CRC Pastor Fourth in Boston Marathon

Rev. John De Vries, a retired minister from London, Ontario, placed fourth in the 65- to 69-year-old category of the Boston Marathon in April.

Seeded eighth for his age range, De Vries knew he had run well in the 26-mile (42 km) race. “I felt great when I finished because I outran one 65-year-old over the last five miles,” he said. His time was 3:22:19.

This was De Vries’s 17th year running the marathon since 1994. He missed only the 2010 race because of injury.

This year’s training included running the hills of Rwanda while on a trip there with his restorative justice work.

“As the Bible says, it is important to ‘finish the race,’” says De Vries, “Running is a metaphor and picture of life—it is important to endure and finish well.”