First Boston Marathon
The first Boston Marathon was run with 15 athletes, inspired by the revival of the Olympic marathon
April 19, 1897
America's Oldest Marathon Is Born
The first Boston Marathon was held on April 19, 1897, making it the oldest annual marathon in the world. Organized by the Boston Athletic Association, the race was inspired by the marathon event at the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens the previous year. Fifteen men started the race, running from Ashland to Boston — a distance of about 24.5 miles at the time (the current 26.2-mile standard wasn't set until 1908). New Yorker John J. McDermott won the inaugural race in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 10 seconds, crossing the finish line in downtown Boston to a modest but enthusiastic crowd.
Patriots' Day and Tradition
The Boston Marathon is held each year on Patriots' Day, a Massachusetts state holiday commemorating the first battles of the American Revolutionary War in 1775. This combination of athletic achievement and historical commemoration gives the race a unique character. By the mid-20th century, the Boston Marathon had become the most prestigious road race in the world. The Heartbreak Hill section of the course — a series of challenging inclines in Newton — became legendary among runners. The race grew from a small regional event to an international competition drawing tens of thousands of runners from every corner of the globe.
Resilience and Legacy
The Boston Marathon has endured through wars, weather, and tragedy. The 2013 bombing near the finish line killed three people and injured hundreds, but the race returned the following year with an outpouring of defiant community spirit. Women were officially allowed to enter only from 1972, though Kathrine Switzer famously ran with a race bib in 1967 while officials tried to physically remove her. The race also connects to the first women's Olympic marathon in 1984, which Boston helped make possible. Over a century old, the Boston Marathon remains the gold standard of distance running.