The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by eight cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April. First held in 1897, the event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. 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 eight World Marathon Majors. Its course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Boylston Street, near Copley Square, in Boston. The World Marathon Majors is a series that includes the Sydney, Tokyo, Cape Town, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City marathons. Points from these races determine annual series champions among elite competitors, enhancing international competition and prestige.
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has organized this event annually since 1897, including a “virtual alternative” after the 2020 road race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race has been managed by DMSE Sports since 1988. Amateur and professional runners from all over the world compete in the Boston Marathon each year, braving the hilly Massachusetts terrain and varying weather to take part in the race.
The event attracts 500,000+ spectators along the route, making it New England’s most viewed sporting event. Recent editions have seen strong participation; for example, the Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 established a record as the world’s largest marathon with 38,708 entrants, 36,748 starters, and 35,868 finishers.
• Date of Next Race: Monday, April 19, 2027 (the 131st edition).
• Route: A point-to-point course running 26.2 miles from Hopkinton through suburban towns to downtown Boston, ending on Boylston Street.
• Famous Landmarks: Includes the downhill drops of early miles and the challenging ascent of Heartbreak Hill in Newton.