Burlington Residents Lace Up to Run Boston

The 129th Boston Marathon isn’t just a race—it’s a test of endurance, grit, and heart. On Monday, April 21, runners will push through 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, chasing the legendary finish line. Among them are Shannon Bailey, Sameer Savkur, and Laura Yavanian, current and former Burlington residents who are prepared to take on the challenge—each with a deeply personal motivation fueling their strides.

A Decade of Dedication

For Yavanian, 54 years old, running is more than a sport – it’s a journey of self-discovery.

She will be running on the 80-member Beth Israel Lahey Health team for the Winchester Hospital special care nursery.

“To run for them means a lot to me because quality healthcare that you and your family can count on at a time of need is something that is valued,” Yavanian said.

Yavanian began her running career at 42 years old and, she explained, it was an intimidating pursuit. Yavanian hails from Burlington—and her family still lives here—but she now lives in Stoneham.

Her local gym’s running club helped her to focus on pacing, building up her stamina, and setting individual fitness goals that led her to steady progress. As race day nears, she remains focused on both physical and mental preparation.

First-time runners who want to train for a marathon should listen to their bodies and gradually raise their goals, Yavanian said.

When it comes to race day, “Respect your body that day and how you feel, and pace yourself,” said Yavanian. “It does make a difference because you want to be in one piece at the finish line, and you also want to feel good at the end of the race.”

And, she said, there’s no need to try and be fastest. “Everybody’s at different fitness levels, and that’s fine, and that’s accepted.”

Running for a Cause

This will be Shannon Bailey’s seventh Boston Marathon, a race he describes as an honor, especially given its fundraising impact.

“We’re bringing in millions of dollars that have a real impact on patient lives,” Bailey, a former cancer researcher fellow at Dana Farber said. He’s now head of diagnostic development and vali-dation at Foundation Medicine in Cambridge. “It means a lot to blend my passions - I am a researcher but then also raising funds for cancer patients as well.”

Bailey’s journey began with a Susan G. Komen 5K 14 years ago, a far cry from what he calls the “Super Bowl of Marathons.”

“There’s nothing like training for your first marathon, because during your training, everything you do is a first,” said Bailey. “I do remember vividly at my first marathon, when I hit mile 23 which I’ve never done before, thinking ‘Oh my God, I’ve never done this before, but this is kind of awesome.”

Sharing the moment with his wife, kids, friends, teammates, and the many Bostonians who will be waiting to cheer him on at the finish line is something Bailey can’t wait to experience.

“There’s lots of exciting points along the course, like Newton Center, Wellesley College, Ken-more Square, but nothing beats the finish line. There’s nothing like turning onto Boylston Street and hearing that crowd. That’s probably the best part,” Bailey said.

The Global Runner

Sameer Savkur, 61, is no stranger to marathons. Having completed all six of the Abbott World Marathon Majors – Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City – he holds the prestigious Six Star Medal. But he isn’t stopping there.

Savkur has run a total of 11 marathons. Three of them were with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute team at the Boston Marathon. The cause is deeply personal – his father passed away from cancer in 2015. “Doing my bit in terms of raising money for basic research in this area is very dear to me.” Savkur said.

He said training and running alongside his team will not only encourage him to keep pushing when it gets tough, but helps him focus on the larger goal.

“I’m not sure there’s a single individual who doesn’t have tears in their eyes when they cross the line,” said Savkur, “For us who run for Dana Farber, every time we cross the line, we feel we get closer to the goal of one day winning the fight against cancer.”

Savkur’s preparation includes strength training, combinations of sprint runs, and strict nutrition. He knows that around mile 20, fatigue hits hard, so pacing and preparation are key. “Hydration and nutrition, and then climbing the hills are very, very critical,” Savkur said.

With a running career starting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2018, Savkur has run in four out of seven continents, and soon hopes to cross Australia, Africa and Antartica off of his bucket list. For now, though, his focus is on Boston. The roar of the crowd, the struggle up Heartbreak Hill, and the final, glorious turn onto Boylston Street await. Like Yavanian and Bailey, Savkur is ready to give it his all.

This story originally appeared in Buzz Magazine: Spring Edition, 2025.

Juliana Pinto is a student at Endicott College studying journalism. This article was produced by Juliana for the Massachusetts News Service of Endicott College in partnership with Burlington Buzz.