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Boston Marathon

7 Celebrities Running the Boston Marathon This Year

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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 17: Former Boston Bruins NHL player Zdeno Chara (C) nears the finish line as he holds hands with Becca Pizzi (L) during the 127th Boston Marathon on April 17, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)

There are several celebrities running the Boston marathon on Monday. But before we let you know who they are, let’s run down some of the fun facts about the race we are all very familiar with.

Fun facts about the Boston marathon

First off, I bet you didn’t know that the Boston marathon is the oldest (dating back to 1897) and the fastest (median time of 3:44) marathon in the country.  It always coincides with Patriots Day which is a holiday that is only observed by six states. Massachusetts, Florida, Maine, Wisconsin, Connecticut and North Dakota are the only states to observe it. About 500,000 spectators will line the marathon route which runs from Hopkinton right into Boston. Wanting to run the race? You must get a qualifying time OR you can also enter a few other ways. A limited number of media and friends of race staff are welcome. And if you’re feeling charitable,  you can get in raising money for a charity. Runners raise over $15,000,000 a year running the marathon.

Celebrities who’ve run the Boston marathon in the past

Since the Boston marathon is one of the most if not THE most prestigious in the world, many look to conquer it. Celebrities like Will Ferrell have run it in the past. He ran it in 2003 with a finishing time of 3:56:12. Mario Lopez of Saved By the Bell ran it in 2002. Joey McIntyre of New Kids on the Block ran it in 2013, the same year as the marathon bombing. Of course Patriots legend Tedy Bruschi has run it as well.

Celebrities running the Boston marathon this year

So who will be running it in 2024? There are a variety of celebrities from all different genres of the industry. Here are some of the more notable ones. Best of luck to everyone running!

  • Zdeno Chara

    Yes, the legend himself: 6-foot-9 Bruins defenseman who played 24 NHL seasons before retiring in 2022 is running the Boston marathon. This will be his second Boston marathon. He ran last year in 3:38:23. He also ran the NYC marathon last year.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CybQXviA1Ex/?hl=en&img_index=1

  • The Bachelor star Matt James

    Matt James was The Bachelor in 2021. He is an avid runner and has participated in several marathons already. He ran the NYC marathon in 2022 with a time of 3 hours and 46 minutes. His girlfriend Rachael who he met on the show has been cheering him on every step of the way. 

  • NASCAR driver Danica Patrick

    Danica is no stranger to the Boston marathon. She ran her first in 2021. She finished her first marathon with a time of 4:01:21. She posted this after her first one: “I am so grateful to be able to do @bostonmarathon!!! Thank you to all who donated to the @lightfoundation! However, I do not want to do another marathon! 😂 So, whoever says you’ll sign up again right after is cray cray!” So looks like she’s cray cray. 

  • Actor Jared Padalecki

    Jared ran the Boston marathon with his wife before. In 2019, they both ran it and raised over $30,000 for Boston non profit Dream Big! He finished with a time of 4:32:24 but that was only because he stopped to take pictures with fans numerous times. 

  • Rob Gronkowski...sort of

    Rob Gronkowski will take part in the marathon in a different capacity. He is serving as the grand marshal of the marathon. Gronk is the recipient of the 2024 Patriots’ Award. This award is presented to a person or organization who is patriotic, philanthropic, and inspirational, and fosters goodwill and sportsmanship. 

  • Matt Wilpers peloton instructor

    Matt is a fitness coach who is widely known for bringing his energy to Peloton classes. Matt has said running the marathon has always been his goal. “I’ll have fun racing a marathon, I’ll have fun racing a 5K. Whatever it is, this is what I do for fun. And so if this is going to get people excited, let’s go do it.”

  • Charlie Davis, Survivor 46 contestant

    Charlie is a Manchester-by-the-Sea native and Boston College Law School student.  This will be Charlie’s first Boston marathon even though he was the captain of his cross-country team at Harvard. It is his lifelong dream to run the marathon. 

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