The 109th edition of the Boston Marathon will be celebrated this year when 20,000 energetic runners will gather in rural Hopkinton, Massachusetts for the start of this great event. Officially 26 miles, 385 yards long, the Boston Marathon was first run on April 19, 1897 under the auspices of the brand new Boston Athletic Association.
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The date was chosen to honor Patriot’s Day, a New England holiday which marks the start of the Revolutionary War. This year’s event takes place on Monday, April 18th. First known as the American Marathon, 15 men ran in the inaugural race. The numbers have changed a lot since those early years. The race with the highest number of participants occurred during the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon in 1996. More than 38,000 runners took up the challenge that year. |
Women were allowed to officially join the marathon in 1972 though a few snuck in as early as 1966. The Boston Marathon was the first0 race of its kind to add a wheelchair division. Handicapped athletes joined the race in 1975.
Hundreds of visitors line the streets of Boston each year to cheer on their favorite runners when they cross the finish line near the John Hancock Tower in Copley Square.
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Area Attractions
| -Faneuil Hall | -Fenway Park |
| -Fleet Center | -Maparium |
| -Quincy Market | -Six Flags New England |
| -Boston Common | -Freedom Trail |
| -Boston Conservatory Theater | -Harvard Square |
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