121st Boston Marathon: Dream come true
By: Samantha Fenlon
Email: sfenlon@abc6.com
Twitter: @SFenlonABC6
BOSTON, Mass. — Tens of thousands of runners made the trek from Hopkinton to Bolyston Street.
Among the masses were more than 150 Rhode Islanders who hit the pavement for this year’s 121st Boston Marathon.
One of the thousands who made their way to Bolyston Street was a teenager from Burrillville who tackled the odds to become the first person ever to run the Boston Marathon with only 3 heart chambers.
Lacing up for the 121st Boston Marathon was no small feat for Burrillville’s 19-year-old Austin Prario.
He has already set a record just by running Monday.
Prario is the first person to ever run the 26.2 miles with only 3 heart chambers.
“It will be an unofficial world record, but I don’t think that counts because I’ll be the first person to do to it,” said Prario.
The 19-year-old is not one for bragging. In fact, he is just the opposite.
Prario had been dreaming of this day his entire life ever since doctors told his parents he would never be able to do it because of his congenital heart defect.
“When I was up at the hospital, they told my parents I wouldn’t be able to keep up with other kids and definitely physically.”
Back in 1998, Austin’s dad carried him across the finish line while running for children’s hospital.
A picture that was captured during that magical moment has served as his inspiration that anything and everything is possible.
19 year’s later, it has been hard for Austin to believe he is finally doing it.
“I use it every day for motivation, I look at it and it’s really cool to be able to know that I was the size of a football last time I had crossed the finish line, and now I’ll be running it with him side by side which is really cool.”
Austin ran on Monday for Boston’s Children’s Hospital just like his dad did all those years ago.
Prario told ABC6 News that, in addition to his dad and Tom Brady, the doctors that saved his life are his heroes and he ran this race for them.
©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2017
