It was a day to make the most of their meteorological good luck (temperatures hit the low 60s) for the estimated more than half million who cheered the 30,000 runners on, at the 129th Boston Marathon.
It was a day of firsts. Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi obliterated the record for fastest time among the women’s elite runners by nearly three minutes, an astounding feat even to her: “I didn’t even believe it,” she said. The new time to beat is 2:17:22.
Also lasts. Des Linden, who in 2018 became the first American to win the marathon in more than 30 years, and in the process to many running fans an honorary Bostonian, announced just before the race that this would be her last one as a competitor.
Elite men’s winner John Korir finished first despite taking a tumble to the ground in the very first steps of the race, and did so with a nearly record-setting time of 2:04:45 — the second-fastest winning time in course history. Marathons are a family affair for Korir. His victory followed a victory from his brother, Wesley, in 2012.
“For us, two brothers winning Boston, I think we’re happy now,” the younger Korir said Monday.
For Marcel Hug, the champion wheelchair racer for the third year in a row, it came on the 50th anniversary of wheelchair racing in Boston. “It’s a special day,” said the Swiss paralympian, who has won eight Boston Marathons.
American Susannah Scaroni this year became two-time women’s wheelchair champion more than two minutes ahead of her Swiss rivals, and six minutes ahead of her first win in Boston in 2023. “You can call it a miracle,” she said afterward. “I’m so thankful.”
It was not a picture-perfect race for 20-year-old Villanova student Matt Nawn, who was captured on video collapsing with just a few feet remaining on Boylston. But he persisted anyway, crawling on his hands and knees with considerable effort to cross the finish line without help.
“You don’t quit. You keep going. That’s how I’ve always been in life,” Nawn, of Hanover, Pa., said in an interview.
He chalked his collapse up to dehydration and is back in good health. He said he is thankful for the hearty cheers he got from the finish-line bleachers, although he was hardly processing them in the moment.
“Thank you to the entire city of Boston,” he said. “For everyone else who’s watched the video, don’t give up. Just because something bad happened doesn’t mean it’s an opportunity to give up. Keep pushing forward. Keep chasing it.”
The race had an especially patriotic air, coming amid celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.
In the Colonial spirit for the occasion was Jared Levine, of Sterling, Va., who ran the entire route in 1775-era garb, with tan pants, a vest and blue regimental coat, a pair of gold buckles ornamenting his black Asics running shoes, and a tricorn hat atop a curly white wig — which stayed on the entire route, he said. He planned to make some history of his own: He’s vying for the world record for fastest marathon in a Colonial-American costume.
“I sent an application to Guinness,” Levine said, referring to the company that validates such feats. “I have no idea if it fits their guidelines.”
Even on years without the revolutionary anniversary, watching the Marathon is a matter of civic duty for Maureen Sanditore, 54, who moved to Boston from Costa Rica as a teenager in 1983 and has embraced Boston traditions wholeheartedly since.
“Nothing gives me more pride than being here,” said Sanditore, who added there are only two days a year she makes sure to take off work: the Boston Marathon and the Fourth of July.
“It’s very important for me to be here to support everyone who runs,” Sanditore said, from a viewing spot on Boylston Street. “People who come from all over the world, people who have disabilities, people running for a cause.”
Enjoying his second annual Boston Marathon, presumably, was 5-month-old Knox Brown. Last year he tagged along with his mom, Megan, who ran the race while two-months pregnant. This time, he was waiting for her at the finish line.
“I hope he’s a little runner,” Brown said, cradling her son in her arms.
It was a day of mixed emotions for many Catholics, who woke up Monday morning to the news that Pope Francis had died overnight.
“I think Pope Francis would be the first one to say, ‘Forget about me. Go on with the celebration,’” said Father Jim Croghan, superior of the Jesuit Community at Boston College High School.
Croghan was at the finish line awaiting the arrival of Father John Predmore, the chaplain for Ignatian Ministries at BC High, who was running his third Marathon after raising $24,000 for the charity Boston Health Care for the Homeless. Predmore wore a name tag identifying himself a priest, and stopped regularly along the route to offer impromptu blessings to spectators, as is his custom on race day.
“This is his way of putting into action what Pope Francis was calling the church to do, paying attention to the marginalized, the overlooked, and those on the peripheries,” Croghan said of his colleague.
Some of the papal remembrances were less solemn. In Brookline, one spectator waved a sign that read, simply: “Run for the Pope!”
Runners intent on maximizing the joy of race day dressed up in costumes. People playing the roles of Star Wars’ Princess Leia, a banana, Celtic Larry Bird, and “Buddy the Elf,” could all be seen planting one foot in front of the other.
Other fans waved signs that brought their wit to the sidelines. One, in a tribute to Taylor Swift, read “IDK ABOUT U BUT I’M FEELIN 26.2.”
On the road, Ken Bereski was easy to spot, as he was covered head to toe in red paint. Across his face, in gold, was drawn a cross, and on his chest, the numbers “150.” It was his 150th marathon, he said. And the colors were a nod to his alma mater, Boston College.
“I was the crazy lunatic at every game,” Bereski said of his college days as a spectator. “Going past BC is my favorite mile in all of marathoning.”
Chad Finn, Amin Touri, Christopher Huffaker, and Matt Porter of the Globe staff, and correspondents Emily Spatz and Sarah Mesdjian contributed to this report.
Spencer Buell can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @SpencerBuell.
