Two Chatham-Kent runners are returning home after competing in the Boston Marathon.
Bryan Cowden and Joe Perry both conquered the world's most famous race on Monday.
For Cowden, this was his third time taking part in the marathon. This time around, he set a new personal best with a time of 2:52:38. In 2024, he finished at 3:01:39, while in 2023 he crossed the finish line at 3:10:54.
Cowden told CK News Today he wasn't sure he'd be able to set this new time.
"When I arrived on Saturday, it was 30 degrees. But it cooled down to 10 degrees with no wind, so the weather wasn't a factor," he said.
Despite this being his third time racing, Cowden noted it doesn't feel any less special. In fact, this year may have been more exciting as his mom came to cheer him on.
"It's all about the people you take," he added.
As for Perry, he crossed the finish line with a time of 4:56:49.
This was much longer than his 2024 time of 3:53:12. Cowden explained this was because Perry was dealing with Achilles tendinitis.
"A true Joe Perry story, been battling an Achilles injury since January," laughed Cowden.
Perry also spoke to CK News Today and joked that the only part of his body that isn't hurting a day later is his Achilles.
"I feel sore everywhere else on my body," added Perry.
His Achilles will be put to the test once again as he'll be taking part in the Patagonian International Marathon in Chile next month. Perry said he's aiming to run a marathon in all seven continents.
"Chile will be my sixth continent and then later on this summer I'll be doing the Sydney Marathon in Australia," he explained.
These marathons come a year after Perry ran in Antarctica. That race saw his place 2nd out of more than 100 runners.