UPDATE: Cherrier was the fifth finisher from the Pikes Peak Region. He clocked 3:20:14 and placed 1,844th overall, 76th in his age group, 50-54

Bill Cherrier's friends might think twice the next time they ask him to go for a run.

Pushing 200 pounds at age 30, Cherrier knew he had to do something about his weight.

"I simply started running to get in condition and maybe lose a little weight," he said. "Some of the guys that were helping me encourged me to get in one of the local races ... and I beat them all. I thought at the time, hey, I can actually run!"

Fast forward 24 years. Cherrier, the Chief Planning and Financial Officer for Colorado Springs Utilities, will run in the Boston Marathon on Monday (April 16).

"This was just something that was on the bucket list," Cherrier said. "I've never really had the desire to travel to big races out of town."

A little ribbing from his friends in the Pikes Peak Road Runners club, Mike Shafai, John Gardner and others, helped convince Cherrier to go for it in Beantown.

"I finally decided to take the dive," Cherrier said. "I'm not going to have these guys show me up. I'm really looking forward to it."

The Boston Marathon is arguably the most famous foot race in the world, drawing 25,000 participants. Some 56 runners from the Pikes Peak Region will race there this year.

Qualifying for Boston is not easy. Cherrier made the cut with a 3:04 at the Colorado Marathon in Fort Collins last May. It was his first stab at 26.2 miles in 12 years. He has finished eight marathons and has a personal best of 2:54.

Though Cherrier discovered running later in life he has grown to love the sport for the physical - and mental - health benefits. It's not easy managing finances at the city-owned utlities department.

"Running helps tremendously," he said. "I typically run early in the morning and I feel like I can handle anything they throw at me afterward. It helps with my attitude and ability to deal with issues that come up during the day. I don't know how I'd handle it without running."

A tough age-group competitor, Cherrier is a veteran of many local races, including the Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run, Pikes Peak Ascent, the Rescue Run and others. He can often be found on the Falcon Trail at the Air Force Academy, or on the Santa Fe Trail. And he likes to test his conditioning by running up Cheyenne Cañon to the top of High Drive.

There are no mountains like Pikes Peak or even stinging climbs like Cheyenne Cañon along the Boston course. But the race is famous for Heartbreak Hill, a 600-meter leg burner that tortures tired runners in their 20th mile. He has prepared for Boston with 60-mile training weeks. On some weekends he knocks out a 10-mile tempo run on Saturday and follows it with a 20-mile long run on Sunday.

"My legs have really felt it," he said. "I guess we'll see on Monday if it works."