By Tim Arnett
WABASH,Indiana – Retired Oak Hill teacher Steve Reiff and his wife Sharon went from their home in Converse out to Beantown last weekend to watch last Monday’s Boston Marathon. Steve and Sharon were there rooting on their son Derrick, who ran in the race. And their daughter Lauren, as well. And their other daughter Kristen. You see, all three of Reiff’s children ran the 26.2 mile course this year through the streets of Boston. Normally, the Boston Marathon has approximately 40,000 runners each year from all over the world but not too many of those are siblings. And very few of those siblings number three.
Derrick now lives in Seattle and works for a software company. Steve Reiff’s two daughters are both married and live in North Carolina. Kristen Rider is a photographer’s assistant and Lauren Roth is a speech therapist. While they have all run the Boston marathon before, 2016 marks the first time all three have participated in the same year. Lauren Roth on what it is like running in the Boston Marathon.
Steve Reiff said that he urged his children at Oak Hill to enter cross county and their love of running has stayed with them all these years. The ages of the siblings range from the late 20s to the early 30s. Steve Reiff told MiBash News that running has helped them to meet and overcome challenges in their lives by understanding the value of perseverance and determination.
Derrick posted his best time ever: 2 hours and 46 minutes. Lauren, after just giving birth just five months ago, finished last out of the three but the fact that she ran the grueling course at all so soon after having a child is incredible. And Derrick told MiBash News that the Boston Marathon won’t let just anyone on the course. You have to first qualify for the event. And for three siblings to have the stamina, endurance and love of running to qualify is rather unusual to say the least.
