‘I’m running with my heart’: Nebraska native runs PR at Boston Marathon for late grandmother

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Nebraska native, 39-year-old Kaci Lickteig, has run in over 100 marathons in her life.

It’s something she and her mother often do together. She was born and raised in Dannebrog, NE. It’s near Grand Island, but she now lives in Omaha.

On Monday, she ran in the 130th annual Boston Marathon. It’s just her fourth time doing so, and the second year in a row she has competed in the race.

She stopped after 2013, the day of the Boston bombings. Lickteig says both she and her mother crossed the finish line just seven minutes before the bombs went off.

“We didn’t know what was going on. “It was the most frightening experience we’ve ever been through,” said Lickteig. “After that experience, it was like, ‘I don’t think we can ever go back. That’s why we didn’t.'”

Last year, they finally mustered the courage to return, running the 2025 marathon, overcoming the fear from that day twelve years ago.

But on Monday, Kaci laced up her shoes and had to be courageous yet again. This time, for a different reason.

“Less than a month ago, I lost my grandmother, and my mom lost her mom,” Lickteig said.

Kaci says she wasn’t even sure if she was ready to compete so soon, still mourning the loss of her loved one. But this year’s race was a personal best for both Kaci and her mother.

Lickteig ran a 2:55:50

“I told myself when I started the race, I’m not running with my legs, I’m running with my heart, and with grandma. That’s also why my mom ran a new PR.”

While this year’s race was the first without her grandmother and looked like a tough challenge to overcome, Kaci now calls it a healing moment.

“My mom and I just had all the feelings. The crowd just uplifts you,” said Lickteig. “Being there was really helpful and healing for us.”

Lickteig says the Boston Marathon community has felt like family to her now, and she and her mother both plan to run for as long as they can.