HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- The 2026 Boston Marathon marked the 130th running of the world-renowned competition and highlighted a significant accomplishment for one of Team Hanscom’s premier athletes.
1st Lt. Ryan Johnson finished 30th overall (14th among Americans) out of this year’s 30,000 official entrants.
The Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annually held marathon, starts just 30 miles southwest from Hanscom Air Force Base and finishes on the streets outside the Boston Public Library.
“The crowds in Boston were unreal, and there were many sections where you could feel the energy as you raced,” said Johnson, a facilities integrated product team lead program manager from the Presidential and Executive Airpower Directorate.
Johnson competed in the professional field, an elite category limited to contenders who qualify with a sub-2:13:00 marathon time for men and sub-2:35:00 for women.
The global average time to run a marathon is 4:32:49. Johnson qualified with a 2:12:58 marathon he ran in 2025.
In the week leading up to the event, Johnson was focused on recovery and keeping his mind and body ready to race.
His training and race plan were finalized, and at that point, stress and overthinking were his primary concerns.
“My coach and brother figured out the itinerary, timing and preparation so that I could just coast and be ready,” he said. “I never really sleep well before a race and I usually wake up with some adrenaline and nerves, but I try to just stay as relaxed as possible.”
It was cool and cloudy on the morning of Patriots’ Day, April 20.
The course was set, the fans were out, and it was his time to rise to the challenge.
“As I walked to the starting line that morning, I saw my parents and brother,” said Johnson. “Usually before a race I can only wave, but this time I was able to go over to them and hug them. I also saw my coach and I gave him a hug as well. It was a special moment for me to be on the starting line surrounded by the people that most helped me get there.”
At 9:37 a.m., the starting pistol fired, and Johnson launched into action.
His first 5K split was 14:52, averaging a 4-minute, 48-second mile.
As the race continued, not everything went according to plan.
“Ten kilometers in, my legs felt awful and I threw up a few times. I even considered dropping out,” he shared in an Instagram post after the event. “Things were going wrong, but after all the work I put in for this race, I knew quitting wasn’t an option, so I rallied.”
After regrouping in Framingham, Massachusetts, Johnson pushed ahead, notching a 1:04:15 half-marathon split and a 1:38:53 time at the 20-mile mark.
As Johnson crossed the finish line, his official net time was 2:10:20, averaging a 4-minute, 59-second mile -- a new personal record.
“I had many friends, family and supporters sprinkled throughout the race and it was awesome to hear them cheer me on,” said Johnson.
After race day, Team Hanscom was abuzz with news of Johnson’s accomplishments.
“Finishing a marathon is a special accomplishment, to finish with his time, it is a remarkable human achievement only few in the world can reach” said Col. Jorge Jimenez, 66th Air Base Group Commander. “Lt. Johnson, congratulations on your superb performance during this year’s Boston Marathon. We are all so proud of you.”
When asked what advice he would give to less-experienced runners interested in improving, Johnson said running with others, such as friends or a running club, makes a huge difference.
“Sign up for a race or two to have something to work towards and be excited about and be consistent with your training. Bottom line, if you want to get better, it takes time and you have to be consistent, just like with anything in life.”