Kansas runner to honor father with Boston Marathon race 50 years later
By Maddy Terril
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WICHITA, Kansas (KAKE) — A Wichita man is preparing to run in the Boston Marathon next week, marking a milestone that connects his journey to his late father’s legacy.
Shayne Yonce will compete in the 130th running of the historic race, widely known as the world’s oldest annual marathon.
Qualifying alone is considered a major achievement, but for Yonce, the moment carries deeper meaning. His father ran the Boston Marathon in 1976, and this year’s race falls exactly 50 years later.
Yonce began running after years of focusing on work and family while neglecting his health. In 2019, he committed to lifestyle changes, using fitness tracking as motivation.
On January 1, 2019, he committed to closing the rings on his Apple Watch daily, and ever since, he has kept that streak going.
Eventually, he lost more than 100 pounds through endurance activities like biking, swimming, and running.
Running became more than exercise; it became a way to feel connected to his father. That connection inspired a goal: to qualify for Boston and follow in his father’s footsteps.
While planning his attempt, Yonce realized the 2026 race would align with the 50th anniversary of his father’s run. He chose to qualify at his father’s favorite marathon in Lincoln, Nebraska, and made it with just 61 seconds to spare to have a Boston qualifying time. The race also fell on his father’s birthday.
Now, after years of preparation, Yonce will take on the Boston Marathon course, carrying both personal accomplishment and family history with him.
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