The Boston Marathon is far from an ordinary race. It's the world's oldest marathon, having started in 1897, and attracts about 500,000 spectators each year. The city of Boston largely shuts down for the day as it celebrates the annual Patriots' Day race.
Naturally, the race draws its share of celebrity runners.
Notable sports figures have completed the marathon in recent years, including Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick, Tedy Bruschi and James Develin. Zdeno Chara will try to add his name to that list this year.
The retired Bruins defenseman announced in March that he would run the marathon, which finishes about two miles from TD Garden. Chara was a marvel in the NHL because of his size, so he shouldn't be too hard to find along the 26.2-mile course.
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Here's what you need to know about why Chara is trying his hand at the Boston Marathon.
Why is Zdeno Chara running the Boston Marathon?
The Boston Marathon will be Chara's first marathon, and he's running to support two charities.
One of them is The Hoyt Foundation, which, it says, aims to "build the individual character, self-confidence and self-esteem of America’s disabled young people through inclusion in all facets of daily life."
The charity is named for Dick Hoyt and his son Rick, who completed the Boston Marathon together annually until 2014. Rick suffers from cerebral palsy, so Dick would push him along for the entire course as Rick sat in his wheelchair. Dick Hoyt died in 2021.
"Dick and Rick Hoyt made an incredible impact on millions of people worldwide and personally helped to motivate us to our 2011 Stanley Cup championship," Chara said on Instagram.
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The other is the Thomas E. Smith Foundation, which, it says, aims to "better the lives of those affected by and living with paralysis."
The foundation is named after Tom Smith, who suffered three injuries — two of them while playing hockey — that led to partial paralysis. Despite the setbacks, Smith has made a habit of walking the Boston Marathon course. Chara said Smith has "one of the most resilient and inspiring stories."
Chara, 46, retired from the NHL last September after a career that spanned from 1997 to 2022. He spent 14 seasons with the Bruins, winning the Stanley Cup in 2011 and earning the Norris Trophy in 2008-09.
At 6-9, Chara will be one of the tallest runners in this year's Boston Marathon, which will take place on Monday, April 17.