WHEELING - A Wheeling attorney at Dinsmore & Shohl recently completed his seventh Boston Marathon, finishing 365th overall.
Brian Benestad, an associate at Dinsmore in the commercial litigation department, completed the 2015 Boston Marathon in 2:42:10.
Benestad said he has ran the Boston Marathon every year since 2008, except for 2011 when he was in Baghdad with the Air Force. That year, he ran 26.2 miles on a treadmill while watching the Boston Marathon live on television.
"It's a fun experience, and a great opportunity," Benestad said. "This year, seven of my family members ran, so it was great to do that with my family."
In 2013, Benestad ran the race with two other family members and had already finished the race and was having lunch around the corner when the bombing occurred.
"I've heard bombs before, but it is a terrifying experience to hear them in America," Benestad said. "But the city responded very well, and the next year the marathon had one of the highest amount of participants that year."
Benestad said it was a good thing for American's to show that they were not defeated.
Benestad, who studied at Boston College, said he would watch the marathon each year while he was a student.
"It was very motivating," he said. "I'd watch every year. It is such a good race."
Benestad's first marathon was in 2007 on Columbus, Ohio. Since then, he has completed 23 marathons, including the Pittsburgh Marathon, Houston Marathon and Rock 'n' Roll DC Marathon. He has also completed a few ultramarathons, which are races that are longer than the traditional 26.2 miles.
Benestad said he would like to become a sports agent for running and has recently began to pace marathons. He was the pace runner for the 2:43 Women's U.S. Olympic Trials group at the Pittsburgh Marathon on May 3.
"This is a major part of my life, and I really enjoy doing it," Benestad said.
Benestad is a graduate of Boston College and Duquesne University School of Law. He also spent five years in the Air Force JAG Corps.
