Sideline saviors

It's there in Natick that Dedham High School custodian Dick Smitley, a Marathon runner and organizer for 18 years, and his wife, Helen, marshal a force of around 60 volunteers at his water station.

"I know so many people, because I've been involved so long," Smitley said yesterday after the race. "My wife is on one side of the road and I am on the other. We say 'hi' to almost everybody."

The Smitleys devoted themselves to the race yesterday as Robert Cheruiyot of Kenya captured his third Marathon title for the men and Russia's Lidiya Grigoryeva took the women's crown.

The 63-year-old Dick Smitley first ran the Marathon in 1989 and finished the race every year until an injury forced him out in 2002. In that year his wife, also a marathoner, organized a water station. The next year Smitley joined her.

Now that the Marathon is starting at 10 a.m., running the water station means getting out to the site in Natick around 6:30 a.m. to set up. Nine tables are positioned along the route, three with Gatorade and six with water.

In most years the cups are piled six or seven high, but this year's high winds and driving rain meant the Smitleys could build a shorter stack.

Despite the storm, Smitley said almost every volunteer showed up on time and the operation went smoothly.

"Overall it all worked out great," Smitley said. "The rain stopped right before the second wave of runners."

Smitley said when average runners start making it to his station, several thousand can whiz by in around five minutes.

In addition to running the water station, the Smitley's now advise local runners on how best to run the Marathon.

This year, Dedham High School nurse Maria Antonuccio decided she wanted to run. She said she had been talking about it for years and went straight to the Smitleys.

"They are amazing," Antonuccio said. "If it wasn't for them, I never would have finished."

Antonuccio, who finished in 5 hours and 25 minutes, said the Smitleys took her out on the course every Sunday. She said when she was running yesterday, she knew just what to expect.

"When I saw Dick at the water station I gave him a big hug," Antonuccio said.

Over the years, the Smitleys have accumulated a number of memorable Marathon moments.

Once, Helen fell and broke her arm at the 20-mile mark of a marathon in Vermont. Dick helped her along the last four miles and made sure medical personnel did not stop her from finishing.

Smitley said once at Boston their drink-loaded table collapsed just before the race. Volunteers got it back together and ready before the runners arrived.

Yesterday, a woman injured her Achilles tendon right near the water station. Smitley said he helped her off the course and delivered her to medics.

In addition to his work at the Boston Marathon, Smitley is the co-director of the James Joyce Ramble in Dedham.

Yesterday he said he would continue to volunteer for as long as he can.

"It's something we can give back to the community," Smitley said. "Without the volunteers, the Marathon wouldn't be what it is."

Daily new staff writer Patrick Anderson can be reached at 781-433-8336 or by e-mail at panderso@cnc.com.