DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man is in Boston, attempting to finish his 30th Boston Marathon.

John Taylor III knows training for marathons means logging lots of miles.

“It’s fun having goals,” he said while running.

His most recent goal he’s working toward is a meaningful milestone…

“So now I’ve done 29 Boston Marathons total, with 27 in a row,” Taylor explained.

This year will mark 30 Boston Marathons for the 66-year-old. His first one was in 1994.

“I was really sick that morning. My mom’s there, thinking you shouldn’t do this. You don’t feel good,” Taylor recalls. “And I said, ‘you know, Mom, this could be the only time I ever get to run the Boston Marathon. I may never be able to qualify again.’ Because it took me five tries before I did qualify.”

He kept qualifying and kept coming back, making him an eventual member of the “Quarter Century Club.”

“Which are those who have run 25 in a row,” Taylor explained. “And once you have that, you guarantee entry as long as your string stays active.”

Taylor stayed active as a runner throughout his life, participating in 113 marathons: one in every state, 10 outside the U.S., including Antarctica.

All those steps eventually took a toll on his body, leading to challenges in future races.

“And so, this next one is a critical one number 30, because I just had a hip replacement surgery in October,” Taylor said. “And this would be the first one with this new hip. So I’m like learning to run again.”

Learning to run again is made a little easier with an anti-gravity treadmill, which creates a lower-impact running surface.

Still, it’s been hard work for Taylor and his doctors, who had less than six months to get him rehabbed and ready to go.

“Most surgeons doing total hip replacements would not recommend running marathons after that, but we made that way happen,” Beth Schweizer, his physical therapist, said. “He’s doing a combination of running and walking and we feel like it’s a safe way and he’s gotten the OK with his surgeon to do this. And we’re really happy and confident that he’s going to reach his goal.”

Remember, Taylor likes having goals and is determined to meet them.

While this marathon probably won’t be his fastest, it could be his most memorable. John Taylor’s just focused on getting it done.

“Time doesn’t matter. It’s that feeling crossing that finish line,” Taylor said. “I don’t care if it’s a 5k, 100-yard dash, mile, whatever it is, it’s just such a riveting feeling that I did it. Nobody can ever take that away from you.”

Taylor said he was never a runner until he decided to do a marathon in college at his alma mater, Drake University. It’s a timely nod to the Drake Relays happening this week.