8 Charlotte-area residents running the 2025 Boston Marathon
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Emma Ecklin Photo: MarathonFoto/Courtesy of Emma Ecklin
More than 500 North Carolinians will once again toe the starting line of the Boston Marathon.
Why it matters: This is one of the world's most iconic road races. It's also one of seven World Marathon Majors, which also includes New York, Chicago, Tokyo, London, Berlin and Sydney.
How it works: Athletes either qualify for Boston or run on behalf of a charity.
What to expect: 30,000 people will participate in the 129th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 21, according to race organizers. You can watch it on ESPN2 starting at 9am.
- More than 100 participating runners call Charlotte home, not including nearby towns like Kannapolis and Belmont.
Here are eight Charlotte-area residents running the Boston Marathon.
Editor's note: Runners are listed alphabetically by last name. Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
Kristen Beiza
Beiza, a Shelby, N.C. native, got into running four years ago when she ran a 5K with her husband.
- Now she's gearing up to run Boston for the second time. This will be her seventh marathon overall.
- She's also the organizer of Cabarrus Can Run in Kannapolis and a member of the Charlotte Running Club.
Favorite run club: Cabarrus Can Run
Advice for runners: Be consistent.
Tahir Bradley
Bradley, a New Jersey native and longtime runner, has tackled over 20 marathons. This will be his first time running the Boston Marathon.
- Locally, he's part of Black Men Run and Charlotte Running Club.
Favorite run club: Mad Miles
Advice for runners: Just take baby steps. Get with a group and get out there.
Rachel Doxey
Doxey grew up playing lacrosse in Georgia and started running in college. This will be her third marathon and first time running Boston. She's also an experienced ultramarathoner. She ran two 100-mile races last year.
Favorite run clubs: Morning Run Club, Hillz 4 Breakfast and Urban Run.
Advice for runners: Just go out there and do it. You have to start somewhere. You'll find running becomes very addictive.
Emma Ecklin
Ecklin grew up horseback riding. It wasn't until she moved to Charlotte in 2021 that she got into running. This will be her first time running Boston and her third marathon overall.
Favorite run clubs: Morning Run Club, The Cru and Summit on the Plaza.
Advice for runners: Don't underestimate what your mind can do. We are capable of so much more than we let ourselves believe.
Cornell Jones
Jones, the founder of Charlotte's popular Mad Miles Run Club, has made running more inclusive and accessible. Now he's about to tackle his first marathon with the goal of running all of the World Marathon Majors.
Favorite run clubs: Mad Miles, Black Men Run and The Sole.
Advice for runners: "Get out there and literally take it one step at a time," Jones tells Axios.
Go deeper: I hate running but I'll exercise with Mad Miles Run Club
Armani McDonald
McDonald met his fiancée, Heather Taylor, at Mad Miles on a Tuesday in 2021.
- "I learned to love running because of her," McDonald tells Axios.
- McDonald will run his third marathon on Monday. This will be his first time running Boston.
- He's the manager of Charlotte Running Co. and leads The Sole, a new running club with two and four-mile routes that makes sure nobody finishes alone. It takes place on Thursdays at 6:15am.
Favorite run clubs: Morning Run Club, Mad Miles and The Sole.
Advice for runners: It's not about the race or the plan, because plans change. It's about your purpose.
Erica Shangraw
Shangraw fell in love with running in college after years of playing tennis. This will be her third time running Boston and her seventh marathon overall.
Favorite run club: Morning Run Club
Advice for runners: Set goals for yourself and surround yourself with the right people.
Billy Shue
Shue didn't plan on running Boston more than once, but his first time running the historic marathon was in 2013, the year of the bombings. He wanted to return and prove that Boston would come back stronger.
- This will be his ninth time running Boston and his 31st marathon overall.
Favorite run clubs: The Sole, Summit on the Plaza and Eastover and Run with Christ.
Advice for runners: Get plugged into Charlotte's run clubs. You can make new friends who will end up becoming lifelong friends.
Go deeper: 8 Charlotte-area residents running the Boston Marathon in 2024