Hanscom Federal Credit Union Director Ray Phillips will reach a milestone this year when he completes his 17th Boston Marathon.

The race will mark his 100th marathon. A longtime member of Team Hanscom, this year Phillips will be joined by Hanscom FCU Sales Manager Mike Rzeszutek as part of the Credit Union Kids at Heart fundraising effort to benefit the Boston Children's Hospital.

It has been a long road for the man who ran his first marathon at age 50 and completed a total of 11 races within the first two years. Living in the greater Boston area, Phillips dreamed of running the Boston Marathon, but his four-hour finishing times did not qualify him for a race number.

In 2000 he got his chance through Boston Children's Hospital, running to raise money for its foundation. Along the way to his first race, he met his patient partner four year-old Andy Martin, Jr and his family.

Martin was born with spina bifida, a birth defect involving the spinal cord and has been a frequent patient at Children's, enduring multiple surgeries and other treatments. Martin inspired Phillips, who recognized that a 26.2 mile run was nothing compared with what the child faced every day.

On race day, Martin would wait for Phillips at the top of Boylston Street. “What took you so long?” became his refrain as Phillips carried him on his back, and later pushed him in a wheelchair to the finish line.

Martin has kept each finishing medal, declaring they had won the race. When he turned 18, Martin completed the race himself in the wheelchair division, finishing the race in 2014 and 2015. This year, medical issues have interfered with his training schedule, so he didn't enter the race. But he's already planning for 2017.

Phillips runs about six marathons a year, including races in Vermont, New York, Miami, and, of course, Boston.

As he approached his 100th marathon, Phillips revealed his not-so-secret motivation.

“Every year at the finish line, Andy and I renewed our commitment to each other and the race. I would have stopped long ago if it hadn't been for Andy,” Phillips said.

Phillips already has his eye on a new goal. In only eight years, at the age of 76, he plans to run his 25th Boston Marathon. And, no doubt, Andy Martin will be there to cheer him on to the finish line.

Instant Insights /

Hanscom FCU Director's 100th Marathon Run: Boston

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