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Boston Marathon 2025: Runners share why they ran Boston
"This is a dream come true."
For many runners, the Boston Marathon is more than just a race. It’s a lifelong goal, a personal challenge, or a way to honor someone meaningful.
This year, participants came from all over the world with a variety of motivations fueling each stride. Some ran to celebrate their recovery from illness or injury, while others were there in memory of a loved one, their bibs proudly displaying names and photos.
For veteran runner David Lund from Cambridge, running Boston was about the energy. “I’ve run it a bunch of times and it’s just a really fun race,” Lund said. “I’ve run it fifteen times.”
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Boston Newcomer Marisa Francisco from Portugal, on the other hand, has had running the Marathon in mind for a long time. An injury pushed her race back, but she crossed the race off the bucket-list this year and it felt “so amazing.”
“I was in the course and thinking, if my legs don’t go anymore, these people will take me because they scream so much, they yell so much, they’re super happy,” said Francisco.
Whether it was a longtime achievement or a personal mission, runners agreed that toeing the start line in Hopkinton was already a victory in itself. The months of training, sacrifice, and dedication culminated in one powerful moment: becoming a Boston Marathoner.
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We spoke with Boston Marathon runners after they crossed the finish line and asked what inspired them to run the marathon. Read on to discover their answers.
Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
“Part of it is the history, and I lived in Boston when I went to grad school. I’ve always been a runner and I’ve always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. I ran it for the first time last year and had so much fun and loved the crowds so I wanted to do it again.” – Megan Hansen, Middletown, Virginia
“This is a dream come true. I have a project to run the six World Marathon Majors. This is my first major. My project is to do it under the three hour mark. This was three hours, eight minutes, which is close enough. But I feel great. It was a really hard course, but I felt great in the route. The people were amazing and the climate was good.” – Paola Martinez Gil, Caracas, Venezuela
“Boston Marathon, it’s a legend, right? I was really excited about it. I didn’t know I was going to qualify, I kinda qualified by accident at the Denver Marathon last year. It’s been on the bucket list, so when you qualify you can’t pass up the opportunity.” – John Moffat, Salt Lake City, Utah
“I’m a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. I’ve been a mentor for four years for them and they had an extra bib, and I was like, alright, ‘I guess I can run it!’ I was in decent shape, so I was excited to say yes.” – Adam Elyounssi, Arlington, Massachusetts
“Today I was completing my six star majors, it was here in Boston. The best place to do it.” – Marylene Lopes, Avidos, Portugal
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