Luis Chavez, a familiar face to customers of Alva's Market, left early Friday morning with his wife to arrive a couple days ahead of the start of the world-famous Boston Marathon, an event that attracts 35,000 runners from around the world.

Chavez first came to Alva as a Northwestern student from Beaver, Oklahoma. His high school running credentials were impressive with a state championship in track his junior year, and a state championship in cross-country his senior year. His high school team, of which he was a part, won a state championship as well.

Chavez participated in cross-country at N...