BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Thousands will lace up to run the Vermont City Marathon on Sunday. A select few have braved the race for decades, and number 62 knows the course by heart.

If you’ve run the Vermont City Marathon, Jim Leary ran with you, sporting the number 62 bib. “I’ve been doing it for over half my life,” said Leary.

The 63-year-old Brandon man has run every single race since the marathon’s start in 1989. From freezing mornings to sweaty slogs, Leary is one of five original Hall of Famers who have run at least 12 consecutive Vermont City Marathons.

“It was 32 degrees at race time. It was hailing, kind of raining, really miserable… fast forward 25, 26 years, it was really hot. They cancelled the race toward the end that year,” Leary recalls.

Sam Davis, a marathon organizer, says the exclusive crew pushes each other to keep competing. “It’s a challenge to each of them. They’re each kind of propping one another up to continue to do this, which I think is great,” he said.

Leary says loved ones on the sidelines are a big inspiration, too. His parents were there for the early races, carb-loading him with pasta the night before. He also thinks of his late daughter, who he says always cheered the loudest. “There’s a lot of memories,” he said.

Some old timers are bent on beating their previous record, but it’s never been about time for Leary. “It’s more about having family come down and the enjoyment and the pleasure I get from running the race,” he said. That pleasure wanes a little during the tough miles, but he’s on cloud nine as the finish line comes into view. “Coming into the waterfront park on the ground, yelling and cheering. It’s a great way to wind things up.”

You can look for #62 in the crowd on Sunday. Run Vermont estimates there will be about 5,000 runners.

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