The Boston Marathon, held annually on Patriots' Day (third Monday of April), is a renowned road racing event that covers a course from Hopkinton to Boston's Copley Square. Inspired by the 1896 Summer Olympics, this marathon, established in 1897, holds the distinction of being the world's oldest and one of the most celebrated. The Boston Marathon is among the six World Marathon Majors.
1903: Red Sox Game Tradition Begins
The tradition of the Boston Red Sox playing a home game at Fenway Park on Marathon Monday, with the game ending as runners enter the final mile, began in 1903.
1905: First Recorded Death After Marathon
In 1905, tragedy struck the Boston Marathon as James Edward Brooks, a runner from North Adams, Massachusetts, died from pneumonia shortly after finishing the race.
1908: Olympic Standard for Marathon Distance
The 1908 Summer Olympics established the standard distance for the marathon, which was later adopted by the Boston Marathon.
1921: IAAF Codifies Marathon Distance
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) codified the standard marathon distance in 1921, a standard adopted by the Boston Marathon in 1924.
1924: Course Extension and Standardization
The starting line of the Boston Marathon was moved to Hopkinton in 1924, and the course was extended to 26 miles and 385 yards to meet the Olympic standard set in 1908 and codified by the IAAF in 1921.
1936: Kelley and Brown's Memorable Race
In the 1936 Boston Marathon, a pivotal moment occurred when defending champion John A. "Johnny" Kelley overtook Ellison "Tarzan" Brown on a hill, offering Brown a supportive pat on the shoulder. However, this gesture inadvertently reignited Brown's competitive spirit, leading him to rally, surge ahead of Kelley, and ultimately secure the victory.
1941: Walter A. Brown Becomes B.A.A. President
Walter A. Brown took the helm as President of the Boston Athletic Association in 1941, a position he held until 1964.
1947: Men's World Record Set
Suh Yun-Bok of South Korea set a new men's world record for marathon running at the 1947 Boston Marathon, clocking a time of 2:25:39.
1951: Korean War Impacts Participation
During the Korean War in 1951, Walter A. Brown, President of the B.A.A., barred Korean runners from participating in the Boston Marathon.
1964: End of Walter A. Brown's Presidency
Walter A. Brown's tenure as President of the Boston Athletic Association came to an end in 1964.
1966: Bobbi Gibb Runs the Boston Marathon
In 1966, Bobbi Gibb became the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon.
1966: Bobbi Gibb's Unofficial Run
Roberta "Bobbi" Gibb ran the 1966 Boston Marathon unregistered, finishing in a remarkable time of three hours, twenty-one minutes, and forty seconds. Despite facing initial resistance, she was later acknowledged as the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon.
1966: Start of Unofficial Women's Participation
The year 1966 marked the start of unofficial women's participation in the Boston Marathon, with runners like Bobbi Gibb challenging the prevailing gender norms.
1967: Kathrine Switzer's Official Run and AAU Rule Change
Kathrine Switzer made history in 1967 by becoming the first woman to run and finish the Boston Marathon with a valid official race registration. This prompted the AAU to change its rules to prohibit women from competing in races against men, further solidifying the existing gender barrier.
1967: Gender Barrier in Marathon Rules
The Boston Marathon rule book and the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) had no explicit mention of gender until after the 1967 race, highlighting the prevailing gender bias in athletic events.
1969: Patriots' Day and Marathon Date Shift
In 1969, the observance of Patriots' Day in Massachusetts was shifted from its fixed date of April 19 to the third Monday in April, resulting in the Boston Marathon also being scheduled on that Monday.
1971: End of Unofficial Women's Participation
1971 marked the end of the era of unofficial women's participation in the Boston Marathon, as the AAU's rule changes paved the way for official inclusion starting in 1972.
1971: AAU Extends Sanctioned Distances for Women
Due to the advocacy of Nina Kuscsik, the AAU increased the maximum distance for sanctioned women's races in late 1971, paving the way for official female participation in marathons, including the Boston Marathon, from 1972 onwards.
1972: Nina Kuscsik: First Official Female Winner
Nina Kuscsik secured her place in history in 1972 by becoming the first woman to officially win the Boston Marathon, marking a significant milestone in the inclusion of women in the event.
1975: First Wheelchair Division
In 1975, the Boston Marathon became the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division when Bob Hall petitioned to compete. He was allowed to participate without an official race number and became the first official finisher in the division, completing the race in 2 hours and 58 minutes.
1980: Rosie Ruiz Disqualified After False Victory
Rosie Ruiz initially crossed the finish line first in the women's race in 1980. However, suspicions arose, leading to the discovery that she had skipped most of the race and joined the crowd near the finish line. Ruiz was subsequently disqualified, and Jacqueline Gareau was declared the rightful winner.
1983: Samuelson's World Record Run
Joan Benoit Samuelson of the United States achieved a new women's world record for marathon running at the 1983 Boston Marathon, completing the race in 2:22:43.
1986: Prize Money for Wheelchair Division
In 1986, the Boston Marathon introduced prize money, with the push rim wheelchair division receiving the most lucrative awards in the sport.
1986: Introduction of Cash Prizes
The Boston Marathon awarded its first cash prize to the winner in 1986, marking a shift towards professionalization and incentivizing participation from elite athletes.
1988: DMSE Sports Takes Over Management
DMSE Sports became the management company for the Boston Marathon in 1988.
1990: Ondekoza's US Run
The Japanese group Ondekoza ran 10,000 miles around the perimeter of the United States from 1990 to 1993.
1993: Ondekoza Completes US Run
In 1993, Ondekoza completed their run of 10,000 miles around the perimeter of the United States.
1996: Centennial Boston Marathon Sets Record
The 1996 Boston Marathon, marking the event's 100th anniversary, set a record as the world's largest marathon with 38,708 entrants, 36,748 starters, and 35,868 finishers.
1996: Costumes in the Marathon
Runners have a tradition of wearing various costumes during the Boston Marathon, with one runner in 1996 sporting a scale model of the Old North Church steeple on his back.
1996: Retroactive Recognition of Unofficial Women Champions
In 1996, the B.A.A. took the step of retroactively recognizing the unofficial women leaders from 1966 to 1971 as champions, acknowledging their accomplishments despite the barriers they faced.
1996: Tragedy During Centennial Marathon
During the 100th running of the Boston Marathon in 1996, a 61-year-old Swedish participant, Humphrey Siesage, suffered a fatal heart attack.
2002: Death of Cynthia Lucero
In 2002, 28-year-old Cynthia Lucero tragically passed away due to hyponatremia during the Boston Marathon.
2002: Margaret Okayo's Record
In 2002, Kenyan runner Margaret Okayo set a course record of 2:20:43, which stood until Bizunesh Deba's win in 2014.
2004: Van Dyk Sets Course Record
Ernst Van Dyk set a course record for the wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon in 2004, completing the race in 1:18.29, nearly 50 minutes faster than the fastest runner that year.
2005: Noon Start Time
Until 2005, the Boston Marathon consistently started at noon, with the wheelchair race commencing at 11:25 am and the elite women's race at 11:31 am.
2006: Staggered Wave Start Introduced
The 2006 Boston Marathon implemented a staggered "wave start" system to manage congestion and improve race flow, with the elite men's group and a first wave of up to 10,000 runners starting at noon, followed by a second group starting at 12:30 pm.
2007: Williams Runs Marathon in Space
Astronaut Sunita Williams made history in 2007 by running a marathon distance while aboard the International Space Station, becoming the first person to complete a marathon in space. The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) recognized her accomplishment by sending her a special bib and medal on the Space Shuttle Atlantis.
2007: Rain Delays Red Sox Game
In 2007, a Red Sox game against the Los Angeles Angels was delayed until 12:18 p.m. due to heavy rain, but the Boston Marathon continued as scheduled despite the weather.
August 2008: Team Hoyt's Accomplishments
By August 2008, Team Hoyt (Dick and Rick Hoyt) had competed in 66 marathons and 229 triathlons, with Dick pushing his son Rick, who had cerebral palsy, in a wheelchair.
October 18, 2010: Qualifier Spots Fill Quickly
All 20,000 spots reserved for qualified runners for the 2011 Boston Marathon were filled in a record time of eight hours and three minutes on October 18, 2010, prompting changes to the qualification process.
2010: 5,470 Partner Entries
In 2010, the Boston Marathon allocated approximately 5,470 entries to partners, including charities, sponsors, and other organizations.
February 15, 2011: Tightened Qualifying Standards Announced
On February 15, 2011, the B.A.A. announced stricter qualifying standards for the 2013 Boston Marathon, reducing qualifying times by five minutes across all age and gender categories for races completed after September 23, 2011.
April 18, 2011: Geoffrey Mutai's Unratified World Record
Kenyan runner Geoffrey Mutai achieved the fastest marathon time ever recorded at the time on April 18, 2011, completing the Boston Marathon in 2:03:02:00. However, the IAAF did not ratify it as a world record due to course conditions, despite support from other runners who questioned the IAAF's rules.
September 23, 2011: New Qualifying Times Effective
The new, stricter qualifying standards for the 2013 Boston Marathon came into effect on September 23, 2011, requiring faster times from aspiring participants.
2012: Team Hoyt's 30th Marathon
Dick and Rick Hoyt completed their 30th Boston Marathon in 2012, a testament to their dedication and perseverance.
April 15, 2013: Boston Marathon Bombing
On April 15, 2013, tragedy struck the Boston Marathon as two homemade bombs detonated near the finish line, killing three spectators and injuring an estimated 264 others. The race was halted, and runners who had completed at least half the course were granted automatic entry in 2014.
2013: Stricter Qualifying Standards Implemented
The Boston Marathon implemented stricter qualifying standards for its 2013 race, reducing qualifying times by five minutes across all age and gender categories for races completed after September 23, 2011.
2013: Bombing Impacts Costume Policy
The Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 led to increased security measures, including discouraging certain types of costumes in subsequent marathons.
2013: Bombing Stops Team Hoyt
Team Hoyt was stopped a mile short of finishing what they had planned to be their final Boston Marathon in 2013 due to the tragic bombing.
2013: Rolling Application Process Introduced
In response to the quick fill-up of qualifying spots in 2010, the B.A.A. implemented a new rolling application process for the 2013 Boston Marathon, prioritizing faster runners in the allocation of entries.
2013: Blind Runners Participate
In 2013, 40 blind runners participated in the Boston Marathon.
April 21, 2014: Deba Sets Women's Course Record
On April 21, 2014, Bezunesh Deba from Ethiopia established a new women's course record at the Boston Marathon with a time of 2:19:59. This record was officially recognized following the disqualification of Kenyan runner Rita Jeptoo for doping violations.
2014: Costume Restrictions
Following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, runners and spectators were discouraged from wearing full-face costumes or bulky outfits for security reasons in the 2014 marathon.
2014: Handcyclists Begin Competing
Handcyclists started competing in the Boston Marathon in 2014.
2014: Bizunesh Deba Wins After Disqualification of Rita Jeptoo
In 2014, Bizunesh Deba of Ethiopia was named the winner of the Boston Marathon following the disqualification of Kenyan runner Rita Jeptoo due to confirmed doping. Deba's time of 2:19:59 set a new course record.
2014: Automatic Entry for Affected Runners
In 2014, the Boston Marathon offered automatic entry to runners who had completed at least half of the 2013 race but were unable to finish due to the bombing, demonstrating solidarity and support for those affected.
2014: Increased Efforts Against Bandits
Organizers planned to increase efforts to prevent unregistered runners from participating in the 2014 Boston Marathon due to the expected larger field of participants.
September 2015: Discouraging Bandits
As of September 2015, the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) website stated its intention to discourage unregistered runners ("bandits") from participating in the marathon.
2015: Significant Increase in Female Participation
In 2015, the Boston Marathon saw a significant increase in female participation, with women making up approximately 46 percent of the entrants.
2015: High Number of Registered Participants
In 2015, the Boston Marathon saw 30,251 registered participants, reflecting the event's growing popularity.
2015: Conviction of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the perpetrators of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, was found guilty of 30 federal offenses and sentenced to death in 2015. His brother, Tamerlan, was killed during a confrontation with law enforcement.
2015: Dick Hoyt as Grand Marshal
Dick Hoyt was honored as the Grand Marshal of the 2015 Boston Marathon in recognition of his inspiring participation with his son Rick.
2016: First Double Amputee Finisher
The 2016 Boston Marathon saw Jami Marseilles become the first female double amputee to complete the race. Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the entire Boston Marathon in 1966, was the grand marshal.
2017: Honoring Handcyclists
Beginning in 2017, handcyclists began receiving the same recognition as runners and wheelchair racers in the Boston Marathon, including wreaths, prize money, and their national anthems played at the finish line.
2017: Gibb to Return Trophy
Bobbi Gibb planned to travel to Ethiopia in 2017 to return Atsede Baysa's winning trophy, which Baysa had given to Gibb during the 2016 Marathon.
2017: $34.2 Million Raised for Charities
In 2017, charity runners participating in the Boston Marathon raised a total of $34.2 million for over 200 non-profit organizations.
September 27, 2018: Qualifying Times Lowered Again
The B.A.A. announced further reductions to the qualifying times for the 2020 Boston Marathon on September 27, 2018, lowering the qualifying times by an additional five minutes for all age and gender groups.
2018: Kipchoge Breaks Marathon World Record
Eliud Kipchoge set a new world record for the marathon in Berlin in 2018, surpassing Geoffrey Mutai's unofficial record set at the 2011 Boston Marathon.
2018: Orioles Game Postponed
The Red Sox game against the Baltimore Orioles on Marathon Monday in 2018 was postponed until May due to rain.
2019: Marathon Monday Tradition
Until 2019, the Boston Marathon was traditionally held on "Marathon Monday", the third Monday in April, coinciding with the observance of Patriots' Day in Massachusetts.
2019: Starting Times for 2019 Marathon
The 2019 Boston Marathon featured specific starting times for different groups of runners to accommodate the staggered wave start system, aiming to optimize race flow and minimize crowding.
May 28, 2020: Marathon Cancellation
On May 28, 2020, the rescheduled September Boston Marathon was canceled due to concerns surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the safety risks associated with large gatherings.
September 2020: Virtual Marathon
In September 2020, a "virtual alternative" to the traditional in-person race was held, marking the 124th running of the Boston Marathon.
October 28, 2020: Postponement of 2021 Marathon
The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced on October 28, 2020 that the 2021 Boston Marathon, typically held in April, would be postponed to later in the year, potentially in the autumn, due to ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: First Postponement in Over 100 Years
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Boston Marathon, originally scheduled for April, was postponed to September. This marked the first time in the event's century-long history that it was rescheduled.
2020: COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Boston Marathon
In 2020, the Boston Marathon was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a "virtual alternative" being offered to participants.
2020: New Qualifying Standards Effective
The 2020 Boston Marathon saw the implementation of new qualifying standards, further reducing the qualifying times by five minutes for all age and gender groups.
2020: Pandemic Cancels Game
The traditional Red Sox game on Marathon Monday was not played in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020: End of an Era: Oldest Continuously Running Marathon
Until 2020, the Boston Marathon held the title of the oldest continuously running marathon. The COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation that year, ending its streak.
January 2021: October Date Set for Marathon
In late January 2021, the B.A.A. announced that the 2021 Boston Marathon would be held on October 11, conditional upon the status of road races being allowed in Massachusetts at that time.
2021: Dick Hoyt Passes Away
Dick Hoyt, the father of Rick Hoyt and his partner in running marathons, passed away in 2021 at the age of 80.
May 2023: Rick Hoyt Passes Away
Rick Hoyt, who inspired millions by competing in marathons and triathlons with his father, Dick, passed away in May 2023.