Tyler Stilwell has qualified for two Boston Marathons. Josh Holley is hoping to qualify for his first.
Earlier this week, Stilwell volunteered to pace Holley in Saturday’s Mill Race Marathon in Holley’s attempt to break three hours and qualify for iconic Boston race.
“I heard that Josh needed someone to pace somewhat close to what he needed to run to qualify for Boston,” Stilwell said. “I said, ‘Sure.'”
Holley, 20, a 2018 Columbus North graduate, is intent on becoming the third Special Olympics athlete ever to qualify for Boston. The second, Andrew Peterson of Indianapolis, has competed against Holley in Special Olympics the past few years, and the two have become friends and occasional training partners.
Last week, Peterson came down to Columbus with his father to participate in the Sidekicks program with Holley and other runners. Peterson had considered pacing Holley in the Mill Race Marathon, but has opted to scale back to the half marathon because of heat and health concerns.
“I’ve always wanted to be the third ever (Special Olympics qualifier) since Andrew qualified for Boston,” said Holley, who has Autism Level I high functioning.
A marathon veteran, Stilwell has run close to 30 of the 26.2-mile races. He usually finishes in around three hours, give or take a few minutes.
Stilwell’s personal record is 2:58 in 2016 in Champaign, Illinois, in 2016. He also has run 2:59 twice, including last year at the Carmel Marathon to qualify for this year’s Boston Marathon.
Stillwell has done the Mill Race Marathon four times and half marathon twice. He ran 3:02 in last year’s marathon.
“I’m excited to run with him,” Holley said. “He seems really fast. I hope I qualify for Boston with him.”
This will be Holley’s first full marathon. He has run six half marathons, including the past two Mill Races with training partner Randall Watts. Watts is injured and unable to run in this year’s Mill Race Marathon or half marathon.
Holley runs 11 miles most days around his home near Taylorsville, sometimes running as much as 20 miles at a time.
“I’ve been training a whole bunch lately, every single day,” Holley said. “I believe I’m ready, and I believe I can qualify for Boston. I just have to be in the right mindset that day.”
Holley has been carrying a little extra weight on his shoulders. His grandmother, Kathy Hillenburg, has been in Our Hospice of South Central Indiana the past 10 days, and he wants to qualify for Boston in honor of her.
It won’t be easy. Saturday’s high temperature is expected to reach 90 degrees, although with a 7:30 a.m. start, Holley and Stilwell are hoping to be finished by 10:30 a.m., before the biggest heat of the day arrives.
“There’s no guarantees, and when you’re running in the heat, there’s a little added level of difficulty to it,” Stilwell said. “The biggest factor at the Mill Race is the heat.”
But Holley isn’t concerned. He ran the Mill Race half marathon two years ago when it was black-flagged because of the heat.
“I’m not worried,” Holley said. “I’m used to it. Two years ago, it’s going to be nothing compared to that.”
