The Boston Marathon, or the "People's Olympic Event" is the oldest city marathon held anywhere. After experiencing the spirit and majesty of the Olympic Marathon, B.A.A. member and inaugural US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to organize and conduct a marathon in the Boston area. With the assistance of Boston businessman Herbert H. Holton, various routes were considered, before a measured distance of 24.5 miles from the Irvington Oval in Boston to Metcalf's Mill in Ashland was eventually selected. On April 19, 1897, John J. McDermott of New York, emerged from a 15-member starting field and captured the first B.A.A. Marathon in 2:55:10, and, in the process, forever secured his name in sports history. The Boston Marathon is one of the 5 World Marathon Majors including Berlin, Chicago, London, and New York.
In 1924, the B.A.A. moved the starting line from Ashland to Hopkinton. In 1927, the Boston Marathon course was lengthened to the full distance of 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to Olympic standards.
From 1897-1968, the Boston Marathon was held on Patriots' Day, April 19, a holiday commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War and recognized only in Massachusetts and Maine. The lone exception was when the 19th fell on Sunday. In those years, the race was held the following day (Monday the 20th). However, in 1969, the holiday was officially moved to the third Monday in April. For 75 years the Boston Marathon was open only to men, until 1972 when the first women were officially allowed to enter the race. Each year over half a million spectators crowd into the city of Boston and surrounding areas to cheer on the 20,000 runners. For years, the only prize for winning the Boston Marathon was the International acclaim, until 1986 when they began to award cash prizes. The Marathon has not gone this long without some scandal. In 1980, Rosie Ruiz was the supposed top female finisher. However, it was later proven that she had in fact cheated and jumped in the race a mile before the finish line. The real female winner turned out to be Jacqueline Gareau. This scandal was covered throughout the world.
Runner's Tip #1: You can ride the MBTA (public transit system) for free all day as long as you flash your bib upon entry.
Runner's Tip #2: Put your name boldly on your sleeve or shirt because the crowd WANTS to cheer you on. This isn't the time to be shy!
Runner's Tip #3: Bring some Gu and pin the packets to the inside of your shorts so that they don't flop around.
Runner's Tip #4: Wear the same style shoe for the race as you did for your training, because that's what your feet are used to.
Runner's Tip #5: Bring a water bottle and drink it slowly 1 hour before the race. Don't drink 6 gallons before the run, you're not a camel!
Runner's Tip #6: The start of the marathon is very downhill and this can be deceiving. Pace yourself instead of rushing, so that you don't wear out too fast.
Runner's Tip #7: Take advantage of the marathon amenities after the finish line, like a massage. You'll thank yourself later.
Runner's Tip #8: Keep yourself hydrated throughout the race. You'll make better time than if you didn't. Fill up on the left, since most people will tend to the right.
Runner's Tip #9: Bring a hat, because the end of the race can get very chilly as you get closer to the Boston Harbor.
Runner's Tip #10: Give out some high-fives along the way, you'll gain much-needed morale for yourself and you may even inspire a future runner.
Spectator Tip #1: Don't mistakenly think that the MBTA can get you to the finish line faster, because with thousands of visitors to the Marathon, all transit is jam packed. Get there early and stay put! Locals in
Brookline like to bring their grills to the sidewalk, along with plenty of beer to last the day. Others like to grab a table at a sports bar and watch the excitement from a distance.
Spectator Tip #2: The closest MBTA stations to the finish line are
Hynes Convention Center and
Kenmore Station. Unfortunately,
Copley Station is closed on race day.
Spectator Tip #3: Wanting to run the race as an unofficial or "bandit" runner? Don't do it. Organizers strongly dissuade participation without officially registering.
Spectator Tip #4: When will the Boston Marathon end? Timing will conclude six hours after the final runner crosses the starting line (approximately 4:45 p.m.). Roads and paths along the route will begin to re-open to traffic prior to the conclusion of timing and scoring.
Some landmarks along the Boston Marathon route are:
