Five inspirational runners who appeared at the 2017 Boston Marathon weekend
The streets of the Boston Marathon host a range of runners every year. Here are five runners from this year's race who have a neat and inspiration back story.
The Boston Marathons draws all kinds of runners. From elites to experienced marathon veterans to speedy recreational runners new to the 42.2, the course from Hopkinton to the Boylston finish line hosts all types of runners. Part of what makes the running scene so special is the stories we bring with us to race day. Below are five inspirational runners who shared interesting tales this weekend in Beantown.
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Candice Huffine
This body positive model graces the pages of our favourite glossy fashion magazines. Over the weekend though, the Boston course was her runway. Her message to other runners: love and respect the body you’re in and understand that all body types are capable of running strong races. From her Instagram, it seems she did the 5K and the marathon. Go Candice!
John Young
John Young is a Canadian who is based near Boston and living with dwarfism. He is a teacher, motivational speaker and avid triathlete. Over the weekend, he ran the Boston marathon and says that he felt good despite the hot conditions and punishing hills.
Finished @bostonmarathon in 6:08:47. An 11 min (course) PR but sadly no BQ. It was HOT but I felt good & had no issues. #BetheHammer pic.twitter.com/hafPvXJQAB
— John Young (@dwarfparatri) April 18, 2017
Ben Beach
Run Boston once and many people cross it off the bucket list and call it a lifetime achievement. Well, Ben beach has been making headlines this year because he has run Boston 50 times in a row. Ever since his first Boston, running through the streets of the city in mid-April has been an annual event. According to Time magazine, he is the first person to run Boston for 50 consecutive years and only nine people have run at least 40 years in a row.
Diane Nukuri
The tallest elite of the women’s field doubles as a fashion model. Diane Nukuri is from Burundi but has a Canadian connection: after winning bronze in the 10,000m at the Francophone Games in Ottawa when she was 16, she was determined not to return home. Instead, she sought refugee status in Canada. After the games, she got in touch with a family member living in Peterborough, Ont. (just outside of Toronto) who took her in. Nukuri lost her dad in her country’s civil war and so she was glad to be able to live in Canada in the early 2000’s. Soon after, she left to study at the University of Iowa. She currently lives in Flagstaff. Nukuri came away with a top-ten finish in Boston. She finished ninth running 2:32:24.
Adrianne Haslet-Davis
Haslet-Davis is a survivor of the Boston bombings. Ever since losing her leg in the explosions, the ballroom dancer has been a motivational figure in the running world. She is vocal about her story, has appeared in the city to perform a dance across the finish line, and is present on race weekend to encourage and inspire runners on the streets of Boston.
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