WINCHENDON — Sergeant Raymond Anair of the Winchendon Police is running the Boston Marathon virtually this year, not because he’s afraid of COVID, but because he just didn’t qualify. 

“Sometimes I ask myself…’what the hell am I doing this for?’” said Anair. 

This year will be Anair’s 12th time running the marathon, he took part in the Boston Marathon for the first time in 2009. This year, those who didn’t qualify were allowed to participate in the marathon virtually, mapping out a 26.2-mile route of their own design that officially counts toward their total completed marathons. Last year, only qualifying runners participated virtually because of COVID-19.

“I am running because I can. I have done it for so long, I wanted to continue having another year under my belt,” said Anair. 

Never being fast enough to qualify through speed alone, Anair, 53, got into the marathon in prior years through local running clubs that can grant time-waived entry to members who volunteer at Boston Marathon-sponsored events.

“I have volunteered quite a bit with a couple of the local running clubs – the Medfield Running Club and Central Mass Striders – and I had in previous years got in through those clubs,” he explained.

Yet Anair runs a race he knows he’ll never win, partly because he needs the exercise, partly because he needs the stress relief from his police duties and partly because he likes the bragging rights. 

“I sometimes ask myself why I do it and I don’t know how much longer I will because getting older makes it a little tougher to do these kinds of things, but I do enjoy it and I get some good bragging rights,” he said. 

Those who are running the marathon virtually this year have to complete their run from Friday, Oct. 8 through Monday, Oct. 11. Weather permitting, Anair plans on running virtually on Oct. 8. The route he planned out begins at his home in Royalston, heads into Winchendon, then down the North Central Pathway into Gardner and back. 

“I am running because I can,” he said. “I have done it for so long, I wanted to continue having another year under my belt.”

Anair hopes he’ll be able to qualify again next year.

“Doing the Boston Marathon, it’s incredible because you have spectators for the whole 26.2 miles. There’s not a spot where no one is cheering you on. It’s an amazing experience that I have enjoyed over the years,” he said.