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Bruins great Zdeno Chara finishes Boston Marathon again, and seems ready for more
"It’s the best marathon in the world."
Zdeno Chara cannot be stopped.
After compiling a Hall-of-Fame resume during his 24-year NHL career, the former Bruins captain and 2011 Stanley Cup champion has now set his sights on distance running as a post-hockey venture.
And to the surprise of very few, the 6-foot-9 Chara has continued to thrive in his new pursuit.
For the second straight year, the 47-year-old Chara crossed the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street — finishing the 2024 race with an unofficial time of 3 hours, 30 minutes, and 52 seconds.
It was an impressive result for the former NHL defenseman, who shaved eight minutes off of his 2023 Boston Marathon time of 3 hours, 38 minutes, and 23 seconds.
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“You have fans right there with you screaming and cheering you on,” Chara said, per Emma Healy of The Boston Globe. “It’s the best marathon in the world. All the credit goes to the fans because they make this race such a special marathon.”
Just as he did during the 2023 Boston Marathon, Chara raised money for the Hoyt Foundation as part of his 2024 Boston Marathon venture. As of Monday afternoon, he had raised $25,102 for the foundation, which supports young people with disabilities in honor of the late Rick and Dick Hoyt.
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Chara has remained busy since hanging up skates and switching to sneakers. Monday’s finish marks the seventh marathon that Chara has completed within the last 12 months. He’s not done, either.
Speaking at the finish line, Chara added that he will fly to London in the next few days and take part in the London Marathon on Sunday, April 21. Yes, he’s running two marathons in under a week.
“I just try to stay involved, stay active,” Chara told Healy. “Trying to do all these runs for a good cause as well. I really enjoy running, biking, doing races, helping charities, and being involved in the community, and saying hi to the fans.”
After the Bruins’ morning skate in Washington D.C. on Monday, Bruins captain Brad Marchand was asked about his former teammate’s latest athletic endeavor.
“Not really surprised. You knew he was gonna find something that was really competitive, very hard — something that takes a lot of training,” Marchand said. “Something he can continue to improve upon. He’s just a beast. He likes the challenge. With his mindset and the way that he’s prepared for so long every single day, he was going to have to find something that he could continue to do that.
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“So it’s great for him. Happy to see him happy and enjoying something after hockey. He dedicated so much time and effort to the game. It’s great that he has another passion that he’s enjoying in retirement.”
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