Well, what started in 1897 as a modest gathering of just 15 determined runners has blossomed into what many consider the crown jewel of distance running. When John J. McDermott crossed that first finish line in 2:55:10, one might not have thought that the Boston Marathon would become one of the six World Marathon majors with Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.
Yet here we are! This marathon is not just a spectacle of endurance, what many would consider an essential marathon running trait, but it has become something more deep. Well, with its enhanced visibility and growing information dissemination, it has become a breathing time capsule of the human spirit. And as the Boston Marathon takes place on April 21, Patriots’ Day, we might have one of those compelling stories unfolding in front of our eyes.
In the sea of 30,000 Boston Marathon runners this Patriots’ Day, Montgomery Lax isn’t just another competitor. The 33-year-old retired teacher from Austin stands out not for her speed, but for her staggering courage. She got diagnosed with oligodendroglioma in 2022, the medical term for her rare brain cancer rolling off her tongue with practiced ease. Most would retreat. Montgomery runs forward.
Boston marks her third World Marathon Major, having already conquered New York and Chicago while undergoing brain surgery and chemotherapy. Just 100 days after her final chemo treatment, she tackled New York’s grueling course in 2023.”My sore, waddling body will heal & blisters on my toes will fade,” she wrote on Instagram after finishing New York, “but the memories of the New York City Marathon will forever be mine.”
Her finish line isn’t just about personal triumph. Through her partnership with Dana-Farber, she’s witnessed firsthand how running translates to research dollars.”I got to meet with a doctor studying my type of cancer,” she says, eyes brightening. “They’ve raised about $7 million just this year with all of the runners that are doing the Boston Marathon.”
The power of her story resonates far beyond the course. In just eight hours, she raised an astonishing $100,000 for research. Her previous fundraising for the American Brain Tumor Association netted $8,000 individually and over $100,000 collectively with her team of 25 runners.
Montgomery Lax’s resilience is the kind of story that stays with you and there are other stories—quietly powerful, profoundly moving that are unfolding on April 21.
Some of the other powerful stories taking place at the Chicago Marathon 2025
Frankly, the Boston Marathon isn’t just about breaking records or personal bests. For many of the 30,000 runners tackling the iconic 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Copley Square this April 21, each step carries a deeper purpose.
Take the members of Team Fox, united by their fight against Parkinson’s disease. Greta Felten runs with her father’s battle in her heart. “I’m running for my dad, and for all the families affected by Parkinson’s,” she shares. “I’ve witnessed the challenges and hardships PD brings, but also the incredible strength and resilience of those who face it.” Her teammate Javier Illescas joins her after watching his father live with Parkinsonism for nearly 25 years. Honestly, their commitment transcends sport – it’s personal.
Then there’s David Somers, whose journey defies belief. Five years ago, the Boston University professor of psychological and brain sciences couldn’t run a single mile. After being hospitalized with health issues, he turned to running during the pandemic. Truth be told, his progress was painfully slow – it took nearly a year just to reach that one-mile mark. But he persevered.
“I went from, basically, hospital bed to six-star finisher in five years,” Somers says with justified pride. Having conquered all six World Marathon Majors – Boston, Chicago, London, New York, Berlin, and Tokyo – he returns to Boston this year for the Joslin Diabetes Center, which has supported his two daughters with type 1 diabetes.
“Anybody who’s had a child with a chronic illness knows it blows up your family,” he confesses. “The Joslin clinic team really are just fantastic… I’m just so grateful for being 22 years in with the Joslin clinic.”
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