In 2020, the historic Boston Marathon failed to outrun the COVID-19 pandemic. The 124th iteration of the event was originally postponed and later canceled. As consolation during the unprecedented times, the Boston Athletic Association, or BAA, decided to award finisher medals to any would-be participants who completed a virtual marathon in under six hours and provided proof of run time. 

Over 1,600 miles south in Shreveport, La., seven runners, including veteran marathoner Frank Bright, took the BAA up on its offer. The group set off from a local parking lot around 5:00 a.m., competing not only with their own physical and mental limitations but with the mid-September Louisiana heat. The run lacked the large crowds of spectators and glamour of one of Boston’s biggest spectacles, but it was made just as special by the support and encouragement from the Shreveport community. 

Cyclists with lights guided each runner through the early-morning dark. Hydration and medical aid were provided at several stops along the 26.2-mile loop. Friends and family from across the city woke up early to support their marooned marathoners. In a time of extreme isolation, no one ran alone.

Six years later, Frank is still running — even at 83 years young. The Shreveport native ran in his 24th Boston Marathon this Monday. He was the oldest qualified runner in the race, a fact he said he took great pride in. A retired attorney and former track and cross country star, Frank began running marathons at the age of 35, and has since completed over 70 in total — all with his wife of 56 years, Suzzanne Bright, right by his side.

“She’s the only Suzzanne you’ll ever meet with two z’s and two n’s,” Frank said with a smile. 

While Suzzanne, with two z’s and two n’s, isn’t a runner herself — the former Louisiana State University Shreveport journalism professor prefers to cozy up with a good book — she’s gone the extra mile to support her husband, including cheering from the sidelines and helping Frank navigate the world of cell phones and the internet. 

“When he started doing this, I figured it would take him a lot longer to play 18 holes of golf, and he wasn’t doing that,” she said. “This was his outlet.”

Throughout a life of running, Frank has seen marathoning culture change substantially, from medical advancements and nutritional data to the acceptance of women into the sport. Still, he said that the Boston race will always be special.

“Boston’s the pinnacle,” he said. “People always ask me what keeps me motivated, and one of the things that keeps me going is being able to come back here every year.”

On the day before the race, Frank was invited to speak as a member of a panel highlighting longtime runners at the Boston Marathon Expo. Panel moderator and 1968 Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot introduced him as a dear friend, and “one of the most remarkable runners” he knew.

Frank spoke about his running origins, which include a state championship in the mile run during his senior year at Fair Park High School. He also spoke about how injuries such as tendonitis in his knee have slowed him down in the past year, but that he was still determined to give Boston a go.

After running a hard-fought 15 and a half miles in three hours on Monday, Frank made the difficult decision to withdraw from the marathon to avoid risking further injury. He said he was delighted by the encouragement he received from other runners despite the early exit.

In recent years, the marathon has come to be about more than just the finish line for Frank. With the help of his tech-savvy wife, he’s cultivated a community of Boston runners ages 75 and up who regularly stay in touch and communicate online. The group, which has been dubbed the “Bright Forum,” now has over 30 members, including Burfoot, and 1976 Boston Marathon winner Jack Fultz, who served as the grand marshal for this year’s race.

“It has been a lot of fun,” Frank said. “I get feedback from the guys saying that they love the group and the fact that they can have communication.”

One of those “guys” is Tom Stone, a newcomer to the Forum. He said that he was grateful for the work Frank had done to create a place for older runners like himself to connect.

“[Frank] and the group have become so important to me,” he said.

After arriving safely back at his hotel on Monday, greeted by an ever-supportive Suzzanne, Frank was just in time to watch the race tracker in admiration as several of his friends finished their runs.

Monday evening, after all of the running was done, Frank, Suzzanne, and over a dozen other Bright Forum members and their families enjoyed one of their favorite Boston Marathon traditions: a post-race dinner at Legal Seafoods. In addition to an opportunity to get in some much-needed calories, the meal served as a reminder of the joy running has brought the group.

“Even though I couldn’t finish this year . . . it’s these memories that make it worth it,” Frank said.

At the moment, Frank’s marathon-running future is uncertain. His departure from this year’s race means he’s yet to qualify for the 2027 Boston Marathon. He would have to earn a spot by September, which the summer weather may make difficult. He’s currently eyeing a potential run at the Manitoba Marathon in Winnipeg this June, depending on how he feels.

If this was it for Frank, it’s quite a career. But he’s no stranger to overcoming adversity — after successfully recovering from a heart attack in 2021, he was back to distance running in just a few months. He now jokes that he has the longest stent in Northern Louisiana. 

But whether Frank decides to keep running or not, one thing you can count on is Suzzanne being right there with him.