Every April, thousands gather to chase a dream across 26.2 grueling miles — the Boston Marathon. For many, it’s the ultimate test of heart and endurance. For others, it’s a tradition to cheer, to honor, to remember. And if you look closely, you’ll notice something curious on the medal every runner receives: a unicorn.
Yes — a unicorn.
The Boston Athletic Association, founded in 1887, chose the unicorn as its emblem. Not a trophy, not a flame, not a laurel wreath, but a creature of legend. Why?
Because the unicorn is more than a fantasy. In Celtic and medieval tradition, it symbolized strength, speed, and purity of purpose. It was said to be wild and noble, strong and swift, qualities every marathoner understands deeply. The unicorn doesn’t come to just anyone. It comes to those who earn it.
In royal heraldry, the unicorn was often paired with the lion, a balance of wildness and rule. But in Boston, the unicorn runs alone. Here, it represents the individual’s pursuit of greatness, that elusive goal just out of reach, chased not with arrogance, but with integrity and grit.
The unicorn also carries an old association with healing. Medieval apothecaries displayed unicorns on their shop signs, believing in the creature’s restorative power. Today, medical teams from the American Heart Association and the Red Cross stand ready to care for runners, modern healers watching over modern champions.
So, when Patriots’ Day draws near and runners gather at the starting line, take a moment to honor the symbol they wear. If you’re cheering from the sidelines, wave a banner with a unicorn. Let it remind them — and you — why they run.
Not just for victory. But for the chance to chase something greater than themselves.
In the end, the unicorn isn’t just a myth. It’s a standard. And for one brilliant moment, every runner is worthy of the legend.
