"I've learned that finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible." -John Hanc, running writer
A little bit of history...
Along with being the world’s oldest annual marathon, the Boston Marathon is one of the most renown racing events in the world, held every year on Patriot’s Day, the third Monday of April. The first race was run in April of 1897 and although it initially began as a local event, nowadays the Boston Marathon attracts elite runners from all over the world. The Boston Athletic Association – a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles, is the party responsible for establishing this annual event and they work closely with various charities and volunteers to ensure that the race goes off without a hitch.
Both amateur and professional runners have been known to participate in the race however there are qualifying standards that must be met. Any athlete wishing to run must first complete a standard marathon course prior to the date of the contest and finish within certain time constraints based on their demographics.
The course itself runs through 8 Massachusetts cities ending in Boston at Copley Square and the Boston Public Library. Its known to be one of the most difficult marathon trails around due to the numerous hills racers must face along the way. As they run, participants can find toilets, water and various snacks available at their disposal to make their 26.2-mile journey a little more bearable. |
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Every year, the race attracts about 500,000 spectators who line the entire distance of the race encouraging and cheering on all of the runners as they pass. It is a longstanding tradition that at Mile 21, students of Boston College flank the sidelines and drink to the achievements of the runners while unreservedly cheering them on.
The B.A.A. puts together a wonderful weekend of events for the runners including pre and post race parties, a 5k run for the more amateur athletes and an expo at the Boston Convention Center – the perfect recipe for an unforgettable weekend.
The B.A.A. puts together a wonderful weekend of events for the runners including pre and post race parties, a 5k run for the more amateur athletes and an expo at the Boston Convention Center – the perfect recipe for an unforgettable weekend.
Race Day DO's and DON'T's
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