Boston Marathon
The world's oldest annual marathon and the one every runner dreams of qualifying for.
Boston, Massachusetts
Third Monday of April (Patriots' Day)
42.195 km
148 m
~30,000 athletes
Course Highlights
- Hopkinton town green start line
- Wellesley Scream Tunnel at mile 12
- Newton Hills and Heartbreak Hill (miles 16-21)
- Fenway Park at mile 25
- Boylston Street finish line
The Course
The Boston Marathon follows a point-to-point course that begins in the small town of Hopkinton and finishes on Boylston Street in downtown Boston. The opening miles are predominantly downhill, dropping roughly 130 feet in the first four miles, which tempts many runners into going out too fast. The terrain then rolls through Ashland, Framingham, and Natick before reaching the halfway point in Wellesley, where the legendary "Scream Tunnel" of cheering college students provides a massive energy boost.
The real test begins around mile 16 as runners enter the Newton Hills, a series of four climbs culminating in Heartbreak Hill at mile 20.5. By this point, legs battered by the early descents are fighting both gravity and accumulated fatigue. Cresting Heartbreak Hill rewards athletes with a long gradual descent through Brookline and into Boston proper.
The final miles wind through Kenmore Square past the iconic Fenway Park and onto the electrifying straightaway of Boylston Street. The crowd support in the final stretch is among the loudest of any race in the world, carrying exhausted runners across the famous blue-and-yellow finish line.
History
The Boston Marathon was first held on April 19, 1897, inspired by the marathon event at the 1896 Athens Olympics. It is organized by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) and is the world's oldest annually contested marathon. The race has grown from 15 original starters to roughly 30,000 participants.
Boston became the first major marathon to require qualifying times, establishing it as a bucket-list achievement for serious runners. The race has witnessed numerous historic moments, from Kathrine Switzer becoming the first woman to officially run in 1967 to the city's resilient comeback after the 2013 bombings. The phrase "Boston Strong" now symbolizes both the race and the community that surrounds it.
How to Train for Boston
Train the downhills
The net downhill profile is deceptive. Incorporate long downhill repeats into your training to prepare your quads for the eccentric loading they will face in the first half. Neglecting downhill practice is one of the most common mistakes first-time Boston runners make.
Respect Heartbreak Hill
Simulate the Newton Hills by doing your long runs on courses with hills between miles 16 and 21. The climbs are not steep individually, but they arrive when glycogen stores are depleted and legs are fatigued from earlier descents.
Start conservatively
The downhill opening miles and race-day adrenaline conspire to push runners out too fast. Practice goal pace in training and commit to banking nothing in the first half. A disciplined start will pay dividends on the Newton Hills.
Qualify with a cushion
Qualifying times alone may not guarantee entry due to the rolling admission system. Aim to beat your BQ time by at least two to three minutes to ensure acceptance. Check the BAA cutoff history to set a realistic target.
Qualification
Runners must meet age- and gender-specific qualifying times at a certified marathon within a designated qualifying window. Times range from 3:00 for men 18-34 to 5:25 for men 80+.
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