Monday was the annual Boston Marathon which continues to be one of the world’s best sporting events. I’ve got to say, every marathon that passes, every story I cover regarding running, it impresses the hell out of me what these athletes accomplish.

My favorite form of exercise is running. I run a few times a week and am proud of my times, my stamina. Typically my runs are four or five miles at about an eight-minute pace per mile.

Then you look at marathon runners … what I am doing is child’s play.

It takes years of intense training to become an elite runner and even once you enter that elite territory, it takes months to get your body to that next level. I have met and interviewed plenty of marathon runners and if I am being frank, training for a marathon sounds awful.

Whether it is injuries, bumps and bruises, general time spent on the road and treadmill, obeying the correct diet, balancing that all with proper rest along with daily duties at work and family. The commitment to excellence is tremendous. Running a marathon requires an extraordinary amount of mental and physical toughness.

In my opinion, running a marathon is perhaps the greatest athletic achievement there is.

I think of combat sports like boxing and wrestling. Putting your body on the line and fighting with other human beings, that’s extremely impressive and takes courage that only those doing it can understand.

I look at a sport like hockey, which requires you to be able to operate on ice skates at all times, flying around shooting the puck, playing defense, skating backwards. Anyone that plays hockey is a gifted athlete.

All sports are unique and require different skill sets, but something about marathon running wows me beyond any other sport.

Running for 26.2 miles and doing it in sometimes less than three hours. Incredible. Regardless of time, running that distance is something that I can’t wrap my head around. There are times when I finish my runs and tell myself, “I’d have to do that five more times,” and a wave of discouragement hits me. I say that with a hint of humor, of course.

Getting into marathon running shape is only half the battle. Hearing some of the war stories of seasoned marathon runners is fascinating as well.

I have heard stories of runners getting blisters in the first mile, others being dehydrated and feeling faint with 10 miles to go. Some get such a runner’s high that they can’t recall much of the race, others can recount every step they took.

Another aspect that has always grabbed my attention is the post-race routine, the recovery process. Typically, runners will take about a week off to rest their legs and celebrate their accomplishment. I feel like I’d have to take a year off to get my body right.

Despite all of the grueling training days, the rigors of completing the actual race. Despite all the discomfort, sacrifice, time spent, one thing seems to be the same for all of these athletes … running marathons is their life’s passion and something they enjoy every minute of.

That’s the difference between runners like myself and marathon runners. For me, running is a chore. It’s a chore that I don’t mind, especially when the weather is nice and I get to spend some time outdoors, picking and choosing new routes to explore.

For these athletes, though, they can’t picture a day where running isn’t a part of their routine. They look forward to lacing up their shoes and hitting the road.

I guess the point I’m trying to make here is that marathon runners don’t get enough credit for the warriors and athletes that they are. It doesn’t matter if you win the Boston Marathon in two hours, or are finishing in the back of the pack at five hours, to make that run is the greatest athletic accomplishment there is. If you run a marathon, I will tell you that you are the toughest breed of athlete there is.

Congrats to everyone that ran in Boston on Monday, or anyone that has completed a marathon, for that matter.

Another annual spring tradition is the introduction of the youth baseball seasons. Little League and Cal Ripken, specifically, are getting underway and it is always an exciting time of year.

For those who read my column, you will know that I have spent a lot of time speaking on the downslide of baseball in this country. In fact, as recently as last week I touched on this subject.

Although I have my complaints with the game, I have never fallen out of love for it at the youth level, where it all begins.

Youth baseball is when the sport is at its best because that is when the kids are truly out there having fun and not worrying about what’s going on off the field. The pitchers are excited to pitch, the batters are excited to hit, and the fielders are anxiously waiting to see if they will be the ones who will get the opportunity to make the play.

As the years go on and the players get older, more experienced, the game takes its toll. There is more pressure to win, college scholarships are on the line. That is when the game starts to lose the fun. That’s when things tend to slow down.

Pitchers get in their own heads on the mound, batters are more focused on the situation and working the count rather than just swinging away. I get it, the game gets more sophisticated as the competition improves, but there are times when I wish that the older players would just relax and recapture that childlike excitement to simply be out there.

That is what I love about youth baseball, that is why I look forward to covering these leagues and teams. There is never a dull moment and the kids’ excitement is contagious. That is when sports bring the best out of all of us. That’s what it is all about.