What’s it going to feel like when you cross the finish line this year?
[Last year] my wife and Patrick were waiting to go into the VIP stands across the street from the explosions and my parents, aunt and one-year-old son were outside of Lord and Taylor when it happened. I was fortunate that a) my family was fine and b) somehow my wife was able to get into touch with my brother, told him what happened, and he was able to relay that everyone was OK when I saw him outside of Kenmore Square.
Another aspect to my story is that I am a nurse here in Boston so I saw firsthand the effect this had on families in the days and weeks following. That experience drove home that my family was fortunate to have walked away unharmed. Last year it was like “can I do this?” This year, I know that I can do it because I ran 25+ miles and was going to finish. There are a lot of runners who are in the same boat as me and I feel this bond with them regardless of if I know them or not. It’s going to be pretty emotional at the finish line.
Last year was a tragedy and people had their lives changed forever so it is hard to take the position that something was taken from me that day. But I ran with all my heart for four months to achieve this goal and I was not able to achieve that goal. I can’t imagine not being back on that course this year. Now when I run I think about my son, but it is impossible not to reflect on last year and I have those affected in my thoughts. I feel like I am going to be a part of one of the most historic days in our cities history.
Let me ask you, how does the fund-raiser situation work? Money from the event goes to the Flutie fund, your training, etc.?
Well to be an official runner in the Boston Marathon you need a bib number. In order to get a bib you either need to qualify — which for a guy my age means you ran an approved marathon in three hours and 10 minutes or less. Not close to happening for me. There is a whole program where the BAA gives marathon number to charities and those charities give the numbers to runners who agree to fund raise on their behalf. So for me I am running for Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.
I agree to raise a certain amount of money, putting down a credit card number to assure that I do. And they give me the number. I train with a group of runners that are all running for different charities. That is an added tragedy to the bombings. This happened at like the four-hour mark or something, and all those runners are running to help others. People that were crossing or spectating at that point where likely there supporting someone who did what I did — dedicated months to training and raised money to help a charity. So the show at T.T.’s is going to go to my personal fundraising efforts.
To help raise funds for the cause, you’ve enlisted some friends for the show at T.T.s — your Larkin Brigade, but also the Alrighters and Spectre Hawk…
I am not sure that many people know this, but I have known Patrick “Paddy Keys” and Paul Kennedy “Paulie Thunder” from the Larkin Brigade for my whole life. Pat and I went to kindergarten together. Then we lost touch for 15 years and met again at a show at the Middle East in the late-’90s. We started seeing each other at shows and began to hang. We were roommates for a while and Paddy, Paulie and I played in a band that preceded The Larkin Brigade. So they are dear friends and they have always been supportive.
Pat accompanied me on some training runs last year. The best story is that after I got up Heartbreak Hill, I saw Pat by the Boston College Green Line stop. He hopped the barrier and had a big sign the read “Go Diesel Dennis.” He ran behind me from BC to Cleveland Circle holding this sign and every shitface BC kid was chanting “Diesel! Diesel!” It was a huge boost at the exact moment I needed it. I can’t think him enough. It was amazing.
I assume it didn’t take much to convince the guys to reunite for the benefit show?
There was no hesitation when I asked if we could do a show for a fundraiser. The Alrighters are reuniting as well which is awesome. The Larkin Brigade and the Alrighters played together many times back in the day. Last year I had discussed doing a Larkin Brigade show as a fundraiser, but I don’t think any of us had a strong desire to play as the Larkin Brigade at that point. It is really hard to pull it together to jam and put together a set cause life is crazy these days. I got two boys, Paddy has a one-year-old, and Paulie just had a baby on New Year’s Eve. Joe is playing with Cask Mouse and they are touring and stuff so I feel like everyone is sacrificing for my cause and to put on a killer show.
Spectre Hawk’s drummer, Mike, is a good friend, and Tommy is the lead singer who was always are big supporter of the Larkin Brigade. So I am thrilled that they are on board. Brian Smith is DJing — a friend who hooked the Larkin Brigade up with many a gig. Ian Adams is mad talented and did a lot of posters for us for the years and he volunteered his skills and time for this one of me running. So all the bands are doing it pro bono. No one is getting paid so if you’re coming, buy a musician a beer. The cover goes to my efforts and this benefits the Doug Flutie Jr Foundation for Autism. The foundation supports non-profit programs that provide services and education for individuals and families with autism.