A little less than four years ago, in May of 2005, Rob Loveridge very nearly died from a blood disorder. He ended up in the Intensive Care Unit, and spent two weeks at Saint Peter's Hospital.

But Loveridge recovered, and next month the 55-year old Helena High band teacher will be competing in the Boston Marathon.

Loveridge qualified for the 2009 Boston Marathon last summer at the Montana Marathon in Billings. He posted a time of 3 hours, 44 minutes, 17 seconds, which was just barely under the qualifying time of 3:45 for his age-group.

Loveridge said that he was not an athlete in high school, and instead of participating in sports, he played the trumpet for the Billings West band.

"I was with the pep band for West when we played Helena High for the 1971 state basketball championship, and we left very dejected thanks to Pat Donovan and Ed Robinson," Loveridge said, referring to the Bengals overtime win over the Bears in the title game.

After graduating from West, Loveridge earned both a masters and bachelors degree from Eastern Montana College.

He has been a teacher for 35 years, the last 17 as the band instructor for HHS.

He did not take up running until he was about 35 years of age, "in order to relieve the stress of teaching."

At first he was just a casual runner, logging about 3-4 miles a week. From 1996-2004, he competed in the half-marathons in the Governor's Cup, although he still viewed running as just a pastime. "My times were real crummy," said Loveridge, noting that his times varied between 2:07 and 2:17 during those eight years.

Last summer he posted a personal record in the same distance of 1:35.

In 2004, he ran his first marathon. Then in May of 2005, Loveridge suffered hymolidec anemia, and was rushed to St. Pete's, where he ended up in the ICU.

"My white blood cells were attacking my red cells," Loveridge explained. "I don't think I'd be here if it wasn't for Dr. Thomas Weiner. He saved my life."

After leaving the hospital, it took Loveridge nearly six months to fully recover.

Since then, his long distance training has intensified, and he has participated in eight marathons.

As the HHS bandleader, Loveridge said that two of his favorite activities include being with the pep band at Bengal football and basketball games, and the trips they take every three years to Florida for band competitions.

The 5-foot-6, 135-pound Loveridge said that next to his Boston race qualifier in Billings, the most "special" run he's participated in was last year's Race for the Cure.

"My wife Brooke has breast cancer," he said. "I ran the 5-K, and seeing my wife walk a mile in the event, after a chemo session, made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. The band is having a fund raiser for my Boston Marathon, and I would like some of what we collect go to the Race for the Cure."

Q: So are you cured of hemolydic anemia, and what do you take for it?

A: I think I'm cured, but it is something I have to watch. I did have a bout this past December, when I started to hemotize. I have a prescription for folic acid, which helps produce red blood cells.

Q: What does your training regimen consist of, and where do you run?

A: During the week, I run three miles every morning and 7-10 miles after school. Saturdays are my long days, 18-20 miles, and I take Sundays off. I usually run the walking trail on Lincoln Road and Montana Ave. Sometimes I run from my home out in the valley to the middle of town and back.

Q: Do you do any cross training?

A: I do about 30-50 pushups, and 20 minutes of core exercises every day. You need a strong core for that last 5-6 miles of a marathon.

Q: Who's going to Boston with you, and what's your goal for the marathon there?

A: My wife is going with me, so we plan on seeing some of the Freedom Trail while we're there. I did a mission in Boston for my church about 35 years ago, and the marathon goes right through some of the same district where I was. I'd like to break 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Q: If someone wanted to contribute to your Boston Marathon, how could they go about it?

A: They can either call me at the school, at 324-2342, or email rloveridge@helena.k12.mt.us