Logandale man completes Boston Marathon

By JIM LUKSIC

The Progress

Moapa Valley is where Logandale resident Phil Sprague’s family has lived for a half-dozen generations.
“This is my home and I love it,” said the 62-year-old Hy-Rock Excavation project manager who graduated from Moapa Valley High School in 1979.

One particular hobby motivates Sprague to roam beyond Clark County’s borders: competitive running.

Since 2022, he has completed three marathons, a pair of half-marathons, and two 10K contests.
On April 15, Sprague participated in – and finished – the fabled Boston Marathon. It marked his debut at the fabled 26-mile showcase, for which he qualified by finishing last year’s REVEL Mt. Charleston contest in 3 hours, 32 minutes (an impressive 18 minutes less than the required time for his age group).

He described Massachusetts’ storied spectacle as “amazing,” thanks in part to its raft of onlookers, who lined the roadsides throughout the entire race.
“The spectators were so encouraging; if you slowed down or walked, they would shout support and get us going again,” Sprague explained, noting that “making a right on Hereford (Street) then a left on Boylston” was a memory he won’t forget.

Above all, he competes because of his passion for new experiences. “I’ve met some amazing people and learned you can’t judge people’s fitness by the way they look,” said Sprague.

To that end, he met a lady named Bonnie, who at 87 finished the marathon for the 15th time. “I hope to be running at 87!” he said.

Sprague started getting serious about exercise in 2018, when it took approximately six months for him – minus 40 pounds – to jog one mile. He felt the need to decide between remaining “overweight and unhealthy” or training to lose excess baggage.

“My choice was to make the change, and I don’t regret all the hard work at all,” said Sprague, who was a wrestler when attending Brigham Young University in Provo as a young student. “I use running races to challenge my level of fitness.”

His next goal is to qualify for the New York and Chicago marathons which, when combined with the Boston race, would mean Sprague will have competed in half of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. The others take place in Berlin, London, and Tokyo.

Sprague gave a shout-out to his wife of 41 years, Shawna, for always being supportive. “She is the best part of my life,” he said.
He also credited friends and neighbors throughout the community.
“One of the best parts of this experience has been the support of people in the valley. It has been inspiring to get messages and encouragement from them,” Sprague said.