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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Boston Will Welcome One-Legged Runner After Being Turned Down, Amputee Gets Word He Can Again Run The Marathon

Associated Press

Mike Welsch can run the Boston Marathon, and he can do it on one leg.

The amputee ran the marathon in 8 hours last year, and organizers originally said that was about 3 hours too slow to qualify for the showcase race April 6.

Now they’ve decided Welsch’s determination is enough, and they’ll accommodate him when he joins the elite and everyday marathoners on the 26.2-mile run from Hopkinton to Boston.

“I am psyched and I will be there,” he said after hearing the Boston Athletic Association decided to let him run. “I just hope they don’t change their mind or anything.”

The 38-year-old had run the Boston Marathon twice before, and in December he began training again for the race.

But he was stunned last week when he got a letter from the BAA saying he couldn’t participate.

“He was not given an official number because he in no manner of speaking was qualified and this is a qualifying race,” race director Guy Morse said Monday. “I’ve taken another look at Michael’s special situation and we are going to allow him to enter.”

Morse said the BAA would arrange to have Welsch start the race about 2 hours before the other runners, and arrange for his security and medical support along the course.

“I think we can stretch our safety net with the cooperation of the cities and towns,” he said.

In 1979, Welsch lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident in which he was drunk. His “good” leg was in casts for nearly six years.

Even while his right foot was still encased in plaster, he put on his prosthesis and began riding a bicycle. Soon he was swimming and biking seriously and in 1986 Welsch decided to try a triathlon.

Three years ago he set his sights on the Boston Marathon - the race’s 100th anniversary.

“The first marathon was awesome,” he said.

Before he began running, Welsch admits he had doubts he’d finish.

“A week before it we drove it. I almost literally got sick,” he said. “I got so depressed I couldn’t believe how long it was.”

But he said he talked himself through it, reminding himself he had run 18 miles before and once did 10 miles twice in a day.

“I said to myself, now it’s time to put it all together. You put all that in the bank and it’s time to draw interest,” he said.

Welsch said he made it through the race by giving himself small goals - 6 miles, 10 miles, then 13. He was halfway through and started counting down again.

“When I saw the Citgo sign it was just a spot down the road and it kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger,” he said. “Once you get to the Citgo sign you know you did it.”

Almost 8 hours after he left Hopkinton, Welsch crossed the line at Copley Square.

The winner finished 6 hours earlier.

Despite the slow time and the pain and callouses on his stump, Welsch ran the marathon again the next year.

For Welsch, a father of three from Burlington, his time in the race is not important. It’s the accomplishment, doing on one leg what most people with two legs can’t do.

“I want to see people with disabilities out there running,” he said. “Everybody can’t be the winner. Everybody can’t do this marvelous time.”