North Conway, NH, Woman Deems Her 70-Year-Old Marathon Running Mama ‘a Legend’

Did you know that less than 1% of the U.S population has completed a marathon? That statistic makes me respect runners even more than I already do.

Training for a marathon takes discipline, grit, and stamina! You have to be willing to fight through major feelings of discomfort and exhaustion. Some people are so mentally strong, it impresses me beyond measure.

Ana Kane from North Conway, New Hampshire, took to Facebook to brag on her mama Linda for good reason. Not only did her mom complete the Boston marathon last year AT THE AGE OF 69, but that was her 33rd consecutive Boston Marathon. That is almost difficult for me to fathom! Linda is so dedicated to the Boston Marathon that she didn't even take off #31 for the pandemic. She ran it virtually!

For Linda, long distance running is meditative. She uses running time to sort through any problems, make plans, and just have some personal “think time”. She doesn't feel safe using any kind of distraction like headphones. It's just Linda alone with her thoughts on the running course.

In 2013, Linda had finished about 45 minutes before the first bomb went off. She was with her family on the common getting ready to descend to their cars. She didn’t realize what it meant until after the second bomb when she saw all of the emergency responders. They were so very fortunate to be out of harm's way at the time.

The toughest weather years were the heat runs in 2004 and 2012, with temps reaching 86 and 89 degrees. Then there was the monsoon in 2018, which saw temps around 40, high winds, and drenching downpours. Linda much prefers the wind and rain to scorching heat.

Linda Parrish completed her 33rd consecutive Boston Marathon last year with a time of 4:24:42.

A personal highlight last year was to see her adult children and grandchildren cheering her on at mile 23. They got some great pics and were all beaming with pride.

Some more impressed than others..

Linda's daughter Ana said:

"My mom ran her first Boston when I was two years old, and every year, I have seen her train during the winter months, which is probably the hardest part of running the Boston…those New England winters. Her motivation and integrity inspires me on a daily basis, as well as to hopefully complete the Boston Marathon myself one day. She is a complete rockstar & I am beyond proud to say THATS MY MOMMA!"

Being a member of the Boston Marathon Quarter Century Club (earned after running 25 consecutive Boston Marathons), Linda is determined to continue her streak. Taking a year off is not an option! The current women’s streak record is 36. Her plan is to “keep showing up”. I have a feeling there will be a new record holder in four years time.

Did Linda run this year? Why wouldn't she? I will be catching up with Ana to find out, and report back with all of the details!