25‑consecutive runners in the mix
Four friends from Methuen are running together and two teammates — Nadine and Lisa — are on track to complete 25 consecutive Boston Marathons, a rare streak noted in local coverage. (wcvb.com). They’re combining training with cancer fundraising and community support as part of their long streak. (wcvb.com)
Four women from Methuen who faced cancer are set to run the 2026 Boston Marathon together, with two chasing a 25-year streak. (wcvb.com) WCVB reported that Nadine Palmer and Lisa Zappala are lined up for their 25th consecutive Boston Marathon when the race starts on Monday, April 20, 2026. The station said all four runners are from the same Methuen circle and have been training while dealing with cancer. (wcvb.com; baa.org) That 25-race mark carries special meaning in Boston. New Hampshire Public Radio described the Quarter Century Club as a group for runners who have completed 25 consecutive Boston Marathons, and said Zappala was working toward that milestone in 2025. (nhpr.org) The Boston Athletic Association says the 2026 race will be the 130th Boston Marathon, continuing a race history that dates to 1897. Its 2026 rules also say consecutive streaks are considered official only after the association verifies official finish times. (baa.org; baa.org) Boston’s streak culture is unusually formal for a road race. Boston.com reported in 2025 that the Quarter Century Club celebrates runners who keep coming back year after year, while the Boston Athletic Association gives early-registration consideration to applicants with streaks of 10 years or more. (boston.com; baa.org) This year’s field is large enough that a 25-year streak stands out even more. Race materials released on April 3 said 32,494 participants are entered for 2026, with about 30,000 expected to start on race day. (rrm.com) WCVB framed the Methuen group’s run as more than a personal milestone: the four friends are pairing marathon training with cancer fundraising and mutual support through treatment. That puts their story alongside the charity and survivor narratives that have become a regular part of Boston Marathon coverage. (wcvb.com; wcvb.com) If Palmer and Zappala finish in Boston on April 20, they will move from “in the mix” to official 25-year streakers. Their friends will be on the same course from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, turning one local training group into one of the race’s most closely watched small teams. (wcvb.com; baa.org)
