Marathoners begin arriving in Boston, Logan expecting big traffic week
Passenger traffic is edging closer to pre-pandemic levels at Logan International Airport, with 36 million travelers expected to use the airport by the end of the year, said Lisa Wieland, Massport’s CEO. That’s about 6 million passengers away from 2019.
But the numbers should get a substantial boost in the coming week -- with thousands coming into town for the Boston Marathon -- and thousands leaving town for K-12 spring break.
Among the arriving runners: Mahlon Reihman from New York City, competing in his first marathon ever.
“I’m actually running it with my girlfriend, who’s flying in from DC,” he said.
Rheiman admits he’s a little nervous about the race, having taken up running only recently after a collegiate career as a swimmer.
“I think the weather’s hopefully going to clear up and then hopefully temperatures will drop,” he said. “I think they’re expecting a 30% chance of precipitation. Honestly a little bit of rain early in the morning is not the worst thing in the world.”
Rain or shine, Regina Lutskiy will hit the marathon course Monday -- for the first time in ten years. She calls it her ‘Take Back the Finish Line’ race.
“There’s no time goal or anything,” Lutskiy said. “I know I can run a marathon in a good time, but I just want to finish this one.”
Lutskiy has purposely avoided Boston because of the psychological trauma she experienced as a runner in 2013, the year of the Marathon Bombings.
“I have flashbacks and nightmares and all kinds of things to this day,” she said. “There are things that, honestly, I haven’t even been able to think about.”
Lutskiy said she remembers the sound of the explosions -- and the carnage that resulted.
“I remember seeing some things that just shouldn’t even be vocalized.”
Luskiy said she’s been undergoing treatment for PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and that coming back to Boston was part of the healing process.
She’s also running for a charity this time -- something she said makes the race more meaningful.
“The charity that I did it for is important to me,” Lutskiy said. “It helps underprivileged youth get access to sports -- something that I didn’t have growing up.”
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