BOSTON – Team Amy For Africa came to the Boston Marathon with a few goals in mind.
One of them was, of course, to watch Amy Compston cross the finish line in Monday’s 118th running. She will leave with her wave of runners about 10:30 a.m. and could be part of the largest group to ever run in the event.
More than 36,000 are expected to participate and the total runners could eclipse the record that was set in 1996 during the 100th anniversary.
Nearly 6,000 runners who didn’t get to finish last year because of the bombings accepted an invitation to return.
Compston did finish her first Boston Marathon in 3 hours, 27 minutes and 54 seconds. Her personal goal is to better that time.
But Team AFA had some other goals, including passing out 1,400 gospel tracts. They have already handed out more than 1,000 with a huge audience awaiting on Monday during marathon day.
Those receiving the tracts have been mostly reception, Compston said. She, her husband Chris, Mark Maynard and Mark Arthur did most of the handing out on Sunday as the group was sightseeing. They handed out more than 300 tracts combined.
“People have been very accepting, much more than last year,” Amy said.
Team AFA greeted with “Happy Easter” and then handed them a tract.
This will be the first of eight marathons this year for Amy and her husband will be running six of those with her. The goal is to pass out 10,000 tracts by the time the last marathon is finished in New York City.
“The Lord has provided us with lots of opportunities in the past few days and I’m sure He will continue to do that,” she said.
For now, her mind is on completing her second Boston Marathon. Fellow AFA runner John Davis, who is originally from Huntington but now lives in Texas, will also be competing.
Follow Amy by texting 15196 to 345678. Follow John by texting 815 to 345678.