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.”

A man is running the Boston Marathon to highlight the courage of his 9-year-old daughter’s battle with cancer. Here’s Emma Cohen’s story.

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A massive jury decision in New York this week is sending shockwaves through the entertainment industry, a decision that Connecticut has historically encouraged.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and a coalition of 33 other attorneys general won their lawsuit against Live Nation when the Manhattan court ruled Wednesday that Live Nation and its subsidiary, Ticketmaster, violated federal and state antitrust laws.

The decision from the court is to be met with appeals from Live Nation. One thing is for sure in the rest of the case; it is monumental, and it will be lengthy.

The lawsuits filed by dozens of states accused Live Nation of smothering competition and driving up prices for ticket buyers, resulting in the jury’s decision that Live Nation should be held liable for illegally maintaining monopoly power over the ticket industry.

“The fact that the states went ahead and litigated this case and won before a jury is really a remarkable, historical development,” legal expert Bob Langer said.

If the verdict holds, Langer says Live Nation could be facing strict penalties, including being forced to split from Ticketmaster, which would affect the entire industry.

“Eventually prices will go down, but we are a long, long way from that,” Langer said.

Langer told News 8 that appeals could reach the Supreme Court and take years. One New Haven event venue said it is too early to tell how the case will affect their ticketing practices.

Live Nation insists they are not a monopoly, but a successful company built by excellence and effort. The company said that it can and will appeal any unfavorable rulings.

Those who may be affected most are the buyers.

“We probably are being taken advantage of, but if there are people like me that have a crazy willingness to pay, the prices might increase at the end of the day,” Aaron Abrams, a fan of Peter Cat Recordings Co., said.

“I do see the monopoly, absolutely,” Laura, who buys her tickets off a site for military families, said. “I am very grateful that I don’t have to be a part of that. I will enjoy any ticket and any concert I can go to.”

Overall, music fans have shared a general consensus that they will follow the case, but will still be attending concerts either way.

“I would love to see the prices go back down,” Laura said. “I would love for everyone to have access to different events and concerts and be able to afford it.”

The case against Live Nation comes after the company agreed to a settlement with the federal government, but more than 30 states pressed on with the trial, saying not enough concessions were made by Live Nation.