Ashby wins age group in London Marathon

Last month a Shead High School graduate won his age category in one of the most prestigious marathons in the world. Robert Ashby, who grew up in Eastport and lives in Brunswick, won the 55 through 59 age group in the London Marathon with a time of 2:38:29, with nearly 60,000 runners in the race held on April 21.
Ashby placed 634th overall, with the men's race won by Alexander Mutiso Munyao of Kenya with a time of 2:04:01 and Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya winning the women's race in 2:16:16, setting a women's-only world record.
A total of 53,000 runners completed the 26.2-mile course from Greenwich to The Mall, making it the largest London Marathon since the event began in 1981. "I didn't know what to expect in a marathon with 59,000 runners," says Ashby. "But to be able to win my age group was a significant achievement for me." He notes that there were a total of 2,117 runners in the 55 through 59 age group.
In the early 1980s Ashby ran cross country for Shead High School, leading the team to second place in Class C in the 1986 state championship, and he has won the Perry-to-Eastport race held over the Fourth of July 13 times, with his son winning twice and his daughter once. He relates that he had his best time for a marathon, 2:31:17, when he was in his late 20s.
With the London Marathon, he says, "I was lucky enough to get in a gang with the elite runners and to be lined up with them. I had run some big races like the Boston Marathon, but this was by far the largest race." He adds, "The organizers did a great job, and the crowds were unbelievable."
The London Marathon may be the most popular in the world for spectators, who drum and sing to encourage the runners during the entire race, whatever the weather. There are also a wide variety of costumes, with runners this year breaking a number of records, including the fastest marathon dressed as a traffic cone and fastest marathon while carrying a bicycle -- and even runners in an outfit resembling a 10-person bus, with the runners earning the title of fastest marathon in a 10-person costume.
Ashby says he enjoyed his trip to England and that it was great to be able to spend time with family members who accompanied him.