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How a New Jersey runner is turning the 2026 Boston Marathon into a personal mission
"Heart disease and stroke have deeply impacted my family, and as I grow older, I’ve become more aware of my own health and mortality."
In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.
Name: Kevin Brutus
Age: 30
From: Guttenberg, New Jersey
For years, Boston was a race I respected deeply but put off, intimidated by the increasingly competitive qualifying standards and high fundraising minimums tied to charity bibs. I always told myself I would run it someday, maybe in 2027. I even joked that I’d get in when I was 100 and my qualifying time was finally good enough.
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That mindset shifted this past year after I lost my dad following his sixth stroke in March. His passing forced me to reconsider why I kept delaying something that mattered so much to me. My dad had a strong love for life and travel, and in his memory, I decided to stop postponing experiences and start pursuing them with intention.
Running has been part of my life for years. I’ve completed multiple marathons and built a deep respect for the sport, but Boston just feels different. To me, it represents commitment, courage, and choosing purpose over hesitation. This race will be my 10th marathon and my fifth World Marathon Major, but it will also be my most personal as I carry my dad’s memory through brutal winter training and 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boylston.
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I am running with Tedy’s Team because its mission aligns closely with why I began running in the first place. Heart disease and stroke have deeply impacted my family, and as I grow older, I’ve become more aware of my own health and mortality. Running has been my way of caring for myself, and now it’s also a way to honor my dad while supporting research and awareness that can help other families avoid the same loss.
Boston is no longer something I’ll get to “one day,” but something I’m running toward now, with intention and purpose.
Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.
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