Hopkinton’s Vineyard Church Pastor Runs 2nd Boston

When Hopkintion pastor Rob Davis turned 50, someone in their 20s inspired him and trained with him to run the Boston Marathon for Hopkinton's Michael Lisnow Respite Center*.

Although he has a hard time keeping up with all the running language - words like pace, lactic threshold** and VO2 max***,  Rob runs six days a week,  beginning in December. 

Luckily his wife Liz is an incredible fan, companion and helper.  She regularly rides her bike with Davis and passes him Gatorade. He also has a teenage daughter who is a track star.

“When I finished Boston (last year), I had a flood of mixed emotions," Davis said.  "I was very thankful that I completed the marathon, but I was also very frustrated that I had to end up in the medical tent because of cramping that started in Wellesley.

"The crazy thing that is so addictive about running is once you finish you say to yourself, 'I could have run faster!'

"Running has 'given back' sometimes more than I feel I put in,” says Davis.

*  The Respite Center provides emotional and physical support for individuals with disabilities and their families.

** The lactic threshold (LT) is the exercise intensity at which  lactic acid starts to accumulate in the blood stream causing fatigue. (Wikipedia)

*** VO2 Max is is the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and use oxygen during exercise. (Wikipedia)