A week from today Schroon Lake and our surrounding neighboring towns will be a hopping’  -- with the running of the 18th Annual ADK Marathon.

More than 400 runners are signed up for the big event on Sunday, with hundreds more registered for the various other runs that weekend in our adjoining towns: including the 1K Kids Fun Run and a 5K and 10K events.

Back this year will be the now famous Pace Bears  -- who will help runners meet their goals. Whether you are aiming for a 3:30, 3:45, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30 or 4:45 finish – there’s a pace bear for you.

And among this year’s bears is one with a Presidential Connection: From the official ADK Marathon Website:

David King (Boston) 3:45 pace group
Yes, this isn’t normal Pace Bear attire, but David King, one of our Adirondack Marathon Pace Bear heroes, received a TV Press Conference commendation last year from President Obama several days after the Boston bombing. After he ran the course, prequalifying for this year’s Boston, he completed his cool down on the way to Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. David King, an Army reservist and MGH trauma surgeon was eminently qualified, accustomed to treating injuries of this type in Afghanistan’s frontline combat support hospitals. Only this was here in the United States.

As we strive to rise above this senseless act and strengthen our already strong community of runners, we are now presented with these horrific images superimposed over the triumphant, bittersweet stories of the survivors and those who played such a key role that day. The latest Fox TV News documentary interviews Dr. King as well as some of the patients he saved. Runner’s World also follows up, emphasizing that the process is ongoing, with Dr. King working with Boston Marathon personnel to secure the tourniquets that were so lacking last year. We can always learn.

Meanwhile, do take the opportunity to shake Dr. King’s hand at the packet pickup, pasta dinner, or meet-and-greet before Sunday’s post time. You might even ramp up your training and join his 3:45 pace group!

For more stories and the official schedule, go to our ADK Marathon section.