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Boston Marathon

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For the rowing event, see Boston Rowing Marathon.
Boston Marathon
File:Bostonmarathonlogo.jpg
The Boston Marathon Logo
DateApril
LocationBoston, Massachusetts
Event typeRoad
DistanceMarathon
Established1897
Course recordsMen: 2:03:02 (2011)
Geoffrey Mutai
Women: 2:20:43 (2002)
Margaret Okayo
Official sitewww.bostonmarathon.org

The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics,[1] the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is one of five World Marathon Majors.

Today, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) manages this event. Amateur and professional runners from all over the world compete in the Boston Marathon each year, braving the hilly New England terrain and varying weather to take part in the race.

The event attracts 500,000 spectators each year, making it New England's most widely viewed sporting event.[2] Though starting with 18 participants in 1897, the event now attracts an average of about 20,000 registered participants each year, with 26,895 people entering in 2011.[3] The all-time record for the world's largest marathon ever run was the Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 with 38,708 entrants.[2]

History

See also: List of winners of the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon Finish Line, 1910.

The Boston Marathon was originally a local event, but its fame and status have attracted runners from all over the world. For most of its history, the Boston Marathon was a free event, and the only prize awarded for winning the race was a wreath woven from olive branches.[4] However, corporate-sponsored cash prizes began to be awarded in the 1980s, when professional athletes began to refuse to run the race without cash awards. The first cash prize for winning the marathon was awarded in 1986.[5]

Walter A. Brown was the President of the Boston Athletic Association from 1941 to 1964.[6] In 1951 during the height of the Korean War, Brown denied Koreans entry into the Boston Marathon. He stated: "While American soldiers are fighting and dying in Korea, every Korean should be fighting to protect his country instead of training for marathons. As long as the war continues there, we positively will not accept Korean entries for our race on April 19."[7]

Women were not allowed to enter the Boston Marathon officially until 1972. Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb is recognized as the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon (in 1966). In 1967, Kathrine Switzer, who had registered as "K. V. Switzer", was the first woman to run with a race number. She finished, despite a famous incident in which race official Jock Semple tried to rip off her numbers and eject her from the race.[8] In 1996 the B.A.A. retroactively recognized as champions the unofficial women's leaders of 1966 through 1971. In 2011, about 43 percent of the entrants were female.

2011 Boston Marathon

On Monday, April 18, 2011 Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya won the Boston Marathon in a time of 2:03:02.[9] In recognizing Mutai's mark as the "fastest Marathon ever run", the International Association of Athletics Federations noted that the performance was not eligible for world record status given that the course does not satisfy rules regarding elevation drop and start/finish separation.[10] The Associated Press reported that Mutai has the support of other runners who describe the IAAF's rules as "flawed".[11] According to the Boston Herald, race director Dave McGillivray said he was sending paperwork to the IAAF to have Mutai's mark ratified as a world record.[9] The AP also indicated that the attempt to have the mark certified as a world record "would force the governing bodies to reject an unprecedented performance on the world's most prestigious marathon course".[11]

Race

Qualifying

Boston Marathon
Qualifying Standards
(effective for 2013 race)

Age Men Women
18–34 3hrs 5min 3 hrs 35min
35–39 3hrs 10min 3 hrs 40min
40–44 3hrs 15min 3 hrs 45min
45–49 3hrs 25min 3 hrs 55min
50–54 3hrs 30min 4 hrs 0min
55–59 3hrs 40min 4 hrs 10min
60–64 3hrs 55min 4 hrs 25min
65–69 4hrs 10min 4 hrs 40min
70–74 4hrs 25min 4 hrs 55min
75–79 4hrs 40min 5 hrs 10min
80+ 4hrs 55min 5 hrs 25min

The Boston marathon is open to runners 18 or older from any nation, but they must meet certain qualifying standards.[12] To qualify, a runner must first complete a standard marathon course certified by a national governing body affiliated with the International Association of Athletics Federations within a certain period of time before the date of the desired Boston Marathon (usually within approximately 18 months prior).

In the 1980s and 1990s, membership in USA Track & Field was required of all runners, but this requirement has been eliminated.

Qualifying standards for the 2013 race were tightened on February 15, 2011 by five minutes in each age-gender group for marathons run after September 23, 2011.[13] Now, prospective runners in the age range of 18–34 must run a time of no more than 3:05:00 (3 hours and 5 minutes) if male, or 3:35:00 (3 hours and 35 minutes) if female; the qualifying time is adjusted upward as age increases. In addition, the 59 second grace period on qualifying times has been completely eliminated; for example, a 40–44 year old male will no longer qualify with a time of 3:15:01. For many marathoners to qualify for Boston (to "BQ") is a goal and achievement in itself.[14]

An exception to the qualification times is for runners who receive entries from partners. About one-fifth of the marathon's spots are reserved each year for charities, sponsors, vendors, licensees, consultants, municipal officials and marketers. In 2010, about 5,470 additional runners received entries through partners, including 2,515 charity runners.[15] The marathon currently allocates spots to two dozen charities who in turn are expected to raise more than $10 million a year.[16]

On October 18, 2010, the 20,000 spots reserved for qualifiers were filled in a record-setting eight hours and three minutes.[17] The speed of registration prompted the BAA to change its qualifying standards for the 2012 marathon onward.[13] In addition to lowering qualifying times, the change includes a rolling application process, which gives faster runners priority. Organizers decided not to significantly adjust the number of non-qualifiers.

Race day

The race has traditionally been held on Patriots' Day, a state holiday in Massachusetts, and until 1969 that was every April 19, whichever day of the week that fell on. Starting in 1969, the holiday was observed on the third Monday in April and so the marathon date was correspondingly fixed to that Monday, often referred to by local residents as "Marathon Monday."

Starting times

Through 2005, the race began at noon (wheelchair race at 11:25 a.m., and elite women at 11:31 a.m.), at the official starting point in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Beginning with the 2006 event, the race has used a staggered "wave start," where (in 2006) top seeded runners (the elite men's group) and a first batch of up to 10,000 runners started at noon, with a second group starting at 12:30. Beginning in 2007 the starting times for the race were moved up, allowing runners to take advantage of cooler temperatures and enabling the roads to be reopened earlier. The marathon later added a third wave to help further stagger the runners and reduce congestion.[18][19]

As of 2011, the starting times are:

  • 9:00 a.m.: Mobility Impaired Program
  • 9:17 a.m.: Push Rim Wheelchair Division
  • 9:22 a.m.: Handcycle Participants
  • 9:32 a.m.: Elite Women
  • 10:00 a.m.: Elite Men and First Wave
  • 10:20 a.m.: Second Wave
  • 10:40 a.m.: Third Wave[20]

Course

Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot in the 2006 Boston Marathon, where he set a new course record.

The course runs through 26.22 miles (42.195 km) of winding roads, following Route 135, Route 16, Route 30 and city streets into the center of Boston, where the official finish line is located at Copley Square, alongside the Boston Public Library. For this reason, the MBTA suspends service to the Copley Square stop for the day, and runs increased service to the general area. The race runs through eight Massachusetts cities and towns: Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston.[21]

The Boston Marathon is considered to be one of the more difficult marathon courses because of the Newton hills, which culminate in Heartbreak Hill near Boston College.[22] While the three hills on Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30) are better known, a preceding hill on Washington Street (Route 16), climbing from the Charles River crossing at 16 miles, is regarded by Dave McGillivray, the long-term race director, as the course’s most difficult challenge.[23][24] This hill, which follows a 150 foot drop in a half-mile stretch, forces many lesser-trained runners to a walking pace.

Heartbreak Hill

Heartbreak Hill is an ascent over 0.4 mile (600 m) of the Boston Marathon course, between the 20 and 21 mile marks, in the vicinity of Boston College. It is the last of four "Newton hills", which begin at the 16 mile mark. The Newton hills confound contestants (out of proportion to their modest elevation gain) by forcing a late climb after the downhill trend of the race to that point. Heartbreak Hill itself rises only 88 vertical feet (27 m), from an elevation of 148 feet at the bottom to an elevation of 236 feet at the top,[25] but is positioned at a point on a marathon course where muscle glycogen stores are likely to be depleted—a phenomenon referred to by marathoners as "hitting the wall".

The nickname "Heartbreak Hill" originated with an event in the 1936 race. On this stretch, defending champion John A. Kelley caught race leader Ellison "Tarzan" Brown, giving Brown a consolatory pat on the shoulder as he passed. His competitive drive apparently stoked by this gesture, Tarzan Brown rallied, pulled away from Kelley, and went on to win—in the words of Boston Globe reporter Jerry Nason, "breaking Kelley's heart."[26][27]

Records

Participants in the 2010 Boston Marathon in Wellesley, just after the halfway mark

With the possibility of times being aided by downhill and/or tailwind, the Boston Marathon is a point-to-point course that does not satisfy two of the criteria necessary for the ratification of world[28] or American records.[29]

On April 18, 2011, Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya ran the fastest marathon ever in a time of 2 hours 3 minutes 2 seconds at the 2011 Boston Marathon.[30][31] Margaret Okayo, also from Kenya, set the women's course record with a 2:20:43 performance in 2002.

Other course records include:

  • Men’s Masters: John Campbell (New Zealand), 2:11:04 (set in 1990)
  • Women’s Masters: Firaya Sultanova-Zhdanova (Russia), 2:27:58 (set in 2002)
  • Men’s Push Rim Wheelchair: Ernst Van Dyk (South Africa), 1:18:27 (set in 2004)
  • Women’s Push Rim Wheelchair: Jean Driscoll (United States), 1:34:22 (set in 1994)[32]

On only four occasions have world record times for marathon running been set in Boston.[citation needed] In 1947, the men's record time set was 2:25:39, by Suh Yun-Bok of South Korea. In 1975, a women's world record of 2:42:24 was set by Liane Winter of West Germany, and in 1983, Joan Benoit Samuelson of the United States ran a women's world record time of 2:22:43. In 2004 Ernst van Dyk of South Africa set a men's wheelchair marathon world-record time of 1:18:27. In 2010, van Dyk won the category for the ninth time, the most by any athlete in any category.

The race's organizers keep a standard time clock for all entries, though official timekeeping ceases after the six-hour mark.

Spectators

With approximately 500,000 spectators, the Boston marathon is New England's most widely-viewed sporting event.[33] About 1,000 media members from more than 100 outlets received media credentials in 2011.[34]

For the entire distance of the race, thousands line the sides of the course to cheer the runners on, encourage them, and provide free water and snacks to any of the runners. The crowds are even more encouraging for the amateur runners and first time runners. At Wellesley College, located in the 13th mile, it is traditional for the students to cheer on the runners in what is referred to as the "scream tunnel."[35][36]

Every year, the Boston Red Sox play a home game at Fenway Park, starting at 11:05 a.m. (10:05 a.m. in 2007). When the game ends, the crowd empties into Kenmore Square to cheer as the runners enter the final mile. This tradition started in 1903.[citation needed] In the 1940's, both the American League and National League teams in the city would alternate yearly as to which team would play the morning game (Boston had an NL and AL team from 1903-1952). In 2007, the game between the Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim was delayed until 12:05 p.m. due to heavy rain. The marathon, which had previously been run in a wide variety of weather conditions, was not delayed.

The B.A.A.

Main article: Boston Athletic Association

The Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit, organized sports association that organizes the Boston Marathon and other events.[37][38]

Divisions

The Boston Marathon does not only offer running divisions for both men and women. In 1975, a tradition of offering racing opportunities to those with disabilities and impairments began when one wheelchair racer decided to take the challenge and complete the entire distance of the marathon. Since then, three new divisions have emerged, including a push rim wheelchair division, a visually impaired/blind division, and a mobility impaired division. Similar to the running divisions, a set of realistic qualifying times has been developed for these divisions to ensure the continuation of competitive excellence for which the Boston Marathon is so widely acclaimed. In 1986, the Boston Athletic Association, which is responsible for running the event, introduced prize money into the push rim wheelchair division and made this purse the highest purse in the history of the sport. To date, more than 1,000 people with different disabilities and impairments have participated in the wheelchair division, with the other divisions gaining popularity each year. The wheelchair division frequently gains a great deal of national and international attention considering the performances in the Boston Marathon are often record-breaking performances that demonstrate the continued evolution and advancement in the sport.

Memorial

The Boston Marathon Memorial in Copley Square, not far from the finish line, was installed to mark the one-hundredth running of the race. A circle of granite blocks set in the ground surrounds a central medallion that traces the race course and other segments that show an elevation map of the course and the names of the winners.[39]

Notable events

Dick and Rick Hoyt

One of the most recognized duos each year at the Boston Marathon is Dick and Rick Hoyt. Dick is the father of Rick, who has cerebral palsy. While doctors originally said he would never have a shot at a normal life and thought that institutionalizing Rick was the best option, Dick and his wife disagreed and raised him like an ordinary child. Eventually a computer device was developed that helped Rick communicate with his family and the family learned of one of his biggest passions: sports. Dick and Rick started competing in charity runs, with Dick pushing Rick in a wheelchair. Dick and Rick have competed in 66 marathons and 229 triathlons (as of August 2008) and finish with competitive times, often faster than 90% of the pack. Their top marathon finish was an astonishing 2:40:47, a time unattainable for most average marathoners. The team completed their 27th Boston Marathon in 2009, when Dick was 68 and Rick was 47.[40]

Rosie Ruiz scandal

Scandal came to the Boston Marathon in 1980 when amateur runner Rosie Ruiz came from out of nowhere to win the women's race. Marathon officials became suspicious when it was found Ruiz did not appear in race videotapes until near the end of the race. A subsequent investigation concluded that Ruiz had skipped most of the race and blended into the crowd about one mile from the finish line, where she then ran to her apparent victory. Ruiz was officially disqualified, and the winner was proclaimed to be Canadian Jacqueline Gareau.[41][42]

Death

There have been only a handful of deaths associated with the marathon. In 1996, a 62-year-old Swedish man died of a heart attack during the 100th anniversary event.[43] In 2002, Cynthia Lucero, 28, died of hyponatremia.[44]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The First Boston Marathon". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
  2. ^ a b "Boston Marathon History: Boston Marathon Facts". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  3. ^ "Boston Marathon History: Participation". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  4. ^ "Q&A: The Boston Marathon". Wasabi Media Group. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  5. ^ "De Castella and Kristiansen Win First Cash Prize". NY Times Co. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  6. ^ Pave, Marvin (April 17, 2008). "Legacy on the line". The Boston Globe.
  7. ^ Sport: Banned in Boston. Time, February 12, 1951.
  8. ^ "NPR: Marathon Women". NPR. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  9. ^ a b Connolly, John (April 20, 2011). "BAA on record: Geoffrey Mutai's No. 1". Boston Herald. Retrieved April 20, 2011. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |pmd= and |trans_title= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  10. ^ Monti, David (April 18, 2011). "Strong winds and ideal conditions propel Mutai to fastest Marathon ever - Boston Marathon report". www.iaaf.org. International Association of Athletics Federations. Retrieved April 18, 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |separator=, |month=, and |coauthors= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  11. ^ a b Golen, Jimmy (April 19, 2011). "Boston wants Mutai's 2:03:02 to be world record". The Boston Globe. AP. Retrieved April 21, 2011. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |pmd= and |trans_title= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  12. ^ "Participant Information: Qualifying". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  13. ^ a b "2012 & 2013 qualifying changes". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  14. ^ "All_in_the_Timing". 2009. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  15. ^ "Marathon qualifying is revised". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  16. ^ "Boston Marathon Official Charity Program". BAA. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  17. ^ Shira Springer. "Online, sprinters win race: Marathon fills its field in a record 8 hours". NY Times Co. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  18. ^ "Boston Marathon Set to Begin Two Hours Earlier". VisitingNewEngland.com. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  19. ^ "Time lapse video of 2008 marathon start". NY Times. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  20. ^ "New Start Structure for 2011 Boston Marathon". Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  21. ^ "Event Information: Spectator Information". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  22. ^ Bakken, Marius. "Boston Marathon: Pros and Cons". Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  23. ^ Connelly, Michael (1998). 26 Miles to Boston. Parnassus Imprints. pp. 105–06.
  24. ^ "Boston Course Tips". Rodale Inc. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  25. ^ Boston Marathon Official Program, April 2005, p.68
  26. ^ "At Heartbreak Hill, a salute to a marathoner for the ages". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-04-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |name= ignored (help)
  27. ^ "Recalling The Most Memorable Boston Moments". Competitor Group, Inc. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  28. ^ Malone, Scott; Ros Krasny (April 18, 2011). "Mutai runs fastest marathon ever at Boston". Reuters. Retrieved April 18, 2011. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |pmd= and |trans_title= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  29. ^ "USATF Rule 265(5)" (PDF). USATF. p. 9. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
  30. ^ "Mutai wins Boston in world-record time: Kilel edges American in women's race". Boston Herald. Associated Press. April 18, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |pmd= and |trans_title= (help)
  31. ^ May, Peter (April 18, 2011). "Kenya's Mutai Wins Boston in 2:03:02". The New York Times. Retrieved April 18, 2011. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |pmd= and |trans_title= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  32. ^ "Boston Marathon course records". Boston Globe marathon site. Boston Globe. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  33. ^ "B.A.A. Boston Marathon Race Facts". Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  34. ^ "Driven to Repeat". Boston Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  35. ^ Pave, Marvin (April 22, 2003). "Resounding Wellesley message: voices carry". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  36. ^ "Runner's World Slideshow: 2008 Boston Marathon". Runnersworld.com. 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
  37. ^ http://www.baa.org/about.aspx
  38. ^ http://www.baa.org/About/BAA-History.aspx
  39. ^ Boston Marathon Memorial, Boston Art Commission, 100 Public Artworks, p. 3
  40. ^ Team Hoyt Homepage
  41. ^ Boston Athletic Association (2011). "Boston Marathon History: 1976-1980". www.baa.org. Boston: Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved March 8, 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |separator=, |month=, and |coauthors= (help)
  42. ^ "Boston disqualifies Rosie Ruiz". Boca Raton News. 30 April 1980. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  43. ^ "Boston Marathon Appears to Have a Lower Heart-Attack Death Rate Than Other Marathons". RUNNERS WORLD.
  44. ^ "28-year-old woman dies two days after collapsing while running in the Boston Marathon". Middlesboro Daily News. 18 April 2002. Retrieved 8 March 2011.

Further reading

  • History of the Boston Marathon, Boston Marathon: The First Century of the World's Premier Running Event, by Tom Derderian, Human Kinetics Publishers, 1996, 634 pages, ISBN 0-88011-479-7
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boston Marathon.

General reference

Photo and video stories

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