Running for Nurses, President Ryan Completes 10th Consecutive Boston Marathon

October 11, 2021
President Jim Ryan Running a marathon

Dedicating his race to nurses, UVA President Jim Ryan finished this year’s marathon in 3 hours, 2 minutes, 27 seconds. (Photo by Ellen Dietrick)

Running a marathon can sometimes feel like a lonely experience in that it’s just you, the pavement and that next mile marker you’re striving toward.

But running in his 10th consecutive Boston Marathon on Monday, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan had company. It came in the form of, arguably, the pandemic’s biggest heroes: nurses.

Ryan, who has supported various causes over the years through his participation in the Boston Marathon, such as teachers and Madison House (the independent, nonprofit volunteer center for UVA students), elected to “run for nurses” in this year’s race.

“It was an obvious choice to dedicate my run to nurses, given their tireless dedication during this pandemic,” Ryan said prior to the race.

With sponsors recognizing a special nurse for each mile and having their names printed on the back of his shirt, Ryan helped raise more than $13,000 for UVA nursing student scholarships.

Ryan, whose sister and sister in-law are both nurses, finished the 26.2-mile race in 3 hours,  2 minutes and 27 seconds.

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October 11, 2021

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