Dropkick Murphys runner story
Jeff DaRosa of Dropkick Murphys says marathon training helped him find new purpose after getting sober — a personal arc he shared ahead of Boston 2026 (boston.com). His story underlines how marathon prep has become a meaningful recovery and community tool for athletes beyond elite competition (boston.com).
Jeff DaRosa, 43, has been a multi-instrumentalist with Dropkick Murphys since 2007. ( ) He says he quit drinking when he turned 40 — “on Marathon Monday” — and since then has trained nearly every day, calling running a form of meditation that gave him discipline. (boston.com) DaRosa is entered in the Boston Marathon on April 20, 2026, with a Claddagh Fund fundraising page set up to accept donations on his behalf. ( ) The Claddagh Fund — founded in 2009 by Dropkick Murphys frontman Ken Casey — directs support to children’s charities, veterans’ programs and addiction-recovery services. (claddaghfund.org) He trained through a five-week band tour while maintaining daily runs and said he generally trains alone, joining friends only for the longer workouts when schedules allow. (boston.com) DaRosa’s marathon push follows the band’s recent release, the split album "New England Forever," which dropped March 17, 2026, and coincided with the band’s March shows that previously made marathon-season training difficult. (boston.com)
