History of the Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon holds a special place in the world of running. It has been held annually since 1897 and is the world’s oldest marathon. Its route stretches from Hopkinton to the Back Bay area of Boston and is 42.195 kilometers long. For the city’s residents, this race has long been an integral part of their cultural heritage, and for runners around the world, it is a symbol of endurance and sportsmanship.

Unlike many other races, the Boston Marathon is always associated with a historic day. The race is held on the third Monday in April, Patriots’ Day, when the people of Massachusetts commemorate the battles of the American Revolution. Thus, sport and history are intertwined in a single celebration.

Birth of a tradition

The first marathon took place in the spring of 1897. Only 15 runners participated, and the winner, John McDermott, completed the distance in less than three hours. At that time, the route was shorter than the usual 42 kilometers, and it was only lengthened in 1927 to its current format.

From that moment on, the race became an annual event, gradually attracting more and more participants. While in 1960, about 200 people took part, in the 21st century, the number of runners exceeded 20,000. The scale of the event has made the Boston Marathon one of the six largest marathons in the world, alongside London, Berlin, New York, Chicago, and Tokyo.

About inclusivity and equality

The Boston Marathon has always been a major social event. In 1966, Roberta Gibb was the first woman to complete the course, although her participation was unofficial. A year later, Kathrine Switzer registered under the initials K.W. and was able to run the entire distance. The attempt to remove her from the course only emphasized the importance of women’s participation. By 1972, the marathon had officially opened its doors to female athletes, becoming the first primary race with equal conditions.

A few years later, Boston became an innovator once again: it was here that a separate race for wheelchair athletes was introduced. This made the race an example of inclusion, where every participant could experience the power of the marathon distance.

Tragic moments

The history of the Boston Marathon has also had its challenging moments. The most difficult was in 2013, when two explosions rocked the finish line. Three people were killed and more than 200 were injured that day. The city was locked down as the search for the terrorists began. Despite the tragedy, the marathon survived. In the years that followed, it became a symbol of resilience, and the slogan “Boston Strong” became an expression of unity and solidarity.

Modern winners

The Boston Marathon remains an arena for the world’s strongest athletes. Over the past decade, the titles have been repeatedly won by Kenya and Ethiopia, confirming East Africa’s dominance in long-distance running.

• 2015: Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia), 2:09:17. The athlete’s second victory in Boston.
• 2016: Lemi Berhanu Hayle (Ethiopia), 2:12:45.
• 2017: Geoffrey Kirui (Kenya), 2:09:37.
• 2018: Yuki Kawauchi (Japan), 2:15:58. His victory was a sensation: he beat the elite in difficult weather conditions.
• 2019: Lawrence Cherono (Kenya), 2:07:57.
• 2020: the race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and replaced by a virtual format.
• 2021: Benson Kipruto (Kenya), 2:09:51. The race took place in October.
• 2022: Evans Chebet (Kenya), 2:06:51.
• 2023: Evans Chebet (Kenya), 2:05:54. Second consecutive victory.
• 2024: Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia), 2:06:17.
• 2025: John Korir (Kenya), 2:04:45.

This dominance reflects a global trend. African runners are setting the pace for the marathon movement and setting new records.

Boston Marathon today

For the city, the Boston Marathon has become a celebration that draws hundreds of thousands of spectators along the route. For runners around the world, qualifying remains a dream, as it requires exceptional results, and the course itself is renowned for its challenging profile and unpredictable weather conditions.

The race continues to evolve, maintaining respect for tradition and opening up new opportunities. It brings together different generations of athletes, inspires newcomers, and reminds us that sport can be a symbol of strength, courage, and shared memory.