Boston Marathon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Boston Marathon
Current logo, introduced in June 2024
Date	Usually the third Monday of April (Patriots' Day)
Location	Eastern Massachusetts, ending in Boston
Event type	Road
Distance	Marathon
Established	1897 (129 years ago) (1897)
Course records	Men: 2:01:52 (2026) John Korir Women: 2:17:22 (2025) Sharon Lokedi
2026 Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon is a famous yearly running race. It takes place in eight cities and towns around Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. The race is always held on Patriots' Day, which is the third Monday in April.

The first Boston Marathon happened in 1897. It was inspired by the very first marathon race at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Greece. The Boston Marathon is the oldest yearly marathon in the world. It is also one of the biggest and most well-known running events. It is part of a special group called the World Marathon Majors. This group includes marathons in Sydney, Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. These races help decide the best elite runners each year.

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has organized this event every year since 1897. In 2020, when the race couldn't happen in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they held an online version instead. Runners of all skill levels, both amateur and professional, come from all over the world to compete. They face the challenging hills of Massachusetts and all kinds of weather during the race.

The event draws over 500,000 people to watch along the route. This makes it New England's most-watched sporting event. In 1996, for its 100th birthday, the Boston Marathon set a record. It was the world's largest marathon with 38,708 people entering the race.

History of the Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon Finish Line, 1910.

Men have run in the marathon since it began in 1897. Women officially joined in 1972, but the race now recognizes 1966 as the first time a woman completed the race. In 1975, a division for wheelchair athletes was added for men. A women's wheelchair division followed in 1977. Bob Hall was the first person to officially race in Boston in a wheelchair. Handcycle divisions, for bikes powered by arms, were added in 2017 for both men and women.

The Boston Marathon started in April 1897. It was inspired by the marathon event at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. For many years, it was one of the oldest running races in North America.

On April 19, 1897, the first race took place. Organizers looked at different paths before choosing a 24.5-mile course. It went from Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland to the Irvington Oval in Boston. The first race was open to anyone over 18. John J. McDermott won in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 10 seconds. The event was set for the new holiday of Patriots' Day. This holiday connected the idea of freedom in ancient Greece with American history. The race, which became known as the Boston Marathon, has been held every year since then. It even happened during big events like World Wars and the Great Depression. This makes it the world's oldest yearly marathon. In 1924, the starting line moved to Hopkinton. The course length was changed over time to match the official marathon distance of 26 miles and 385 yards, set by the Olympics in 1908.

The Boston Marathon started as a local event, but it became famous. Now, runners from all over the world come to compete. For most of its history, the Boston Marathon was free to enter. Winners only received a wreath made from olive branches. However, in the 1980s, money prizes were added. This happened because professional runners wanted cash awards to compete. The first cash prize was given in 1986.

During the Korean War in 1951, the race president, Walter A. Brown, decided that runners from Korea could not enter the marathon. He said that Koreans should be fighting for their country instead of training for marathons.

After the 2013 explosions, the marathon added more security. They also improved medical help and made new plans for managing crowds and traffic on race day.

Women in the Boston Marathon

Runner Kathrine Switzer being stopped by a race official in 1967.

The Boston Marathon rule book didn't mention gender until after the 1967 race. In 1966, Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb tried to sign up, but the race director said women couldn't run that far. Bobbi ran anyway without signing up and finished the race. Later, she was recognized by the race organizers as the first woman to complete the entire Boston Marathon.

In 1967, Kathrine Switzer became the first woman to officially register and finish the race. She used her official registration number and signed her form as 'K. V. Switzer'. During the race, a race official tried to stop her and pull off her race number. Despite this, Kathrine finished the race. After this, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) changed its rules to stop women from competing in races against men. Later, the official and Kathrine became friends.

Nina Kuscsik helped change the AAU rules in 1971. This allowed women to officially participate in longer races like marathons, starting with Boston in 1972. Nina Kuscsik was the first woman to officially win the Boston Marathon in 1972.

In 1996, the B.A.A. officially recognized the women who led the race unofficially from 1966 to 1971 as champions. In 2022, nearly half of all runners were women.

Rosie Ruiz, the Disqualified Runner

In 1980, Rosie Ruiz crossed the finish line first in the women's race. But officials noticed she wasn't in most of the race videos. It turned out she had skipped most of the course and joined the race near the end. She was disqualified eight days later. The real winner was then announced as Jacqueline Gareau from Canada.

The 2011 Race and World Records

On April 18, 2011, Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya won the 2011 Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 2 seconds. This was the fastest marathon ever run at that time. However, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said it couldn't be an official world record. This is because the Boston course has a downhill slope and a start and finish line that are far apart. These features can give runners an advantage, especially with strong winds pushing them. Many runners felt the IAAF's rules were unfair.

The 2013 Explosions

On April 15, 2013, while the marathon was still happening, two explosions occurred near the finish line. Sadly, three people watching were killed, and many others were hurt. The race was stopped, and many runners could not finish. Those who had completed at least half the course were given automatic entry into the 2014 marathon.

The 2014 Women's Race

Bizunesh Deba of Ethiopia was eventually named the women's winner of the 2014 Boston Marathon. This happened after Rita Jeptoo from Kenya was disqualified because of a rule violation. Deba finished in 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 59 seconds. She also set a new course record.

The 2016 Race and Bobbi Gibb

In the 2016 Boston Marathon, Jami Marseilles became the first woman with two amputated legs to finish the race. Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon (in 1966), was the special guest (grand marshal) for the race. The winner of the Women's Open division, Atsede Baysa, gave her trophy to Bobbi Gibb as a sign of respect.

The 2020 Cancellation

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Boston Marathon was first moved from April 20 to September 14. This was the first time in over 100 years that the race was postponed.

On May 28, 2020, it was announced that the rescheduled marathon was canceled completely. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh explained that it wasn't safe to have so many people close together. Runners received full refunds for their entry fees. Organizers later held an online version in September 2020. This was the second time the marathon's format changed. The first was in 1918, when it became a military relay race because of World War I.

The 2021 Reschedule

On October 28, 2020, the B.A.A. announced that the 2021 marathon would not be held in April. Organizers hoped to have the event later that year, possibly in the autumn. In January 2021, October 11 was set as the date, depending on whether road races were allowed in Massachusetts. In March, organizers said the number of runners would be limited to 20,000. The 2021 Boston Marathon was one of the World Marathon Majors held that year, with all the major races happening close together between late September and early November. The B.A.A. also offered an online option for runners in 2021.

How to Race in the Boston Marathon

Qualifying for the Race

The Boston Marathon is open to runners aged 18 and up from anywhere in the world. However, they must meet certain time standards to enter. To qualify, a runner must first finish another official marathon race within a specific time before the Boston Marathon. This is usually within about 18 months.

Years ago, runners needed to be members of USA Track & Field, but that rule is gone now.

Qualifying times were made tougher in 2011, with times cut by five minutes for each age and gender group. For example, men aged 18-34 need to finish in 3 hours or less, and women in the same age group need 3 hours and 30 minutes or less. These times get a bit longer for older runners. Also, a small grace period for qualifying times was removed. For many runners, just qualifying for Boston (called "BQ-ing") is a huge accomplishment. It motivates them to set challenging goals.

Some runners can enter without meeting these times if they get a spot through special partners. About one-fifth of the spots each year go to charities and other groups. In 2017, charity runners raised over $34 million for many good causes.

In 2010, 20,000 spots for qualified runners were filled in just over eight hours, a record! This led the B.A.A. to change the rules for the 2013 marathon and beyond. They lowered qualifying times and created a new application process that gives faster runners a better chance.

In September 2024, the B.A.A. announced new qualifying times for the 2026 race. They lowered the times by five minutes for most age groups. For example, men aged 18-34 need to run in 2 hours and 55 minutes or less. Women and non-binary runners in the same age group need 3 hours and 25 minutes or less to qualify for the 2026 race.

Race Day Traditions

The race has always been held on Patriots' Day, a special holiday in Massachusetts. Until 1968, this holiday was on April 19. Since 1969, it has been the third Monday in April. The race day is often called "Marathon Monday" by people living there.

Starting Times

Until 2005, the race started at noon. Wheelchair racers and elite women started earlier. In 2006, the race began using different starting times for groups of runners, called a "wave start." The fastest runners and a first group of up to 10,000 runners started at noon. A second group started at 12:30 p.m. The next year, starting times were moved up even earlier. This helped runners stay cooler and allowed roads to reopen sooner. Later, third and fourth waves were added to spread out the runners and reduce crowding.

For example, the starting times for 2019 were:

• Men's Push Rim Wheelchair: 9:02 a.m.
• Women's Push Rim Wheelchair: 9:04 a.m.
• Handcycles and Duos: 9:25 a.m.
• Elite Women: 9:32 a.m.
• Elite Men: 10 a.m.
• Wave One: 10:02 a.m.
• Wave Two: 10:25 a.m.
• Wave Three: 10:50 a.m.
• Wave Four: 11:15 a.m.

The Marathon Course

Course map

The course is 26 miles and 385 yards long. It follows winding roads through eight Massachusetts cities and towns. These include Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston. The official finish line is in Copley Square, next to the Boston Public Library.

The first six miles of the course go downhill through Ashland and Framingham. Then, runners face a series of four hills in Newton. The last and most famous of these is Heartbreak Hill, just after mile 20. After that, it's mostly downhill and flat into Boston.

Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot winning the 2006 Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is known as a tough course because of the Newton hills. These hills come late in the race. The race director, Dave McGillivray, thinks an earlier hill on Washington Street is actually the hardest part. This hill, which climbs about 150 feet over half a mile, makes many runners slow down to a walk.

Heartbreak Hill

Heartbreak Hill is an uphill climb of about half a mile. It's located between the 20- and 21-mile marks, near Boston College. It is the last of the four "Newton hills." These hills challenge runners with climbs after the course has mostly been downhill. Even though Heartbreak Hill only rises about 88 feet, it comes at a point in the race where runners often feel very tired. This feeling is sometimes called "hitting the wall."

The hill got its name in 1936. Defending champion Johnny Kelley passed Ellison "Tarzan" Brown and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. This made Brown determined to win, and he sped up, passed Kelley, and won the race. People said it "broke Kelley's heart," giving the hill its famous name.

Marathon Records

Participants in the 2010 Boston Marathon in Wellesley.

The Boston Marathon course drops 459 feet from start to finish. Also, the start is quite far west of the finish. This can sometimes give runners an advantage from a helpful tailwind. Because of these reasons, times set at the Boston Marathon cannot be officially recognized as world or American records.

At the 2011 Boston Marathon, Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya ran in 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 2 seconds. This was the fastest marathon ever at the time. However, it was not an official world record due to the course rules. Bezunesh Deba from Ethiopia set the women's course record with a time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 59 seconds in 2014. This was announced after Rita Jeptoo was disqualified.

Other course records include:

• Men's Masters (older runners): John Campbell (New Zealand), 2:11:04 (set in 1990)
• Women's Masters: Firiya Sultanova-Zhdanova (Russia), 2:27:58 (set in 2002)
• Men's Push Rim Wheelchair: Marcel Hug (Switzerland), 1:17:06 (set in 2023)
• Women's Push Rim Wheelchair: Manuela Schär (Switzerland), 1:28:17 (set in 2017)
• Men's Handcycle: Tom Davis (United States), 0:58:36 (set in 2017)
• Women's Handcycle: Alicia Dana (United States), 1:18:15 (set in 2023)

Only four times have world record times for marathon running been set in Boston. In 1947, Suh Yun-Bok of South Korea set the men's record at 2:25:39. In 1975, Liane Winter of West Germany set a women's world record of 2:42:24. In 1983, Joan Benoit Samuelson of the United States ran a women's world record time of 2:22:43. In 2012, Joshua Cassidy of Canada set a men's wheelchair marathon world-record time of 1:18:25.

In the 2025 Boston Marathon, Sharon Lokedi set a new women’s course record of 2:17:22. On the men’s side, John Korir won in 2:04:45, the fastest winning time since 2011.

In 2007, astronaut Sunita Williams ran the marathon distance while on the International Space Station. She became the first person to run a marathon in space! The B.A.A. sent her a special race number and medal.

The race organizers keep a standard time clock for all entries. However, official timekeeping stops after the six-hour mark.

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.)

The Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit sports group. It organizes the Boston Marathon and other events.

Different Divisions

The 1975 Boston Marathon was the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division. Bob Hall asked if he could compete in his wheelchair. The race director said he couldn't get a race number, but would be an official finisher if he completed the race in under 3 hours and 30 minutes. Hall finished in 2 hours and 58 minutes, opening the way for the wheelchair division. Ernst Van Dyk set a course record in 2004 at 1:18:29, which was almost 50 minutes faster than the fastest runner that year.

Also in 1975, the Boston Marathon added a women's masters division for older runners. Sylvia Weiner won it at age 44 with a time of 3:21:38.

Handcyclists have competed in the race since at least 2014. Since 2017, handcyclists are honored just like runners and wheelchair racers. They receive wreaths, prize money, and their national anthems are played.

Besides the push rim wheelchair division, the Boston Marathon also has divisions for blind or visually impaired runners. There is also a program for people with other mobility challenges. These divisions have their own qualifying times to encourage athletes. In 1986, the Boston Marathon offered the biggest prize money in the sport for the push rim wheelchair division. More than 1,000 people with disabilities have participated in the wheelchair division. In 2013, 40 blind runners took part.

The non-binary division of the Boston Marathon was first included in 2023. It was won by Kae Ravichandran with a time of 2:38:57.

Boston Marathon Memorial

The Boston Marathon Memorial is in Copley Square, near the finish line. It was put there to mark the 100th running of the race. A circle of granite blocks in the ground surrounds a central medal. This medal shows the race course and other parts that display an elevation map of the course and the names of the winners.

Special Features of the Race

Spectators

With about 500,000 spectators, the Boston Marathon is New England's most-watched sporting event. In 2011, about 1,000 media members from over 100 news groups covered the race.

Along the entire course, thousands of people line the streets. They cheer on the runners, encourage them, and offer free water and snacks.

The Scream Tunnel

Along the course at Wellesley College

At Wellesley College, a college for women, students have a tradition called the Scream Tunnel. For about a quarter of a mile, the students line the course, scream loudly, and offer kisses to the runners. The Scream Tunnel is so loud that runners say they can hear it from a mile away. This tunnel is about half a mile before the halfway point of the race.

Boston Red Sox Game

Every year on Marathon Monday, the Boston Red Sox baseball team plays a home game at Fenway Park. The game starts at 11:05 a.m. When the game ends, the crowd leaves the park and cheers as the marathon runners enter the final mile in Kenmore Square. This tradition began in 1903. In 2021, when special "City Connect" uniforms were introduced, the Red Sox chose a design inspired by the marathon. The colors were yellow and blue, and a number "617" (Boston's area code) was added to the sleeve, like a racing bib.

Team Hoyt

Team Hoyt at about 12.8 miles on the Marathon course in 2012.

Dick and Rick Hoyt entered the Boston Marathon 32 times. Dick was the father of Rick, who had cerebral palsy. Doctors thought Rick would never have a normal life, but Dick and his wife raised him at home. Eventually, a computer helped Rick communicate. They learned that he loved sports. "Team Hoyt" (Dick and Rick) started competing in charity runs, with Dick pushing Rick in a wheelchair. They completed their 30th Boston Marathon in 2012. They planned for 2013 to be their last, but the Boston Marathon bombing stopped them a mile short. So, they ran one more marathon in 2014. Dick was named the Grand Marshal of the 2015 marathon. Dick passed away in 2021, and Rick passed away in May 2023.

Unofficial Runners (Bandits)

Unlike many other races, the Boston Marathon used to allow "bandits." These are runners who do not officially register or get a bib number. They would start after all the registered runners. For many years, these unofficial runners were seen as local heroes for their spirit. Dave McGillivray, the race director, was once a teenage bandit himself.

However, after the 2013 explosions, organizers decided to discourage bandits more than ever. The B.A.A. website now states that unofficial runners should not participate. This is because race services like water, medical care, and traffic safety are planned for the official number of entrants. Any extra unofficial runners can make it harder to keep everyone safe.

Costumes

Some people choose to run the course in fun costumes each year. During the 100th race in 1996, one runner wore a model of the Old North Church steeple on his back. This church is famous for a signal that started Paul Revere's ride, which is remembered on Patriots' Day. After the 2013 explosions, runners and spectators were asked not to wear costumes that covered their faces or bulky outfits. This was for security reasons, but such costumes were not completely banned.

Ondekoza Drummers

Ondekoza member Marco Lienhard playing taiko after finishing the marathon

Starting in 1975, members of Ondekoza, a group from Japan, would run the marathon. Right after finishing, they would start playing their taiko drums at the finish line. They did this several times in the 1970s and 1990s. A large 700-pound drum would be set up to encourage runners finishing the marathon.

Winners and Nationalities

Runners from Kenya and Ethiopia have often won the elite Boston Marathon races. This shows how well East African athletes do in long-distance running. They have won many marathon world records and gold medals.

See also

In Spanish: Maratón de Boston para niños

• List of winners of the Boston Marathon
• List of marathon races in North America
• The Sports Museum (at TD Garden)