Salt Lake City Marathon memorable for Hill runner

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times Editor
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Gill, 419th Operations Group, honored victims of the Boston Marathon bombing at the Salt Lake City Marathon on April 20 by carrying a large American flag for the duration of the race.

"The Salt Lake City Marathon was a very tough race, both physically and emotionally for me," said Gill. "The temperature was about 50 degrees most of the morning, with constant rain and hail. The flag got very heavy in the rain.

He said, "It seemed much lighter at times, when the police doing traffic control stopped the cars for me to pass, then turned around and saluted the flag as I passed."

Gill, a runner who runs more than six marathons a year to help raise funds for the Huntsman Cancer Institute, reported that he ran four miles in the later part of the race with an amputee from a motorcycle accident. That participant was running in support of the amputees from the Boston Marathon as well.

"The pain in my legs and shoulders was of no concern," said Gill. "No matter how much pain I experienced it was nothing compared to what the people in Boston who are in the hospital recovering are enduring."

Bystanders frequently called out, "USA! USA! USA!" when he passed them. At one point a very elderly veteran from the World War II era gingerly rose from his chair, came to a position of attention and rendered a proud salute.

"I was glad that it was raining," said Gill. "I wept many times. It is a race that I will never forget."