TJ’s Boston Experience

By Mike Langevin

Impossible is nothing in the mind of TJ Sherwin (Athlete Profile, July 2017) if you want something bad enough, as he gets set to run the biggest race of his life. As a child, TJ dreamed of running in the Boston Marathon. He did not know how he was going to get there or what he needed to do to make this happen but he was determined not to let anything stop him.

When he qualified to race this year’s Boston Marathon on April 18, after running Miles on the Mohawk, his first marathon in May 2021, his dream was about to become a reality. Even though he qualified and was accepted there was still a lot of work to be done to his make his dream come true. 

TJ has run numerous races from 5Ks to Tough Mudder obstacle events, and has completed a 100-mile bike ride at the 2017 Tour de Cure in Saratoga Springs, but these accomplishments are not what set him apart from other athletes. TJ is a talented athlete who is also deaf and legally blind. However, he does not let these disabilities get in his way or color his attitude. Most of his friends view him as the embodiment of the American Ninja Warrior up to any challenge while radiating infectious enthusiasm.

When he was two years old, TJ’s hearing and vision deteriorated for unknown reasons. Many conditions and syndromes can cause this combined loss, but none were assessed as being causative at the time. TJ learned to live with these and became quite independent. When he went to school, physical education was the only area where he was segregated. He either was with a few kids or by himself with a coach. Although he found this discouraging, it did not diminish his love of athletics. TJ, age 35, is very independent. He is a homeowner in Colonie who takes care of himself. To get to work at FedEx, he takes Star, a special program run by the CDTA for people with disabilities.

For the Boston Marathon, TJ was allowed to bring two support runners with him to aid with the logistical aspects of the course. I ran the first half of the marathon course with him, and Joe Aliberti of Voorheesville ran the second. Our job was to help TJ at the starting line by pointing out wave and corral placements, alerting him to upcoming water stops and to help him navigate the finish line area. However, the hard work and determination on the course was all his responsibility. 

TJ comments, “Boston is hard and people try to scare you about the difficulty of the course. But you can’t let other people scare you or you will never accomplish anything. My goal was to start out strong and stay solid throughout the race. I just wanted to finish. The last eight miles was extremely challenging and I had to keep pushing myself mentally to keep going when my body was screaming stop.” What kept TJ going was the incredible fan base of family and friends back home and on the course following him and supporting him every step of the way. Crossing the finish line in 4:49:25, TJ achieved his dream of running the Boston Marathon!

None of this could have happened however without the weeks of prior planning and strategic preparation by Joe’s wife, Janet Aliberti, who was such a big part of “Team TJ” by making sure there would be a seamless transition at the halfway point for Mike and Joe as well as many other aspects of the day. 

TJ has never given up on a challenge despite having many thrown his way. “Out in the community there are many obstacles I must face daily, where my hearing and vision are being tested. Running has allowed me to equal the playing field where my hearing and vision are not being tested. Instead, I am being defined by my strength, determination and endurance.” His motto has always been, “Go Big or Go Home!” And in Boston that’s just what he did on this national stage. 

At the starting line, I looked over to him as the national anthem was playing and I saw the wave of emotion that came over him as he realized his childhood dream was about to become a reality. There was no greater feeling in the world for him or me at that moment. TJ continues, “Any goal can be reached if you are willing to try and not give up.”

Despite the difficulty of this course, TJ says he will be back. “What makes Boston so exciting is the inspiration of all the people, the ability to run in a race with the best in the world, the challenge of the course, and the experience as a runner of seeing that finish line when you make that last turn and crossing it. It is a feeling of ultimate joy when you put your hands in the air and see the crowds celebrating with you and everyone. The crowd’s response to your victory is a feeling of total humility that can only be understood when you experience it yourself. It is mesmerizing and magical!”

TJ is an inspiration for so many others to set high goals, work hard to achieve them, and enjoy the journey along the way. “I have never let my limitations defeat me. Instead, I see them as a challenge to overcome.”

Mike Langevin (MJL2064@aol.com) of Colonie is an avid runner, cyclist, triathlete and cross-country skier. He has been a Sign Language Interpreter for the Capital Region BOCES for the past 33 years!