Highland resident made cut to run in 2026 Boston Marathon
By Daniel L. Chamness
(Reprinted with the permission of Dan Chamness and the Trenton Sun)
The qualification to make the Boston Marathon during the last five years kept getting faster and faster.
So did former Trenton resident Brian Friederich.
The 1986 Wesclin graduate, who now makes his home in Highland, has been on the bubble to advance to the iconic and most well-known marathon in history a total of four times. Finally, in 2026, at the age of 58, he earned an invite.
He did so by dropping his time over the 26.2 mile race by 11 minutes, 22 seconds since 2023. He will enter Boston with a time of 3 hours, 24 minutes and 21 seconds.
The former Wesclin Warrior basketball player earned the time at the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in November 2025.
“I ran my first ever marathon in 2022 and one of the main reasons was to qualify for Boston,” said the former Trenton resident. “When I found out I made it, I was relieved, shocked and grateful all at the same time. It took me four attempts to finally make the cut and get invited. It felt like reaching the finish line after a long journey. Exactly like a marathon.”
If there was anything that was disappointing, but encouraged the marathoner to try again it was just how close he was to making the final cut, as he was a mere 43 seconds from getting the invite. His 2024 effort which was to gain entry to the 2025 race missed by only 23 ticks of the clock.
“I kept training and decided to try to make the 2026 event,” said Frederich. “I knew when I crossed the finish line, I was in. I earned my bib and acceptance into the 130th running of the Boston Marathon.”
Brian Frederich competing in the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon in November 2025. His finish time in this race punched his ticket for the 2026 Boston Marathon. (Photo courtesy of Dan Chamness)
As Friederich pointed out, it is the oldest annual marathon in the world. Boston started the annual event in 1897 following the first running of the long distance road event in the 1896 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Greek runner Spyridon Louis topped 16 other competitors, winning the coveted gold medal in 2:58.50.
On April 19, 1897, American John J. McDermott would win the first Boston Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:55.10. He would be credited with not only winning the Boston Marathon but five months after the Olympics would win the first ever marathon held in the United States.
“I think Boston is so iconic because of the length of time it has been run, the number of runners that want to run it and the quality of the competition,” said Friederich. “Runners view earning a chance to run in this race as a badge of honor. It is the race every distance runner has on their bucket list.”
When he was training hard to prepare, the Highland resident was running long-distance runs of 20 miles. He would also do strength training two or three times a week and stretch his legs, along with other stretches, twice a day.
“I think there are some misconceptions about training,” said the Highland resident. “I think most people think we run more than the marathon distance numerous times. That is not true. Also, eating right and sleeping are equally important as the training. I had a knee problem and I had to stop training for about 10 days. I also get physical therapy regularly.”
The former Warrior athlete selected the marathon race in Indianapolis based on its flat course, closeness to home and the fall race date.
“The Boston Course is much different than Indianapolis,” said Friederich. “It is not a fast course, nor does it lend itself to running your career best time. The first 5,000-meters features a big descent, which is tough on legs. In addition, it has four significant hills and other minor hills. It is far from flat.”
