To a runner that one word says it all, the Holy Grail of marathon races.

For a small running club in small-town Ontario, the Coyote Running Club of Meaford has sent a good number of runners to this storied race in recent years and the 112th running of Boston on April 21 was no exception.

Five Coyote runners joined some 25,000 others from around the world at the start line in Hopkinton, Massachusetts to make their way east to Boston over 42.2 kilometres of pavement.

Michael Kulakowsky, 31, of Meaford led the Coyotes to finish his first Boston Marathon in a time of 3:17:12 to place 3,683th overall and 2,083rd in the Men's Open division. Kulakowsky had a strong and consistent race completing the first half in 1:37 and the second half in 1:40.

The tough Boston course was not as kind on the other runners. All of them finished, but the rolling, net downhill of the first half took its toll on their legs and their pace slowed significantly on the  notorious Newton Hills.

Barb Holland, 45, a native of Griersville (just down the 4th line) and now in Collingwood, was also running her first Boston. The newest Coyote member, Holland finished in a time of 4:16:37 to place 17,159th overall and 2,227th in the Masters Women 40 to 49 division. Holland had stiff muscles, sore toes and the biggest smile ever to celebrate her first Boston Marathon.

Lucy Hilts, 43, of Thornbury returned to Boston for her thirrd time. Hilts enjoyed the "Boston feeling" and the estimated 500,000 spectators lining the course to finish in a time of 4:09:29 to place 16,193rd overall and 2,015th in the Masters Women.

Curtis Coyne, 42, of Meaford was running his fourth consecutive Boston. He ran stride for stride with Kulakowsky for 21.1 kms, but the grueling pace caused a calf injury to flare up and slow his pace. Coyne finished in 3:51:21 to finish 12,341st overall and 3,389th in Masters Men 40 to 49.

Kevin Knight, 54, of Meaford completed his fifth consecutive Boston, far off the streak of 37 consecutive Boston's currently enjoyed by a 57-year-old Pennsylvania runner, but a proud milestone nonetheless. Knight finished in 3:35:37 to place 8,117th overall and 834th in the Veteran Men 50 to 59 division. That time was good enough to re-qualify Knight to run Boston again next year and keep the streak alive.

In addition to Knight, both Holland and Coyne qualified to run Boston 2009 at the Prince Edward County Marathon last October and they will be joined by David Postings of Meaford who qualified at the Sarasota Marathon in March of this year.

Postings will be returning to Boston after a 24-year absence, having run it in 1985. Hilts, Kulakowsky and several other Coyote marathoners are determined to run a qualifying marathon this year and be with them in Hopkinton next April 20, 2009.