By Jane Honigs

Staff Writer

Andrew Mason knows how to remain in motion without budging from his goal. And his ability to stay the course has won him a spot in the Boston Marathon.

By virtue of his finishing time of 3 hours, 4 minutes and 8 seconds in Sunday’s (11/5/00) 28^th annual Harrisburg Marathon — his second marathon ever —he’ll be on the run in Boston on April 16, 2001. "I’m definitely going. It’s arguably the most prestigious marathon in the world. It’s the only marathon you have to qualify for outside of the Olympics," he said. "My goal this time without a doubt was to break 3:10, which is the qualifying time for my age group."

Although Mason, 28, emphasized that some other area runners are capable of doing as well in marathons as he did, he conceded the race was probably a personal best for him. Not only did he qualify for Boston, he finished 13^th overall among roughly 400 men and women who ran the 26.2 miles.

He also received a plaque as the first male finisher in the 25 to 29 year-old age group. "It’s an amazing high. It’s a real sense of accomplishment not only to run non-stop for more than 26 miles, but to achieve a goal," he said.

Mason, of Chambersburg, has worked as a sports writer for The Record Herald since January, and previously lived and worked in other areas as a financial consultant, a tour manager for a rock band, a waiter and a counselor at a center for juvenile delinquents. "I’ve been out of college six and a half years and have managed to pack a lot in. It took a few post-college years and career turns to get myself in a direction where I really felt I have some passion," he said.

But his passion for running has been a constant for years. He started on the track team as a student at Faust Junior High and ran cross country and track at Chambersburg Area Senior High School, from which he graduated in 1990. "Running has been a consistent part of my life since the eighth grade. What I did Sunday was the culmination of all of it," Mason said. "I’ve played a lot of different sports, but nothing has given me the personal satisfaction of running. It’s the most cut and dried test of one’s ability to endure and persevere."

He ran his first marathon last year in Harrisburg. "My goal last year was to finish. It was an outside goal to qualify (for Boston)." While he finished, Mason fell short of qualifying with a time of 3:14. He admitted he was "in a tremendous amount of pain."

He’s been running 30 to 45 miles per week to prepare for the 2000 marathon. "It’s not a ton of running for what these marathoners do. It’s at the low end of training, but I make the miles count. I know my body well, and I know what’s necessary to get it where it needs to be." To get where he needed to be this year, Mason remained focused throughout the race, and he had a strategy in mind. "I started off very conservatively and didn’t start attacking until after a few miles. After two to three miles, I picked up the pace. I didn’t get passed by one person the whole race. I continuously picked off people until mile 14. Then I just passed a few more after mile 20."

"I was very confident. I knew I had it in me, but with a race like that when you’re out there for three hours, anything can happen. It’s definitely not guaranteed." His parents, Richard and Mary Mason, also of Chambersburg, were on hand to offer their support and cheer for him, he said.

Although he’s been suffering from some sore muscles, Mason will be on the run again soon. "I’m running a 10K on Thanksgiving morning, so I’ve gotta have myself ready to go by then," he said.

And what goal does he have in mind for the big one — the Boston Marathon? "Knowing my competitive nature, I have a feeling I’m going to be out to better my time. The next milestone is to crack three hours."