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Staff Writer

Bedford's Nicholas Hinsley helped raise $1,500 by running for the "Kids at Heart" program at the Boston Children's Hospital. Hinsley completed the course in 3:04.42 (Marc Thaler Photo)

BEDFORD - In one afternoon, Bedford's Nicholas Hinsley was an overwhelming success on two separate, but related levels.

For this 36-year-old's efforts, he can add another line to his list of accomplishments - as the Super Shoes Athlete of the Month for April.

On Monday, April 18, Hinsley, a teacher at McKelvie Middle School and co-coach of the Tartans track and field program, ran the 26.2-mile Massachusetts course better known as the Boston Marathon.

The race's 109th running was Hinsley's second and 10th marathon overall.

Having qualified for the Boston event with a time of 2 hours, 54 minutes at a race in Portland, Maine, this school teacher and long-distance runner completed the course ending in the Hub in 3:04.42.

Hinsley's time earned him ninth place among New Hampshire's fastest finishers. He was also the third runner to cross the finish line among Neighborhood athletes.

"It was a little bit cooler this time, but not much," said Hinsley of the 75-degree temperature and hot sun that accompanied race day. "Boston is such a tough course, not only because of the weather. It could be 85 or snowing. It'd still be difficult."

Most memorable - and a bit maddening - were the 16 miles going downhill, which took a toll on Hinsley's legs, he said.

"Then you hit the hills," he said. "And whatever (energy) you have left is tapped out of you then."

The previous year's experience at the 108th Boston Marathon helped prepare Hinsley, however

. Of course, the roughly 18 weeks of training - where Hinsley's heaviest regiments of running had him total 90 to 95 miles a week - were extremely beneficial, too.

"Pacing is extremely important with the Boston Marathon," he said. "If you go out too fast, you'll die before you finish."

But above all else, the one thing that kept Hinsley mentally strong was the charity which benefited from his participation.

Hinsley was one of 141 athletes who ran for the Boston Children's Hospital "Kids at Heart" program.

"That was a big motivating factor," he said.

In fact, as quick as he was on the course, Hinsley was even speedier when offering his gratitude to his family, friends and McKelvie coworkers who provided financial and emotional support to the charity of his choice.

Therefore, it comes as no surprise that, including his athletic performance at the marathon, Hinsley sounded as though he took the greatest sense of satisfaction from the $1,500 he raised for charity.

A total of $750,000 was raised for Kids at Heart.

The local runner said he'll take a little bit of time off from running to recuperate. But he won.t sit still too long. Up next on Hinsley's running schedule is the 7.6-mile jaunt up a bit of a hill.

Hinsley recently learned he's one of 1,000 runners who signed up and won the lottery to compete in the Mount Washington Road Race on June 18.

But for now, it's quite all right for Hinsley - or any other Boston Marathon runners - to bask in the glory of a job well done.

"It's a huge achievement for anyone," he said. "I'd encourage anybody to try it once. It's the same (26.2) miles for the Kenyans as it is for the group that runs it in six hours."

(Editor's Note: The Athlete of the Month receives a $50 gift certificate, courtesy of Super Shoes.)