LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Outpouring of affection for former Miramonte coach, holder of Boston Marathon title


The Orinda City Council and former Mayor Amy Worth, left, joined Vice Mayor Darlene Gee and Mayor Inga Miller in honoring former Miramonte teacher and coach Patty Hung, third from left, holder of the record for most consecutive completions of the Boston Marathon by a women. Photo Sora O'Doherty

The mood at the Orinda City Council meeting on June 6 can only be described as joyous when the council presented a proclamation honoring former Miramonte High School Coach Patty Hung. Hung, holder of the record for most consecutive completions by a women of the famed Boston Marathon, literally bounced with energy and delight, accepting the recognition from the council and former Orinda mayors Amy Worth and Eve Phillips.

Phillips, who was coached by Hung at Miramonte, has also completed the Boston Marathon, and currently serves on the board of the Orinda Union School District. She brought her four children to the council meeting to join in honoring her former coach.

Hung, who retired from teaching and coaching at Miramonte, is 77 years old. She recently completed her 37th consecutive Boston Marathon, which was reported by many major news and sports publications, including Lamorinda Weekly. The Orinda proclamation states that she "has inspired thousands of students to dedicate hard work to reaching their athletic potential through her inspired coaching and personal dedication to the sport of running."

In her years at Miramonte, Hung touched the lives of hundreds of students. Phillips and Mayor Inga Miller were running pals on the cross country team. Miller says that she has vivid memories of Hung both as her math teacher and her coach, running alongside the team. "As a teacher and coach she made a point to learn what encouraged us and made us ready to learn," Miller notes. "That balance of drive and acceptance is a central element of our struggle as humans and Patty not only gets that but embraces that struggle." Hung also coached former Mayor Worth's daughter, Betsy.

The proclamation also cites Hung for bringing "great pride to the City of Orinda and its many residents for her incredible accomplishments, both as a beloved coach and dedicated competitor of the Boston Marathon."