Oak Forest's 'Lipstick Lady' To Run In 2018 Boston Marathon

The 122nd running of the Boston Marathon takes place Monday, April 16, and runners from across the globe will be gathering in Boston to be tested by the 26.2-mile course from the Hopkinton start line to the famous Boylston Street finish line. That includes an Oak Forest woman who is no stranger to running marathons around the country.

Boonsom Hartman, 60, will compete in this year's marathon, and in 2003, she accomplished the impressive feat of running a marathon in every U.S. state, as well as Washington, D.C. It's a achievement that took her 11 years to do.

What's even more remarkable is that Hartman reached this goal a second time in 2007, becoming the first Illinois runner to earn that distinction. She did so by finishing the Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon in Anchorage, Alaska — the 150th marathon of her running career — and her effort was recognized by the Illinois General Assembly at the time.

Over the years, Hartman, who competed in her first marathon in 1992, has picked up the nickname "Lipstick Lady" thanks to an unusual beauty ritual she does with her husband, Scott. He will meet her at the 25-mile marker of a marathon to hand her lipstick, which she applies before finishing the race.

"If you look good, people think you feel good," the Thailand native told eNews Park Forest in 2007. "[Spectators] always say, ‘Oh, look at the Lipstick Lady! She’s always happy!’ ”

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Hartman, who has run races in Canada along with the United States, competed in last year's Boston Marathon. She posted a time of 04:58:46 in the 2017 event.

Different athletes start at different times for this year's marathon. Here are the start times for each group:

• Mobility Impaired: 7:40 a.m.
• Men's Push-Rim Wheelchair: 8:02 a.m.
• Women's Push-Rim Wheelchair: 8:04 a.m.
• Handcycles and Duos: 8:25 a.m.
• Elite Women: 8:32 a.m.
• Elite Men and Wave One: 9 a.m.
• Wave Two: 9:25 a.m.
• Wave Three: 9:50 a.m.
• Wave Four: 10:15 a.m.

Want to keep tabs on Oak Forest's "Lipstick Lady" during the 2018 Boston Marathon? Click here to find out how to track a runner. Here's Hartman's race information for tracking purposes: Boonsom Hartman, 60, #24736, Wave 4.

If you want to find how to watch the Boston Marathon on TV or live stream, or get any other information about the race, check out our Boston Marathon Hub here.

Photo by Mike Carraggi | Patch