Astronaut Suni Williams on her upcoming Boston Marathon run, Artemis II mission

She spent 286 days in a row in space in an unexpected marathon mission. Her extended stay on the International Space Station in 2024 and 2025 captured the attention of the world.

And a year after splashing down back on Earth, Needham’s own Sunita Williams is now preparing for a different kind of marathon: She’s running Boston on Monday.

“It’s just such a great opportunity because I love Boston and I love this time of year,” Williams said.

She retired from NASA in January after a 27 year career.

Asked if preparing for a marathon is more rigorous than preparing for a space mission, Williams said they’re about the same.

“There are good days and bad days,” she said.

Williams knows about resilience.

“It’s slow. It’s going to be a little bit of torture this year but I decided, what the heck? I’m 60 years old and I wanted to show people you just have to get to the starting line and then see how it all works out,” she said.

After her return from her extended stay in space, Needham native Suni Williams sat down with NBC10 Boston for an interview in Houston.

Over the course of her career, Williams spent 608 days in space spanning three different missions. In 2007, she ran the Boston Marathon on board the International Space Station.

Now, a new generation of astronauts are breaking records of their own. Williams is excited after watching the Artemis II mission.

“It was so awesome to see that mission so successful,” she said. “What a great mission. We are opening the next door to get back to the moon. This mission had to be a success for us to be able to do that.”

Four astronauts are home safe after spending the last 10 days traveling to the moon and back.

The Artemis mission sent astronauts to the far side of the moon for the first time in decades.

“They did such a marvelous job through the photographs, through the commentary,” said Williams, “through their attitude. It was just wonderful to watch. The whole time I wanted to be up there. I was in Florida watching the launch and, damn, that’s a huge rocket. That’s so cool. I wish I was part of it but I am so proud of this next generation of astronauts. They’re going to do a great job.”

As for the Boston Marathon, Williams said she is excited.

Asked what the first thing she would do after crossing the finish line, she said, “Let’s see, maybe have a Sam Adams.”

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