2026 BAA Boston Marathon. Five deep thoughts for the perfect day in Boston.

I ran for the first time in 1972. in September. I ran cross country at DeSmet Jesuit Prep in Creve Coeur, Missouri (1972-1974) and then when my father moved to the Ford Motor Company plant in Milpitas, California. I went to Bellarmine (1974-1976).

I first learned about the Boston Marathon in 1974 after reading about the perfect year in Boston in Runner’s World magazine. I ran Boston in 1986, my only race there, in sub 3:23. I was obsessed with the marathon.

As a reporter, I covered Boston from 1986 to 2018, missing only 1988. I missed the 1988 race between 1986 and 2018. I watched Des Lindens win 2018 on Portuguese TV. online because I had heart surgery six days ago.

I’m coming back to Boston for two years now, 2025 and 2026.

The Boston Marathon was first held in 1896 in recognition of the Athens Olympic Marathon. The history of the marathon is epic, and the race went professional in 1985-1986, with Guy Morse serving as CEO.

Jack Fleming and his team continue to champion this landmark event and build on the legacy of this landmark event.

The 130th Boston was a nearly perfect year. Here are my top five thoughts.

1. The conditions were almost perfect. 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit at the start, a strong tailwind that gave the marathoners (29,600 started, 29,106 finished at 5:36 PM ET, the end of Boston’s official finish line). Most marathoners, fast and not fast, had great days. More than 15,800 qualified for the 2027 race from the 2026 race.
2. John Korir, winning in 2:01:52, wins his second Boston MarathonTop three with Geoffrey Muthai’s course record from 2011 (2:03:02). Zuhair Talbi and: Charles Hicks both were under Ryan Hall’s American best in Boston (2011-2:04.58)behind Talbi’s 2:03.45 and Hick’s 2:04:35. Sixteen men under 2:06.06.
3. Sharon Lockedy is hitting back-to-back wins in Boston at 2:18.51, In the men’s and women’s battle, Kenya wins once again. Sharon stayed patient and ran her second half four minutes faster than her first. Kenya won 1-4. Jess McClainfirst American woman in 2025, was also first in 2026, running 2:20:49, fastest American woman ever in Boston, faster than Shalane Flanagan, Des Linden, and: Joan Benoit Samuelson!
4. Marcel Hug won the 2026 Boston Wheelchair Division by 2 minutes, 1:15.33, setting a world best time and his ninth win in Boston. Eden Rainbow-Cooper won her second women’s wheelchair push division in 1:30.51. The week before Boston 2026, Bob Hall, the man who won the first wheelchair division in 1975, in 2:58:00, in a regular wheelchair. Bob made a career out of building racing wheelchairs. Bob died on April 12, 2026, aged 74. Jack Fleming, BAA CEO and President, paid a moving tribute to Bob at a media briefing on 17 April 2026.
5. Big winners Sponsors were in Boston Bank of America and: adidas, and the defender of marathonBoston Athletic Association. Bank of AmericaRespect for the Boston Marathon culture kept the sponsor in a positive light on social media. adidas continues to be, in my estimation, the most important footwear and apparel sponsorship in the world of major marathon world marathons. That the nearly 30,000 marathoners and fans who lined the course had a safe experience should not be understated either. Special thanks to all the volunteers, BAA, medical staff and security teams from the local police and fire departments.