Boston Marathon
Beeman has been running the Boston Marathon every year since 1978, when he was a senior in college.
Mike Beeman, known as “Runboston47” on social media, is committed to his Boston Marathon streak. Pretty soon, he’ll be known as “Runboston48.”
Beeman, 68, from Derry, N.H., ran his 48th consecutive Boston Marathon on Monday, living up to his mantras to “slay the day” and “rep the steps.”
Beeman, who taught marketing and coached track and cross country at Tift County High School in Tifton, Ga., first ran the marathon in 1978 when he was a senior at Merrimack College in North Andover. He’s long been a part of the Quarter Century Club, and though he’s slowed down over the years, he seems to have no plans of stopping.
After running Boston every year for nearly half a century, Beeman has seen it all, including recovery from snapping both of his quadriceps in 2012. But, while he has plenty of great advice to share, most of his posts are about spreading positive energy in the marathon running community.
Determined to inspire the following he’s gained, Beeman brings that positive energy to the course each year. When asked this year what keeps him coming back, Beeman credited “the camaraderie.”
“The fans are so supportive,” Beeman said in an Instagram Reel. “They won’t let you quit.”
Beeman also had words of reassurance for any nervous runners.
“Be patient, stay within yourself, don’t panic, and have fun,” Beeman said. “Embrace it, because very few people get to do this.”
Beeman completed the marathon in a time of 5:35:19, with an average pace of 12 minutes and 48 seconds per mile. Though he was one of the last runners to finish, the times aren’t what matters to him nowadays.
“I can relate to the faster runner and certainly can relate to the slower runner in my old age; but, slow is a relative term, as is fast,” Beeman said in a video on TikTok.
Just like last year, Beeman captured the home stretch of his 48th Boston Marathon for his fans to see, taking the time to stop and enjoy the moment. A large part of Beeman’s support comes from Wellesley College and Boston College students, and he shared how the encouragement from younger runners motivates him to keep going.
“I didn’t think I’d get to the starting line, and all these people from Boston, on TikTok, the Wellesley kids, the BC kids, are unbelievable,” Beeman said in the video. “I gotta tell you, they made an old man cry.”
@bman363 Boston Marathon number 48 is completed. Thanks all my TikTok friends specially Wellesley and Boston College.#fyp #blessed #bostonmarathon #runtokcommunity #bostoncollege #wellsleycollege #faith #grateful ♬ original sound – Runboston47
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