Podcast Episode 79- Dennis Lavoie, "Team with a Vision" Runner & 6 Star World Marathon Majors Finisher
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| Dennis and Mark at Tracksmith House |
Most marathon partnerships are forged over months of planning, but sometimes, fate steps in with a last-minute twist... Just a week before this year’s Boston Marathon, I received a message: A very dedicated and talented runner’s regular guide was sidelined by injury; would I be able to get to Boston? Suddenly, I was given the opportunity to guide Dennis—a runner whose story I knew only in passing, but whose determination I would come to know intimately over these 26.2 storied miles.
Dennis is no ordinary runner, and no ordinary individual. He lives with Usher Syndrome Type 2, a condition that has left him profoundly deaf and legally blind, with just a sliver of vision remaining. Yet, in the past six years, he has managed to run marathons in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Tokyo—earning the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal, and becoming, as far as records show, the first person in his category (legally blind/profoundly deaf) to do so! His journey from early retirement to this elite club of fewer than 20,000 runners worldwide is nothing short of remarkable.
Dennis is a native French speaker, who grew up figuratively bridging the border between Canada and the US as his parents moved to northern Maine for work in the paper industry; to the furthest northeastern town in the continental US, Madawaska. Despite initially struggling in school due to hearing issues, once they figured it out his family did all they could to support him and help him grow as a student. He became an engineer and applied his skills in the field inherited from his father, but his vision continued to decline throughout his career due to his condition. He knew from a young age that he would eventually lose vision completely, and hence leaned into life (and running) even more passionately to enjoy and traveled to see everywhere that he could, while he could.
Our Boston weekend began with a dinner that felt like a gathering made of running legends. Dennis and I joined one of our mid-Michigan icons and running mentor Mark Bauman—who now holds the Marathon Streak World Record at Boston at an incredible 56 Boston finishes in a row! As a primer for the 26.2+ mile day to come, we had a meal filled with stories, some advice, and laughter. Mark, as it turned out, would be the official starter at Hopkinton the next morning, a surprise that added to the sense of historical connection and camaraderie as we retired.
Race day itself was electric. We woke early and navigated our way to the para athlete buses, followed by likely the only time in my life I would have a police escort through a major highway and city. As guides in the competitive para athletes division, we also found ourselves camped out at the athletes village together, and lining up just behind the elite women. In the AWD tent we connected with incredible people and heard their stories, including paralympians and some famous guides for the record setting para athletes like Mike Wardian, who all shared recent adventures and inspiration. Time flew by and in a few hours we were processing to the start line, fully fueled and excited to punch into the roads for 26.2+ mile journey. The proximity to legends like Des Linden, Sarah Hall, and Paula Radcliffe was surreal; we exchanged a few words of encouragement, though it was probably us who needed it more. Boston marathon is unique in that, as para athletes, we started ahead of thousands of the country’s fastest runners—meaning we were passed, cheered, and swept along by a tide of speedsters for hours, a humbling and exhilarating experience.
For those unfamiliar, qualifying for Boston is a feat in itself. Runners must achieve a certified time well below the already-tough standards for their age group, and in recent years, the cut-off has been even more competitive—sometimes requiring runners to be nearly seven minutes faster than the official qualifying time. For para athletes, the standards are equally rigorous, and the field is capped, making every spot hard-earned. I was grateful to be among them, and respectful of the incredible amount of hard work everyone had put in to earn a spot there on the roads.
Dennis’s journey to the Six Star Medal is even more daunting. Completing all six World Marathon Majors—Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Tokyo—requires not just speed, but also perseverance, resources, and a bit of luck. Very few runners ever achieve it, and Dennis did so in a relatively short running career, despite the added challenges.
The Boston course itself is legendary and beguiling, winding through small towns whose residents line the streets with unmatched enthusiasm. The crowds cheered us every step of the way, from Hopkinton to the roar of Boylston Street. Wellesley College, with its infamous “scream tunnel,” was a jolt of energy and humor—the signs this year were especially creative, and Dennis and I couldn’t help but laugh as we passed, and I read a few of the signs.
Despite a nagging hip flexor injury, Dennis pressed on through the second half of the course, even as those infamous Newton hills took their toll. His grit was unwavering, and together we crossed the finish line—Dennis meeting his main goal to qualify for next year’s Boston and have another crack at it, a testament to his resilience.
Looking back, the experience was profound. In a marathon where tradition runs deep (longest running in the US) and every mile echoes with history, I was reminded of the power of connection—between runners, guides, mentors, and the cheering masses. I recognize Boston is more than a race; it’s a celebration of perseverance, community, and the human spirit. I am grateful to have played a small part in Dennis’s extraordinary journey, and to have witnessed firsthand how this particular marathon’s traditions leave an indelible mark on all who take part.
For more on Dennis’s story and his Six Star journey(link), see a recent Bangor Daily News article or another story from WAGM just a few weeks ago, linked here about his paving the way for other vision-impaired runners!
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