BOSTON MARATHON: See How the 39 Watertown Runners Fares in the 2026 Edition

Watertown had 39 participants in the 2026 Boston Marathon. The fastest male runner was Michael Creedon, and the top female was Courtney Hawkins. Creedon finished the 26.2 mile route from in a time of 2:33:41. He finished 530th overall and was the 506th fastest male. Hawkins, who ran for the Boston Athletic Association team, finished in a time of 2:49:30, and was the 130th fastest woman.

Watertown’s Bob Hall, First Boston Marathon Wheelchair Champ & Advocate for Access, Has Died

Bob Hall won the Boston Marathon’s first wheelchair division race in 1975. Bob Hall, a Watertown resident and trailblazing wheelchair athlete and advocate for access, died at the age of 74. A private funeral service will be held at a later date, and visiting hours were held at Nardone Funeral Home on April 16. Hall’s passing was made headlines in the Boston Globe, New York Times, Washington Post, WGBH and many other places. The Boston Athletic Association had a remembrance on its website.

Watertown Teachers Running Marathon, Holding Fundraising Event

Cunniff third grade teacher Erin Hallisey and Maureen Murphy, a special education teacher at the Lowell, are running the 2026 Boston Marathon. Erin is raising money for the Boston Public Library, while Murphy is raising money for the Newton Firefighters Children’s Fund and they will be hosting a fundraising event in March. 

“John Brewers has graciously offered to host a fundraiser event for us. Twenty percent of any dine-in/take out orders made between 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on March 12 with proceeds be donated to both organizations!” Murphy said. Hallisey and Murphy provided the following information about the organizations:

The Boston Public Library Fund provides financial support to keep the BPL “free to all.”

MBTA Announces Service Information for the 2025 Boston Marathon 

The following announcement was provided by the MBTA:

The MBTA today announced service information on Monday, April 21, the day of the 2025 Boston Marathon. Every year, the MBTA supports the Boston Marathon with increased service to accommodate spectators and runners. To manage potential overcrowding, the MBTA will strategically deploy additional personnel to assist with passenger flow, boarding and disembarking, and maintaining a safe environment for everyone.   

MBTA Service Information for the 2025 Boston Marathon: 

To find the best Marathon viewing location on the T and service information, riders are encouraged to visit the MBTA’s Boston Marathon Guide at mbta.com/Marathon, which highlights MBTA stations closest to the Marathon route and includes other helpful information on purchasing fares, parking, and more.  

Station Closures:  

For public safety reasons, Copley Station is closed for the entire day on April 21. Riders are instead encouraged to use Arlington (serving all Green Line branches), Prudential (Green Line E branch), Hynes Convention Center (Green Line B, C, and D branches), or Back Bay on the Orange Line.  

From approximately 10 AM to 6 PM, above-ground Green Line stops at South Street (B branch), Kent Street (C branch), and St.

Watertown Woman Running First Marathon & Raising Money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Watertown-native Despina Najarian will be running the 2025 Boston Marathon for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. A Watertown resident who had not been a runner until two years ago will be running the 2025 Boston Marathon and will raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Despina Najarian said she has always dreamed of completing a marathon, but only recently began running. “I only started running 2 years ago at the age of 29. I joined Orangetheory Fitness Waltham in November of 2022,” she said.

Pair of Watertown Educators Running 2025 Boston Marathon For Causes Close to Them

Watertown educators Cheryl Wermer, left, and Maureen Murphy — pictured with her four children — will run the 2025 Boston Marathon. UPCOMING FUNDRAISER: Get Lively Health & Fitness Studio in Watertown will host a fundraising workout class for Boston Marathon runners Maureen Murphy and Cheryl Wermer’s charities. Also, Whiting Pond, will provide free charcuterie cups for all guests. All proceeds will go to Children’s Hospital and FamilyAid. The workout class Saturday, Feb. 8 at 10:30 a.m.

(See the original story from Jan. 15, 2025 bel0w)

Two Watertown Public School employees have set their sites on the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square this year, and each will raise money for causes close to their hearts.

Watertown Woman Running Boston Marathon to Raise Money for Trauma Recovery Center

Kailyn Lamb can be seen training with her dog Bruce in preparation for the 2025 Boston Marathon. (Contributed Photo)

Watertown’s Kailyn Fitzhugh will be taking on Heartbreak Hill and the Boston Marathon for the first time in the 2025, and will raise money for an organization that helps trauma patients recover from their injuries. Fitzhugh moved to Watertown three years ago, but she has had her eye on the Marathon even before then. “I first ran Boston virtually during COVID. I was living in Tennessee at the time and didn’t think I would be able to ever run Boston, so I took advantage of the open virtual race in 2021,” she said “We moved here to Watertown about three years ago and it’s been my goal to run Boston ever since!”

16 Watertown Residents Joining the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

The following announcement was provided by the Jimmy Fund:

Sixteen Watertown residents, along with thousands of other walkers, will participate in The Jimmy Fund Walk. The iconic annual event will unite the community to raise funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and research at the nation’s premier cancer center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Walk has raised more than $176 million for Dana-Farber in its 35-year history, raising a record-breaking $9.4 million in 2023. 

“For 35 years, the Jimmy Fund Walk has continuously supported lifesaving research and cancer care at Dana-Farber. Our goal is to build off of the momentum we’ve established throughout that history, and in 2024, aim to surpass our total from last year by raising $9.5 million,” says Caitlin Fink, assistant vice president of event fundraising. “Fighting cancer is what we do.