By Hae Bolduc
“All our dreams can come true if we dare to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
For the past six years, I have been determined to complete the Six Major Marathons, and I finally made that dream a reality on March 2, 2025! Emotion surged through me like a raging river; I was overwhelmed with joy, tears streaming down my cheeks, and an exuberance that felt boundless. I still vividly remember the little girl from high school who struggled to complete just 400 meters without feeling like she might pass out, now triumphantly crossing the finish line of 26.2 miles in the iconic marathons of Boston, Chicago, New York City, London, Berlin, and finally, Tokyo.
“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.” – Jesse Owens
Not only do you need courage, but also hard work and a supportive community that encourages you to pursue your dreams! My first of the Six Majors was the 123rd B.A.A. Boston Marathon on Monday, April 15, 2019 (Patriots’ Day). The day was forecast to bring a rainstorm, but as we boarded the bus to Hopkinton, the rain stopped, and the sun came out by 11:00 a.m. I flew through the first downhill sections—a common runner’s mistake of going out too fast with excitement—but then the heat kicked in, and the notorious Heartbreak Hill took its toll. Despite the challenges, I finished with a time of 4:25:06. The second marathon was supposed to be New York, but I had to defer the night before the race due to flu symptoms. I thought I was in the best shape of my life after training hard that year, but you must be healthy to run 26.2 miles; even if you are in top shape, running that distance is tough. I swallowed my pride and deferred to the following year, which ended up being three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the entire world and caused many races, including the New York City Marathon, to be canceled. I finally completed it three years later on November 7, 2021, with a time of 4:28:42. Next was the highly anticipated 2021 Chicago Marathon. Everyone was excitedly talking about how flat the course was, so we trained on trails that simulated the Chicago race course (Rock Island Trail in Peyton). However, the weather on race day was exceptionally warm, prompting officials to almost cancel the race. The morning temperature started in the high 70s and climbed to the 80s, creating a dangerous situation. The streets became chaotic, with more EMT personnel than finishing runners. Nevertheless, I managed to finish with a time of 4:28:44. The fourth and fifth marathons were in Berlin (4:26:13) and London (4:25:33). I felt incredibly fortunate to gain entry through the lottery system for Berlin on September 25, 2022. I then raced in the Wanda Age Group World Championships, submitting my time from the La Crosse, WI Marathon at 4:05:48, which led to an invitation to run in London just one week after Berlin on October 2, 2022. It was a bold move to run two marathons just seven days apart, but it paid off! In my sixth and final marathon in Tokyo, I aimed for a personal best (4:20:00) across all six majors. I knew I had trained smarter rather than just logging mileage, following a specific training plan laid out by my coach. And guess what (spoiler alert)? I did not achieve my best time in Tokyo, crossing the finish line with a time of 4:37:13.
Chasing the dream of completing the Six Majors has been an extraordinary journey filled with invaluable lessons. Each major presented its unique rules and requirements—from qualifying times to entry fees. However, I believe there is room for improvement in the consistency of rules across all aspects of racing. The Abbott World Marathon Majors (Abbott WMM), founded in 2006, promote the sport, raise awareness of elite athletes, and increase interest in competitive marathon racing. As of 2025, the Abbott World Marathon Majors have expanded to include two additional races: one in Sydney, Australia, and another in South Africa. The ninth one, the Shanghai Marathon, is currently under review, making it a total of nine majors. For now, I am thrilled to be among the Six Stars. As of May 1 2025, 22,480 runners had completed all six Abbott World Marathon Majors, earning the prestigious Six Star Medal. This includes 14,587 men, 7,890 women, and three non-binary runner. I am overjoyed to have finished all six majors and to continue learning about running. Completing all six majors fills me with a profound sense of joy and a commitment to keep growing in my running journey. While I wish I had started running in my high school years, I don’t regret beginning my running journey in my mid-50s.
“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis.
Recent Comments