She’s running Boston for people like her with Type 1 Diabetes

Boston Marathon

“I’m running for my family, my patients, and my daughter to show her that Type 1 Diabetes may shape our lives, but it will never stop us from chasing big dreams.”

In our “Why I’m Running” series, Boston Marathon athletes share what’s inspiring them to make the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston. Looking for more race day content? Sign up for Boston.com’s pop-up Boston Marathon newsletter.

Name: Kristine “Krissy” Lapczynski
Age: 30
Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

Boston is where I grew up long before I ever realized it. From 2012 to 2018, I lived there while attending pharmacy school at MCPHS University. It’s where I found my independence, met some of my closest lifelong friends, helped start the MCPHS Run Club, and volunteered at the Boston Marathon each year, cheering for runners while quietly wondering if I’d ever be one of them.

It’s also where I came frighteningly close to losing my life. While in college, I was hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening complication of Type 1 Diabetes. I’ve lived with T1D for 23 years, and it’s a disease that demands constant attention every mile, every meal, every night of sleep. Running with T1D means managing blood sugars, insulin, fear, and doubt alongside training.

Now, I’m returning to Boston as a runner something I once thought was impossible. I’m honored to be running the 2026 Boston Marathon for Breakthrough T1D, the organization driving life-changing research, technology, and advocacy for people like me. As a pharmacist, I care for patients with T1D every day. More recently, my mom was unexpectedly diagnosed just before her 70th birthday, making this mission even more personal.

I’m running for the girl who once sat in a hospital bed in Boston wondering if her body would ever feel safe again. I’m running for my family, my patients, and my daughter to show her that Type 1 Diabetes may shape our lives, but it will never stop us from chasing big dreams.

Editor’s note: This entry may have been lightly edited for clarity or grammar.

Kelly Chan

Content Producer

Kelly Chan is a content producer at Boston.com. She designs multimedia content on-site and across social media platforms, and experiments with new ways to engage readers.