Every spring, when the Boston Marathon banners go up, excitement flows through the city—but this year, those banners will also be a call to mourn. Following the death of Spencer, the official dog of the race, marathon officials have elected to remember the furry friend of the race by placing his picture on those iconic banners.
As the Boston Marathon team began hanging 650 Boston Marathon banners last week, a picture of Spencer appeared on Boylston Street in Boston. In the photo, an eager Spencer—who died of cancer at age 13—holds two banners in his mouth: one featuring a smiley face and one with text that says, “Boston Strong.”
Plastering Spencer’s image across the race serves as a reminder of just how much the pup meant to those who run this race. In years past, Spencer could be spotted holding a “Boston Strong” flag at mile three. On a Runner’s World Instagram post about the loss of the canine, marathoners comment about how seeing Spencer along the course replenished their energy and inspired them to keep placing one foot in front of the other—even in those ever-surprising Boston conditions.
“He was literally like an angel on Earth,” said Rich Powers, one of Spencer’s owners. “There was light and energy that would just come out of him…He just inspired so many people.”
Now, as Boston qualifiers flood those storied streets on April 17, they’ll be able to glance up at the banners and continue to feel inspired by the life of the marathon’s humble mascot.
Penny, Spencer’s niece, also died in January—and will be remembered alongside her uncle in April.
Kells McPhillips is a health and wellness journalist living in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in Runner's World, The New York Times, Well+Good, Fortune, Shape, and others.
