Perhaps Lynn’s Michael Derby summed it up as succinctly as he could: “It was a great day for running.”That seemed to be the consensus of opinion Monday as local runners weighed in on their experiences running the 113th Boston Marathon. The event wasn’t without a little drama overall, as Kara Goucher of the US finished third, only eight seconds off the pace in her quest to be the first American runner to win the race since the mid-1990s.None of the local runners saw any of that. But a few of them caught Swampscott’s Neil Bernstein, with a replica of the foul pole named for Johnny Pesky, on his head as he ran the 26.2 miles.”A lot of people recognized me from previous years,” Bernstein said. “They were giving me shout-outs.”Derby was one of them.”I saw him around Mile 23,” he said, “and I gave him a little pat on the back.””I saw him too,” said Peabody’s Ellen Kaminski. “There were a lot of characters out there.”While the race may have seemed seamless for some, for others it presented challenges. Marblehead’s Cara Bednar, who finished in 5:10.24, fought the flu for the entire 26 miles.”I struggled right from the start,” said the former Marblehead High tennis star. “But the people, and the runners, were very nice. My sister (Katy) and my boyfriend (Josh Strauss) jumped in at the hills and ran with me the rest of the way ? and that helped a lot.”Family and friends played a huge role for the local runners. Derby’s wife, Elizabeth, and his two sons jumped in on Hereford Street, which is the street that connects Commonwealth Avenue to Boylston Street (and the last turn before the finish line) and ran the last leg with him.”It’s very emotional,” said Derby, who ran for the American Liver Foundation. “The thought of them being there, as I’m struggling through mile 20, 21 and 22, is what always keeps me going.”Having her friend running with her also helped Nahant’s Lisa Torchiana. Both she and Dawna Nocera turn 50 this year (Nocera’s already there), and they ran side by side the whole way (finishing within a minute of each other).Torchiana was a little leery going into the race, as she’s been battling hamstring issues.”But I really don’t think it was a factor,” she said. “I ran it in about the same time (4:08) as I did in 2006.”I took a lot of those shot blocks,” she said. “They’re little gummy things ? very chewy ? and I find them more palatable than the gel caps. They really give you a quick boost.”The runners battled a strong headwind that either was, or was not, a problem, depending on who you talked to.”Some streets, you turned onto them and it was whistling right at you ? and hard, too,” said Saugus’ Mike Moriello (4:56). “Then, you’d go down other streets, and it was like it wasn’t there. Then, you’d turn onto another street and it would be right back in your face again.”On the other hand, “I didn’t feel it too much until I got into the city,” said Kaminski. “By then, I didn’t care. It was really a nice breeze.”Of course, with the Pesky Pole around his head, the wind did wreak havoc on Bernstein, who figures he lost about 40 to 50 minutes off his time due to the impediment. But he didn’t care. He was more concerned afterward that people continue to contribute to the Jimmy Fund, either through his website (peskypolemarathon.org) or on their own.The runners who ran to support charities said the crowds cheered them on with enthusiasm.”I ran for Dana Farber,” said Kaminski, “and people were yelling the name all the way through. It really keeps you going.”Torchiana had the same experience.”The crowds are fabulous,” she said. “I had a Mass. General shirt on, and I’d hear people cheering, ‘Go, Mass. General!'”Opinion seemed to be split on whether there would be another Marathon in their future.”It was a great experience,” said Kaminski, who said that while she was a little sore, she was none the worse for the wear. “I’ll definitely do it again next year.”Moriello wasn’t as sure. But he was leaning toward it.”I’m competitive, and I’ve be