Arlington Hts. mayor completes 10th Boston Marathon

Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes finished his 10th Boston Marathon on Monday amid more security than he's seen at any previous race.

He crossed the finish line in 3:49:03, not a personal best for the 57-year-old avid runner, but Hayes said he was glad to finish.

"I went a little slower than normal, but I was happy because I ran the whole time," Hayes said on Monday afternoon as he hurried to catch a plane back to Chicago.

"It went great, the weather was beautiful for all the runners and spectators. I was very happy to finish and cross the tape without incident," he said.

Hayes had already completed the marathon last year when two bombs near the finish line killed three people and injured hundreds.

Hayes frequently runs the 26.2-mile race, hops on a plane and is back in Arlington Heights for the regular Monday night board meeting - even last year when the plane he was on was among the last to leave Logan International Airport before planes were grounded.

But, this year Hayes said his flight wouldn't get him back in time for the meeting, which would be led Monday night by president pro tem, Trustee Thomas Glasgow.

Last year, Hayes said the bombings would not make him shy away from returning to Boston in 2014.

After finishing the race on Monday, Hayes said the experience was a bit more emotional than other races in which he's competed - including nearly 25 marathons.

"You could tell there was an increased level of security along the course and at the start and finish line," Hayes said. "There was a very different feel to the race this year for a number of reasons."