For lifelong athletes, running the Boston Marathon can be seen as a ''bucket list" item. But how can someone run the Marathon if they aren't selected as a Boston Marathon qualifier?

Next Monday, Ian Saarmann will race in the 125th Boston Marathon after raising a whopping $17,000 for the Special Olympics Massachusetts Xtra Mile Marathon Team.

Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete Ernie Roundtree will be racing in the 125th Boston Marathon. Why? Because it's been a lifelong dream of his.

We asked our Xtra Mile Boston Marathon® runners where the coolest place they ever ran was. Many of them actually said Boston is their favorite place to run! Read their responses.

When Aimee Dubois runs the Boston Marathon® on the Xtra Mile team in April, she’ll be doing more than accomplishing a personal goal.

Ben Wood is a native of the North Shore region of Massachusetts and still resides in that area In his free time he enjoys playing basketball, boxing or walking trails in his town for relaxation.

Bonnie Bence grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and still lives in St. Louis with her husband. They have four children: three sons and a daughter. Bonnie's involvement with Special Olympics comes from her son, Chris.

Abbie Kaiser grew up in Portland, Oregon, and now lives in Boston, Massachusetts. At one time running was just a hobby, but now she trains more seriously and does other things in her free time.

Sean Dixon is a Massachusetts native. He grew up in Shrewsbury and currently lives in South Boston where he has lived for the last three years.

Ken Collins was born in Youngstown, Ohio and at 4 years old he moved to Massachusetts and grew up in Raynham, Massachusetts. Today, Ken still lives in Raynham in a house next to the one he grew up in with his wife, three kids, and dogs.