Sunita Williams Will run in the 130th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20 with the Boston Athletic Association confirm She competed in the 26.2-mile race from Hopkinton to Back Bay. First held in 1897, the Boston Marathon is held annually on Patriots Day and remains the oldest annual marathon in the world. This year’s event will feature more than 30,000 runners from more than 130 countries and all 50 U.S. states, passing through eight towns in Massachusetts and ending in Copley Square.
A return shaped by experiences on Earth and beyond
Williams, a native of Needham, Mass., is a former U.S. Navy captain who worked for NASA for more than 27 years and spent 608 days in space on three missions. She holds the record for the longest spacewalk by a woman, with nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours, and retired at the end of 2025. She and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore returned to Earth in March 2025, but problems with the spacecraft’s thrusters extended the planned one-week mission to 286 days. Her connection to the Boston Marathon dates back to when she was 17, when she ran the race without officially registering. “I had high-top sneakers. I didn’t have running shoes and they were hurting my feet. So I gave them to my mom and I said, ‘OK, I’m going to end up with this guy. I’m going to run barefoot,'” Williams said in an interview. News Center 5. In 2007, she ran a full 26.2 miles on the International Space Station, becoming the first person to run a marathon in space. She decided to return to school this year, a commitment she made during her May 2025 commencement address at Merrimack College. “I’ve set a challenge on myself and I’m going to say right now that I want to run the Boston Marathon in 2026,” she said. “So now that I’ve spoken out loud, I’m going to allow myself to do it.” “I’m 60 years old this year, why not try it again?” she said.
How she sees the game now
Williams said even with her experience, she understands the demands of the game. “They always intimidate me. They’re always scary at some point,” she said with a laugh. News Center 5. “It’s going to be difficult. So, at some point, you have to dig deep to move forward,” she said. She added that she is ready to manage the game as it unfolds. Williams said she was confident she could complete the distance and had enough experience to give herself room to make adjustments as needed along the 26.2-mile route.
Conditions expected to be favorable for runners
The weather forecast calls for cool weather on race day. Temperatures are expected to be near 40°F (about 4°C) in Hopkinton, rising to the mid-to-upper 40°F (about 8°C to 9°C) in Boston by early afternoon to early afternoon. No heavy rain or snow is expected. Winds of 10 to 25 mph (16 to 40 km/h) from the northwest are expected to blow across the course. Final conditions will be confirmed after a frontal system moves through eastern Massachusetts on Sunday night.
Race day recognition
Williams will also receive the Patriot Award from the Boston Athletic Association, an honor given annually to individuals recognized for their patriotism, charity and inspiration. Her participation expands a field that includes elite runners, amateur athletes and charity participants, all covering the same 26.2-mile route through Massachusetts.
