MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — With the mercury at 80-degrees when the starting gun was fired, it was one of the warmest Boston Marathons in the history of the event. That’s why race officials were offering deferments to runners.

More than 4,000 runners opted-out, but a Twin Cities man pushed on.

“In the late miles, I had a few moments when I started to feel like I (was going to) blackout,” Mike Buenting told WCCO’s John Williams a few hours after he ran the 26.2 mile race. “I just kept on powering through, and the crowds of Boston were awesome. They just kept on lifting me up.”

Buenting ending up finishing in two hours and 58 minutes.

It’s not his best marathon time, but he doesn’t care. Buenting told Williams he came in fifth among Minnesota runners in the field of 22,500.

“I’m not complaining about today’s run one bit,” Buenting said.

He did have to spend two hours in the medical tent after the race, though.

WCCO’s John Williams talks to Mike Buenting.