Why a Virginia mom is running the 2026 Boston Marathon: ‘Stories can save lives’

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.

Name: Elizabeth Ayres
Age: 45
From: Henrico, Virginia

I run because running saved my life.

When I was 11 years old, my mother died by suicide. That loss shaped my childhood and followed me quietly into adulthood. For many years, I carried grief without knowing how to release it.

At 36, after immigrating to the United States without speaking English, working in house cleaning, and raising two children, I discovered running — not as a sport, but as a lifeline. What began as short walks turned into 5Ks, then marathons, and eventually ultramarathons. With every mile, I found strength, healing, and clarity.

Running taught me discipline and resilience, but more importantly, it gave my pain a purpose.

In 2026, I will run the Boston Marathon in honor of my mother and in support of suicide prevention through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). I run to help break the silence around mental health and to remind others that asking for help is an act of courage.

As a mother, immigrant, and runner, I want my journey to show that it’s never too late to begin again. Movement can heal. Stories can save lives. And hope can grow from even the deepest pain.

I run for my mother. I run for awareness. I run so others know they are not alone.

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.

Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.