The Boston Running Collaborative

Developed by the B.A.A., the Boston Running Collaborative (BRC) is comprised of organizations and individuals committed to building a diverse Boston running community, improving health and wellness, and expanding access to running and walking in Boston with a focus on communities of color.

The Boston Running Collaborative

 

The Boston Running Collaborative is led by a steering committee from Greater Boston’s running and non-profit communities
  • Adrienne Benton, B.A.A. Board of Governors; Founder, Black Unicorn Marathoners; Member of Black Girls Run! and the National Black Marathoners Association
  • Darrelle Boyd, EdD, English/ESL teacher at the O’Bryant School, Former BPS track athlete; USATF Certified Track & Field Official 
  • Jeff Davis, People & Culture Professional, Founder of Black Men Run Boston
  • Eric Francis, Boston Police Officer, Community Service Division, District D-4. Former BPS track athlete; USATF Certified Track & Field Official 
  • Sarah Lawton, Community Partnership Liaison for Councilor-At-Large Julia Mejia; Boston Public School Alumna; Former Captain of Boston’s City-Wide High School Cross Country Team. 
  • FJ Perfas, Assistant Director of Prevention, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, member of PIONEERS Run Crew
  • Kamilah Rowe, Assistant Manager of Track & Field, Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center; Alumna & former Head Track and Field Coach at John D. O’Bryant High School 
  • Rochelle Solomon, Quality Compliance Specialist, Mass General Brigham Pathology, Black Girls Run! Ambassador, Co-Founder, Black Unicorn Marathoners, Coach, Girls on the Run Boston
  • Scott Stover, Chief Marketing Officer, Boston Athletic Association 
  • Lindsay Thorne-Bingham, Recruiting Manager, Analysis Group, TrailblazHers Run Leader
  • Suzanne Walmsley, Director of Community Engagement, Boston Athletic Association 
Purpose

By centering the conversation in the Boston running community, engaging supporters, and collectively leveraging our assets, the Boston Running Collaborative will develop, support, and promote innovative and accessible strategies, events, and programs to improve the health in underserved areas, diversify the sport, elevate diverse leaders in the sport, and bring communities together around running and fitness.

BRC Members

The Boston Running Collaborative welcomes all groups and individuals who would like to participate. Member organizations are expected to participate in planning meetings, serve on committees, and propose collaborative projects that are eligible for funding from the Boston Athletic Association. The following organizations have participated in the BRC:

Boston Running Collaborative Members represent the following organizations:

  • 261 Fearless
  • Achilles International
  • Adaptive Sports New England
  • Black Girls Run
  • Black Men Run
  • Black Unicorn Marathoners
  • Boston Athletic Association
  • Boston Lions Track Club
  • Boston Police
  • Boston Public School Athletics
  • Boston Public Schools Alumni
  • Boston Public Schools Faculty
  • Boston Road Runners
  • Boston United Track Club
  • Boston Waterfront Coalition
  • City of Boston
  • Codman Health Center
  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Dimock Community Health Center
  • EV Kids
  • Fast Feet
  • HoodFit
  • Liberty Track Club
  • Live Fit Army
  • MetroCobras
  • PIONEERS Run Crew
  • Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center
  • Special Olympics Massachusetts
  • Stop & Shop
  • TrailblazHers Run Crew
  • Trinity Boston Connects
  • USA Paralympics
  • USATF Officials
  • Youth Enrichment Services
  • Youth Running Series
Applications are open for the 2026 Boston’s Marathoners & Medley to Marathon Program through October 24, 2025.
Apply here by October 24, 2025.

Are you from Boston and/or actively engaged in the Boston running community?  Have you ever thought that you might like to run the Boston Marathon, but it felt out of reach? The Boston’s Marathoners Program and Medley to Marathon programs are designed for you!

The purpose of these initiatives is to promote health and wellness in historically excluded communities in Boston and surrounding communities. We will accomplish this by increasing the visibility and representation of individuals from those communities in the Boston Marathon, removing barriers to participation, and providing training resources.

Runners will receive an invitational entry which waives the following: 
  • A qualifying marathon time per gender and age group.
  • Fundraising on behalf of one of BAA's official charities and fundraising. 
Entry Fees Are Required
  • The fee for the 2026 Boston's Marathoners Program is $385 and increases if the payment is not paid by February 1, 2026. The final date to enter is February 15, 2026 by 5:00 pm. After that time, the entries will expire and you will lose your place in the marathon. 
  • The entry fee for the 2026 Medley to Marathon Program is $75 which includes all three races. It does not include the entry fee for the 2027 Boston Marathon. (For reference, the 2026 entry fee for the marathon is $385)

If these fees create a hardship, please inform the committee if you are accepted to the program. 

Who are we looking for: 
  • Runners who reflect Boston's communities. 
  • First-time Boston Marathon participants.
  • Passion for the sport of running.
  • Non-qualifiers or those who qualified but missed the cut-off
  • Those who could benefit from additional time and guidance to prepare for the 2027 Boston Marathon

Additional Requirements:

  • Grant permission for the B.A.A. Comms Team to promote your participation, utilizing photos and videos on its media channels and in race-related publications. 
  • Must participate in our program (in-person and virtual sessions) and join the WhatsApp group. 
  • If you have concerns about these requirements, please email Suzanne Walmsley at swalmsley@baa.org
Directions to apply: 
  • Applications are due by Friday October 24, 2025 at 11:59 PM
  • All applicants must fill out this Google Form. 
  • In 2026, we may share each runner on our social media. All Google form responses are used to summarize each runner’s bios. 
  • Filling out the Google form does not guarantee your bib. Runners will receive an email the first week in November letting them know if they have been selected for the program. 
20 Min Virtual Informational Sessions

We will host virtual information sessions to review the process and answer any questions from applicants. You do not have to attend the sessions to be eligible.

Sessions will be offered on the following dates (click date to join): 

Deadline to apply: Friday October 23, 2025 at 11:59 PM
BRC Youth Development Meets

The BRC hosts 5 free youth developmental track meets for Boston youth ages 4-14 throughout the summer. Come join in the fun and try some different events. No experience necessary and all participants receive a ribbon.

Runners who are blind, have mobility challenges, and wheelchair athletes are encouraged to participate. Please email Suzanne Walmsley in advance for planning purposes. Events will include 50m 200m, 400m, 800m One Mile, Javelin Toss and Long Jump. Click here for more information and to register.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
Grant Recipients 

In honor of the 125th Boston Marathon, the Boston Running Collaborative awarded $125,000 in grants to organizations that have engaged with the B.A.A. in work towards expanding athletic opportunities for all. The recipients of these grants include:

Learn More about the Boston Running Collaborative

If you would like to learn more or are interested in joining the BRC in the future please contact Suzanne Walmsley, Director of Youth & Community Engagement at, swalmsley@baa.org.

Boston Running Collaborative Request for Proposal
LEARN MORE

 

Media

B.A.A. Announces Boston Running Collaborative to Broaden Access to the Sport of Running Across Greater Boston