The 121st Boston Marathon takes place Monday, and two Portland-based, ex-University of Oregon runners figure to be in the thick of the battle for individual titles.
Galen Rupp, 2012 Olympic silver medalist for 10,000 meters and 2016 Olympic bronze medalist for the marathon, is among the contenders, and probably the top U.S. threat in the men's race..
Rupp has had plantar fasciitis in his left foot, which caused him to miss the Houston Half Marathon in January and bothered him during the Prague Half Marathon on April 1.
But two cortisone shots have quieted the inflammation and he said he has been running pain free.