From the start of the race, Jordan ran in the lead pack, and only two of those in that pack were able to break away and stay in front of her. Given her long time off from a bad injury that she could NOT run on, and her own personal difficulties (losing her Mom, that she was so close to) and training without a support group of women around her, I'd say she is one tough and successful woman runner. She beat all but one past Boston champion and placed third on what I personally feel is the toughest marathon course to race on (excluding something as ridiculous as, say, 26.2 miles on Badwater or Barclays, or some such).
Not to mention having such a long racing career since her youth, and discovering that she was meant for the marathon and not for the track. If she stays healthy (and I hope she does), she looks very likely to be one of our Olympic Marathoner's next year.
Finally, so what that she didn't break 2:25, one could say only 3 women broke 2:26, and was only 2 minutes behind the winner. Who else finished on the podium?
Congrats on a very successful return to the marathon, Jordan.