The 2015 Boston Marathon will be both the first and last one for long distance runner Charlie Ault of Damariscotta. Ault, 60, ran his first marathon in 1978. He has ran in nine including ones in Chicago, Montreal and New York City. For most marathoners, running from Hopkinton, Massachusetts to the Boston Public Library’s entrance on Boylston Street is the ultimate race.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Ault said. “It’s my 10th and last marathon. I qualified for Boston by running a 3 hour 45 minute qualifier in the Bay State Marathon in Lowell. And after that I decided this would be it.”

Ault has been an avid road racer since he was 13. His first race was a 14.3 miler around Maranacook Lake. He ran cross country while attending both Winthrop High School and Gould Academy and Ripon (Wisconsin) College in the 1970s. He also trained with an elite long distance runner from 1973 to 1975 while working at Fisherman’s Wharf in Boothbay Harbor.

Ault said four decades later, his legs still feel those summer training sessions with Mark Sisson.

“I got a chance to run with him and my calves still hurt from those runs. He’s like a two hour 16 minute marathoner,” he said.

For Ault, there is no special preparation for the race. He believes it’s important for all marathoners to put in the proper road work prior to the race. Ault ran two 20-mile training sessions last month. He also ran about 35 hours per week, which included one 10-miler in preparation for the marathon.

“You need to get up to two 20 mile runs a month before the race,” he said. “About four weeks ago, I went out with full sweats and a blowing snowstorm and ran for three hours.”

This year’s Boston Marathon starts at 8:50 a.m. on Monday, April 20 with 15 mobility impaired racers traveling the famed road course. The Boston Marathon has over 36,000 entrants.

Ault will start at 11:15 a.m. with 7,500 racers in Wave Four. The starting times are based on the entrant’s division and qualifying times.

During the race, Ault expects to focus on the race’s history. The Boston Marathon began in 1897. The races traditionally draws a prestigious international field. Last year’s winner was Keb Keflezighi of California. He ran the course in two hours, eight minutes and 37 seconds. The previous 12 winners came from Kenya and Ethiopia.

“I’ve only seen the race on TV,” Ault said. “It’s a tough race to qualify for because the field is so good. I’ll probably be reflecting on all the great racers like Bill Rogers, Frank Shorter, and Johnny Kelley who have made this such a prestigious event.”

While the marathon includes runners of various genders, ages and abilities, Ault says they all have one thing in common. Once a marathoner reaches mile 20, the last six are based on determination.

“No matter how good you are or how much you train, the last six miles are all about getting it done,” Ault said. “Whether you are 2-hour ten-minute or 5-hour 20-minute runner, it doesn’t matter. Once you hit mile 20, you have to dig deep.”

Ault also hopes his training running along the local Midcoast landscape has prepared him for the Boston Marathon’s biggest obstacle.

“When I get to Heartbreak Hill, at mile 21, I hope my running the hills in Nobleboro pay off,” he said.

While this Ault’s last marathon, it’s not his last race. He plans on focusing his efforts in competing in middle distance races in the future.