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The wildest moments from the 2026 Boston Marathon, according to runners
From first-timers to seasoned veterans, runners described a race defined not just by its hills, but by its heart.
Under near-perfect spring skies, thousands of runners poured through the streets of Boston on Monday for the 2026 Boston Marathon, carried as much by the roar of the crowds as by their own training.
For many, the race’s defining moments weren’t just physical, but deeply communal — the kind that make Boston’s marathon unlike any other.
Evan Dolecki, 29, of West Hartford, Connecticut, said one stretch in particular still stands out.
“I think the best thing I saw was the Wellesley Scream tunnel. This was my third Boston Marathon and it’s always my favorite part.”
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Though not a Boston native, Dolecki said the city’s energy keeps drawing him back. “I don’t know too much about Boston, but I like the crowds so much here, it’s what keeps me coming back.” Still, the course’s notorious challenges remain: “Coming off of Heartbreak Hill always really takes me out.”
Others found joy in the unexpected.
Inflatable unicorns and a big nap
Allison Miller, 27, of Reno, Nevada, laughed recalling some creative costumes along the course: “There were some blow-up unicorns. That was my favorite thing I saw.”
For Miller, even pre-race moments felt distinctly local. “I was going through the security line to get on the bus this morning, and the guys were the most stereotypical Boston. I’m not going to pretend to do the accent, but it was just the Boston accent. I wish I was born and raised in Boston! Jealous!”
As the miles wore on, she leaned on the people in her life to keep her going. “What got me through the race was honestly thinking about all the people I told I was running today, and they were like, ‘I’m going to be cheering for you.’”
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Her immediate plans after finishing were simple: “I’m gonna probably nap. I’m a big napper. I need to nap. I’m gonna celebrate with my mom, eat some good food, and then get back back to life — and then brag to all my co-workers.”
Sexy signs
Suhaib Mansour, 19, of Orlando, Florida, said the crowd’s personality came through loud and clear.
“Some of the signs were pretty weird. There’s a lot of sexual innuendos. I don’t want to go too much into details, but I thought it was funny,” he said. “You don’t really get an opportunity to write that on a sign too much, so it was super cool.”
Runner Megan Kahn, 37, of Loveland, Ohio, said the signs were the most striking part of the race.
“I like reading the signs, slapping the kids’ hands. I love going from town to town. It was great the whole time. It was so much fun,” she said.
Having run Boston before, Kahn approached its hills with perspective. “Since I ran it before, I was prepared for the hills. They’re not as bad as people make them out to be. They’re fine, just go through them. The music and the crowds really help other runners and we got blessed with amazing weather.”
For Mansour, the course — particularly around the Newton hills — had it’s challenges. “I was dealing with some hamstring cramps starting around mile 20. Other than that, I would have been feeling great. But those hamstrings really took me out.”
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What kept him going? A positive attitude and gratitude for the work he put into training: “I just thought about all the training I’ve done to get to this point, and I just wanted it to be a great race.”
Mansour described Boston as a place that embodies community and togetherness. “I feel like it’s a city that looks out for each other. I feel like that’s all the Brotherhood of the city. I really like Boston every time I come here. It’s a great city.”
Like many, his turnaround post-race was quick: “I think I’m gonna probably take a shower, go get some food, and then take a nap. Then, I gotta catch a flight back home today.”
Mansour, a student at Duke, said it’s business as usual when he gets back to Durham, North Carolina. “I’m gonna go to class tomorrow,” he said.
‘We had eight to 10 beers‘
For some, the marathon doubled as one big party.
Running together, Josh Doughty, 23, of Waldorf, Maryland; Conrad Davis, 23, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Joseph Chase, 23, of Annapolis, Maryland embraced a boozier approach to the course.
“We had eight to 10 beers, a couple of nips here and there. It was a good time,” Davis said.
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Their shirts — scribbled with hand-written demands for beer — told the story: “These were inspired by our love for beer and camaraderie. We’re part of the USA drinking team,” they joked.
They said the generosity of spectators defined the day.
“People were willing to hand us beers out of their own cooler. I mean, that’s like taking the clothes off your own back. They were handing us it out of their own hands. I think that really speaks to the community that Boston is,” Davis said.
What kept them going? “Our faith in beer, to be honest and and obviously camaraderie,” Davis said, with Chase adding: “The one rule of the beer-a-thon is to finish together.”
Their post-race plan stayed on theme: “We gotta drink more, maybe some more beer, but maybe a big pizza. Maybe Regina’s Pizzeria. We’ll probably keep on being silly and stuff.”
Joy – and doughnuts from Gov. Maura Healey
For Sergio Solares, 29, of Mexico City, the scale of the event left a lasting impression. “I was happy to see so many people fighting to the end, it was just crazy. When I saw the big sign with the red triangle [the Citgo sign] I got really, really happy.”
He also pointed to one of the race’s most famous traditions: Wellesley’s scream tunnel.
“It was probably the craziest day I’ve ever run in my whole life. It was fun,” Solares said.
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Ultimately, it was emotion that carried him: “I was just so happy to be there, and I had so much fun. The hardest part was getting tired, because 26 miles is a lot, but I was really happy. And, yeah, just joy kept me going”
Among the crowd, Boston local Adrian Wong, 38, stood out in a banana costume with a personal story behind it.
“Last year, I was fortunate to run the Seven World majors. And for London, I ran for Children with Cancer UK. My friend’s son, who unfortunately was dealing with cancer, chose a costume and chose a banana. He is fortunately cancer free now, and I just did it in his honor this year,” Wong explained.
His outfit, complete with a large Dunkin’ logo, also nodded to a local staple. “Of course, Dunkin, and Boston – America — runs on it.”
For Wong, a defining and unexpected moment of the day came from a familiar figure.
“The most Boston thing I saw today was Governor Maura Healey handing out Dunkin Donuts.”
Now a 20-time Boston finisher, he said this year’s race was about something more than his own time. “I did it for fun. I was fortunate enough to help pace my friend to their first sub-three. That was what I was most happy about.”
Even after 26.2 miles, there was little rest ahead. “I work in healthcare – I’m fortunate enough to do that – and I’m looking forward to taking care of patients tomorrow,” he added.
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From first-timers to seasoned veterans, runners described a race defined not just by its hills, but by its heart.
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