On Monday morning, as thousands of runners streamed toward the Boylston Street finish line, two women stood out.
Alexi Pappas and Lisa Thompson crossed together, arms pumping, faces lit up.
They weren’t just finishing another Boston Marathon. They were celebrating a fourth shared journey and a second consecutive win in the visually impaired division.
Their time, 3:42:01, was Lisa’s fastest yet on the course.
But what mattered most to them couldn’t be captured on a race clock. This partnership, now four years strong, is built on something deeper than medals or split times. It’s built on trust, friendship, and a shared belief in doing things differently.
How it All Started
Back in 2021, Alexi Pappas was at a crossroads.
An Olympian, author, and filmmaker, she’d accomplished a lot on her own terms. But she was looking for something new. Something that felt less about personal glory and more about giving back.
“I wanted to be part of the running world in a different way,” Pappas said. So she reached out to Team With A Vision, a nonprofit that connects sighted guides with blind and visually impaired runners. That’s how she met Lisa Thompson, a Houston-based real estate agent with limited vision in one eye and none in the other.
“Lisa had mostly worked with male guides before, because you have to be able to keep up with her,” Alexi said. “We were both excited to try it out.”
Their first time running together was Boston 2021. They hit it off instantly. And they’ve returned together every year since, now with a growing collection of medals, inside jokes, and coordinated race day outfits.
Guiding a visually impaired runner takes more than just speed.
It’s about learning how to move in sync — how to share information mid-stride without breaking pace or focus. When they first started, they didn’t use a tether. Now they do, which helps them stay in step without needing to constantly talk logistics.
“The better we are as a team, the less we have to talk about during the race,” Alexi explained. “That means we can just focus on the mental side, on getting through the hard parts.”
But it’s not all strategy and structure. The joy is just as important. “We love to match,” Alexi said. “We try on our race outfits together before race day. It’s something fun we share that gets us in the zone.”
Lisa, for her part, brings humor and lightness to everything. “Her sense of humor is amazing,” Alexi said. “She’s always making light of her situation. It’s one of the things that makes her such a great athlete and person. She doesn’t let anything weigh her down.”
On Sunday, Alexi received the Aspire Award, which honors individuals making a lasting impact in the visually impaired running community. In a full-circle moment, Lisa, who won the same award in 2024, was the one to present it.
“It means a lot to receive this from Lisa,” Alexi said. “Helping people with disabilities get outside and experience the world — that’s something that matters to me. And it makes our whole world bigger.”
Alexi’s commitment to community goes beyond Boston. She’s long been a voice for mental health, especially in athletic circles, and has used her platform to tell stories that don’t usually get heard. Whether through her memoir Bravey, her films, or her work with para athletes, she’s constantly finding new ways to show that strength takes many forms.
A Broader Shift in the Sport
The Boston Marathon has become one of the most inclusive major races for para-athletes, thanks in part to organizations like Team With A Vision and support from the Boston Athletic Association. In 2015, Boston became the first major marathon to offer prize money across three para divisions — visual, upper-limb, and lower-limb impairments.
Still, visibility for athletes like Lisa is a work in progress. Media coverage often skims past the para results, and standards across major races can be inconsistent. That’s why partnerships like this one are so important. They don’t just win races. They show what’s possible when the sport welcomes every kind of runner.
“Running with Lisa has changed how I see the sport,” Alexi said. “It’s changed how I see myself.”
And for Lisa, having a guide like Alexi — someone who matches her speed and spirit — has made all the difference.
