the temperatures will be cool; traffic should be light; and I enjoy running at night.

Beginning from my house across from the footbridge at 26 Atlantic Avenue: I’ll turn left onto Union Street (past Mama D’s); turn left onto Townsend Avenue/Route 27 (Grover’s Hardware on left); bear a slight right onto McKown Street (library on right); left onto Sea Streeet (before Boothbay Region Greenhouses); left after Dunton’s Doghouse onto Commercial Street; across the Pier 1 boardwalk; across the footbridge to begin the next lap.

“My” route is 1.6 miles — requiring 16 laps — and decidedly has less elevation than Southport Island. And no Heartbreak Hill like the actual Boston route.

So, if you see a guy running past your house in the middle of the night wearing a headlamp and blinking taillight, he’s not a robber; it’s just a guy trying to catch up to his youth.

And get the Boston Marathon T-shirt.

NOTE: If you’d like to join me for a social-distanced lap or two, feel free. Meet at my house Saturday, Sept. 12, before 9 p.m. My goal will be to maintain a mid-11 minute mile pace. My email is: tomcotter@csx2490.com