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This Connecticut fisherman is running Boston for children and adults with disabilities
"I may not finish in first place, but it is about running for a cause bigger than myself."
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.
Name: Larry Williams
Age: 72
From: Kent, Connecticut
In just a few weeks, I will step out of my log cabin in Kent, Connecticut, and drive three hours toward the starting line of the Boston Marathon. Coming to cheer me on is my biggest supporter, my wife Susan. She is a cancer survivor who once ran Boston during her own diagnosis. Her strength is the reason I keep showing up.
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Once again, I am running as part of Team HOPe. When I first learned about HOPe (House of Possibilities Easton), I was immediately inspired to get involved however I could. They are a nonprofit providing a life-changing path to greater independence for children and adults with disabilities. I am now in my fourth year running for their Boston Marathon team, where my every step carries purpose and raises critical funds.
This year’s race is a full-circle moment since I ran Boston 30 years ago during the historic 100th race. I have since completed marathons across six states, each for causes close to my heart. I see running as a metaphor for life: that you get out of it exactly what you put in.
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I’ve spent much of my time on the water as a proud New Englander. I built my own lobster pots in eighth grade, harvested oysters fresh out of high school, and co-founded a shellfish company that became one of Connecticut’s largest producers of hard clams. One of my greatest accomplishments was constructing and piloting a 50-foot vessel from Nova Scotia to Connecticut.
Today, I navigate a quieter life, but I assure you, my drive to push myself has not faded. I may not finish in first place, but it is about running for a cause bigger than myself.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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