Foot races may go to the swift and steady, but not everyone is in it to win it. Most marathoners consider it a victory to finish — and they credit the cheering crowds lining the route for driving them onward.
After the Boston bombing in 2013, the city’s marathoners gained a mascot. Rain or shine, he sat roadside; a wooden staff clamped in his mouth, Boston Strong banners fluttering on each end.
Dory and Rich Powers had adopted Spencer, the Golden retriever, in 2009 and dubbed him their angel. “He was so sweet and unassuming,” Dory told NBC News. “Once I picked him up, I didn’t want to let him go.”
“He faced a lot of challenges,” Rich added. “He had some severe health issues and miraculously bounced back. He took his spot every year and became a symbol of inspiration that everyone could latch on to.”
During each race, runners stopped by for snuggles and selfies with the ever-affable pup. No wonder that Spencer became Boston Marathon’s official dog.
For years, Spencer happily took his charge until he died in February 2023 after a cancer diagnosis. He was 13. Sympathy cards and letters flooded the Powers’ home. In his obituary in the New York Times, Rich wrote that Spencer was “too good not to share.”
Last Saturday, the day before the 2024 Boston Marathon, a statue dedicated to Spencer was unveiled near the spot where he always stood. The statue was funded by donations collected along the marathon route. Additionally, hundreds of Goldens crowded Boston Common to honor Spencer and raise money for cancer-stricken canines.
“I can’t thank you enough,” Rich said, choking back tears at the dedication ceremony. “This boy meant the world to us — and he meant the world to a lot of people.”
Spencer may be gone, but his legacy was passed on to two new banner bearers. At last Sunday’s marathon, retrievers Jimmy and Jade greeted runners along the route. The Powers are training the pair to become therapy dogs as they had trained Spencer. For them, it’s all about carrying love forward.
“We want this to go on for generations,” Rich said. Spencer’s message: “You can do way more than you think you can.”