The National Hockey League oftens boasts about its “Original Six” — Bruins, Canadiens, Rangers, Maple Leafs, Blackhawks and Red Wings. Well, Emma Shields has been chasing marathoning’s own version called the “Abbott World Marathon Majors” and on Monday she finished the job in Boston.
The 34-year-old North Andover resident saved the local race, the Boston Marathon for last. She has been chasing the “Abbott Award” for running the six preeminent marathons, the first five she ran were New York City (2017), Chicago (2021), Berlin (2018), London (2023)and Tokyo (2026), which was she ran only six weeks ago.
Ironically, the only race she didn’t run was basically right down the street. After suffering a slight muscle injury to leg, Boston was in jeopardy, but some physical therapy in town the last month fixed that.
She had applied for and copped one of the 45 bib numbers that make up Tedy’s Team, which helps those associated with stroke recovery, survivors and their families during their comeback journey. Amazingly, the team raised $700,000 on Monday.
Shields grandmother passed away after two strokes in 2022.
“She was a big fan, always asking me about marathons,” said Shields. “She forgot this distances, which was funny, saying ‘How long is this marathon coming up?’ She was a great lady and I was very close to her growing up.”
Running Boston proved to be everything she thought it would be and, of course, more.
“I’ve been to a lot of Bostons as a fan,” said Shields. “It was amazing. The entire way. It started in the suburbs with people in their yards, with tables and chairs and their dogs. Then it was the college kids in Wellesley and Newton. And then you have the families cheering together in the city.
“I loved seeing the fans at Kenmore Square coming from the Red Sox game,” she recalled. “And Boylston Street was so loud with thousands and thousands of people.”
Shield’s husband and daughter, Meredith, and several other relatives and friends were there near the finish line.
She also received the Abbott World Marathon Majors medal, showing she completed the “Original Six.”
“My husband ran in 2013 and wasn’t able to finish because of the bombing,” said Shields. “So he ran it in 2014. We understand how big this race is. It was a day I’ll never forget.”