Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts means three things: a history lesson, a Red Sox matinee, and 26.2 miles of controlled chaos from Hopkinton’s sleepy start line to that famous blue and yellow stripe on Boylston Street. 

The 129th Boston Marathon felt like classic Boston: cool weather, buzzing crowds, and thousands of runners taking over the streets. Nearly 30,000 people showed up ready to chase a goal — some chasing records, others just chasing that finish line on Boylston. By the time the sun hit its stride, the elites had made history, the wheelchair division marked 50 years, and everyday runners walked away with stories they won’t stop telling for years to come.

Korir Makes It a Family Affair

A fall, a grin, and a 2:04:45

John Korir’s first move of the day was onto the pavement. Ten seconds after the gun he clipped a heel, face‑planted, and skidded just enough to tear off his bib. Instead of panic, the 28‑year‑old Kenyan popped up laughing, tucked the flapping number into his shorts, and re‑joined the pack. Two hours and four minutes later, he was laughing again — this time in his brother Wesley’s arms just past the finish.

Korir’s 2:04:45 is the second‑fastest winning time Boston has ever seen, only behind Geoffrey Mutai’s wind‑aided 2:03:02 from 2011. More importantly, it secures a slice of history: the Korirs are the first siblings to both win the Boston Marathon (Wesley did it in 2012). John played it cool through Wellesley, matched every surge over the Newton hills, then threw down a 4:34 24th mile to drop Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu and Kenya’s Cyprian Kotut, who tied for second in 2:05:04. American Conner Mantz came charging home fourth in 2:05:08, the best U.S. finish in seven years.

Brotherly Wisdom and a Bigger Purpose

Big brother’s scouting report was simple: respect the hills, unleash on the flats. John followed it to a T, and he did it in a prototype ASICS MetaSpeed Sky that won’t hit store shelves until track season. The pay‑day? $150K, most of which Korir says is headed straight back to the Transcend Talent Academy in Kenya.

“Wesley brought the trophy home. Now it’s my turn.” 

Tangling at the tape

Right behind Korir, Simbu and Kotut came flying in neck and neck, diving across the line with identical times of 2:05:04. Simbu edged it by a sliver — literally two-hundredths of a second — but both guys had a good laugh about it afterward.

Mantz’s near‑miss and the American Resurgence

If you’re an American distance‑running fan, Monday felt like the lights turned back on. Conner Mantz clipped along at sub‑2:05 pace for the bulk of the back half, flirting with Ryan Hall’s legendary 2:04:58 American course record set in that wind‑aided 2011 edition. Mantz was right there with the leaders as he came over Heartbreak Hill, but couldn’t quite hang on through Beacon Street. 

Still, a 2:05:08 is the second-fastest a U.S. guy has ever run Boston. Clayton Young grabbed seventh in 2:07:04 and rookie Ryan Ford clocked 2:08 flat for 10th — not bad for a debut. All of a sudden, American men aren’t just showing up — they’re making it interesting up front.

Lokedi Lights Up the Course Record

Sharon Lokedi’s 2024 runner‑up finish left her wondering how to flip the script on two‑time champ Hellen Obiri. The answer? Run the fastest race Boston’s ever seen. Lokedi ran a blazing 2:17:22 — a 2:37 chunk off Buzunesh Deba’s 2014 record — and needed every bit of it to keep Obiri (2:17:41) at bay. The pair traded leads past the Citgo sign, but Lokedi’s track speed showed on the downhill into Copley Square, where she ripped a 4:46 last mile that left even the scream tunnel speechless.

The 30‑year‑old Kansas alum did it wearing a yet‑to‑be‑released Under Armour Velociti Elite 3. It’s hard to overstate how big that is for the brand – their first major‑marathon win arrives wrapped in a course record.

The course, mile by mile

Ask veterans what makes Boston tricky and they’ll tell you it’s backwards: downhill first, uphill late, and never truly flat. Korir burned 4:38s through Ashland, managed the quad‑crushing descent into Newton without frying his legs, then attacked Heartbreak with a metronomic 4:50. 

Lokedi, meanwhile, said she marked Obiri through every bump and waited for the downhill off Chestnut Hill Avenue to let the super‑shoes do their thing. Both runners showed how much strategy matters in Boston — it’s not about who’s strongest at mile one, it’s who still has a move left at mile 25.

Wheelchairs Turn 50, Hug and Scaroni Steal the Show

Boston’s wheelchair division hit the half‑century mark, and the party was led by two names everyone expected.

The Silver Bullet strikes again

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug controlled the men’s race from Hopkinton, blitzing the course in 1:21:34 for his eighth Boston crown and fourth straight. Hug’s got Boston dialed in the same way Brady did back in the day — calm, focused, and consistently winning like it’s business as usual.

Scaroni doubles up

U.S. star Susannah Scaroni pulled away after the Newton hills, stopping the clock at 1:35:20 to claim her second Boston win in three years. Fresh off four medals in Paris last summer, Scaroni called the victory “icing on the most perfect cake.”

Beyond the Podium: Stories That Stuck

• Des Linden’s Last Dance – Des Linden called her shot before the race: this would be her last Boston as a pro. And she delivered one more strong run, finishing 17th overall and taking the masters title in 2:26:19 — her best time here since 2017. After a dozen starts on this course and one unforgettable win in 2018, she’s ready to trade the pavement for trails and maybe some ultras.

• Scott Stallings Hits a Different Green – The PGA Tour vet ran the full 26.2 and crossed the line in 4:10:19 — solid, especially coming off shoulder surgery. It was his first marathon, and he used it to raise over $20,000 for Golf Fights Cancer. He trained for months and joked afterward that Heartbreak Hill felt like being stuck in a fairway bunker with no way out.

• Everyday Heroes – About 9,500 charity runners showed up not just to race, but to raise serious money for causes that matter — everything from kids' health to climate action. They helped bring in an estimated $40 million.

A Day of Records, Resilience, and Tradition

From record-breaking runs to emotional goodbyes, the 2025 Boston Marathon was packed with moments that’ll stick with us. Whether you were chasing the front pack, raising money for a cause, or just cheering from the sidelines with a cowbell, it felt like everyone had a piece in it. 

That’s the beauty of Boston — it doesn’t just belong to the pros or the podium finishers. It belongs to anyone willing to show up, put one foot in front of the other, and keep going.