Zdeno Chara accomplished plenty in his legendary 24-year NHL career. He hoisted the Stanley Cup, was named the Bruins' captain, won the Norris Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award, and was named an All-Star seven times.
With his career on ice in the rearview mirror, the man who made a living on skates traded in those blades for the flat sole of a sneaker to perform on the pavement. On April 17, 2023, Chara officially ran in the 127th Boston Marathon.
The now-retired 46-year-old announced in March that he would be taking part in the Patriots' Day festivities to support two charities: the Hoyt Foundation and the Thomas E. Smith Foundation.
MORE: Why Zdeno Chara ran the Boston Marathon in 2023
After three hours, 38 minutes and 23 seconds, Chara crossed the finish line on Patriots Day with a respectable performance in his first showing. Better yet, he crossed that finish line to the tune of the Bruins' goal song, "Kernkraft 400".
THERE HE IS!! Bruins legend Zdeno Chara has crossed the #BostonMarathon finish line -- to the sound of cheers and the #NHLBruins goal song! ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/hIzQhMV4XH
— WCVB-TV Boston (@WCVB) April 17, 2023
It wasn't hard to spot the 6-foot-9 Chara on the marathon route, as he towered over his fellow runners.
This year marked 10 years since the Boston Marathon bombing, which Chara spoke about with local network WCVB-TV's Duke Castiglione, “It’s something we’re always going to look back as one of the biggest tragedies but also one of the biggest bonding that you could see among the people,” Chara said.
Reaction was quick to pour in from fans in support of the former Bruin.
Imagine in the middle of running a marathon, you look to your side and your eyes are directly in line with some guy's bicep.
— Tom Gulitti (@TomGulittiNHL) April 17, 2023
Zdeno Chara fixes a wedgie as he passes mile 22 in the #BostonMarathon pic.twitter.com/5WWCCGFosB
— JA (@AndersenJA) April 17, 2023
Zdeno Chara only needs about 10 steps to complete the marathon pic.twitter.com/o40qGZr6fB
— The Degenerates (@degen_betting) April 17, 2023
Happened to be at the finish line when Bruins legend Zdeno Chara crossed - easy to spot! pic.twitter.com/AZF9NW7rrZ
— Michele Steele (@MicheleSteele) April 17, 2023
MORE: Full list of 2023 Boston Marathon winners, top finishers from all eight divisions
Celtics center Al Horford was quick to point out that he won't be running in the marathon anytime soon.
Zdeno Chara finished the marathon today, but don't expect to see Al Horford out there in the future: "I'm not a runner. I could never. I probably can't run more than a mile, honestly." https://t.co/JfgKTEcLzt pic.twitter.com/quiNGih8f2
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) April 17, 2023
The Bruins will begin their quest for the Stanley Cup on Monday night in Boston when they host Florida in Game 1. If the energy in Boston is any indication, Chara might be foreshadowing a long night for the Panthers at TD Garden.
