While he was a well-known legend in hockey, Zdeno Chara's reputation only continues to grow even in his retirement.
On Monday, he ran in the Boston Marathon under hot conditions, with many runners needing treatment for hyperthermia at the finish line. Chara finished the race in 3:30:52, nearly eight minutes faster than his time from the previous year, which was his first Boston Marathon.
For most people, this achievement would have been very satisfying and memorable until the next year's BAA race.
However, Chara is not like most people. After running the Boston Marathon, the former Bruins captain flew to London and participated in the London Marathon on Sunday, finishing with a personal record time of 3:11:04. It's also noteworthy that the London Marathon was Chara’s eighth within a year.
When Brandon Carlo heard about his former defense partner’s accomplishment, he was amazed, but then quickly remembered who we were talking about.
“I think that reflects what we witnessed here for many years,” said Carlo. “He is extremely committed to his craft in every aspect. His dedication to things is outstanding. It's really impressive to see. I don't think I'll be doing the same thing, but you can see that's what made him such a great athlete. He always wants to challenge himself and get through those tough moments. It's really inspiring to see that mental strength in him. There's a lot to be learned from that.”
Although Chara is relatively new to marathon running, his long-standing tolerance for suffering seems to make him well-suited for the sport, despite his unusual 6-foot-9 frame for long-distance running.
“Honestly, I think he enjoys it,” said Carlo. “It's part of his character to seek out that kind of pain that comes with pushing himself. All mentally resilient people do that, and he's up there with some of the best I've known.”
