On April 19, 1897, the first Boston Marathon was held, making it the oldest annually contested marathon in the world. The race was inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon at the 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
The inaugural Boston Marathon was organized by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) and had only 15 participants, all of whom were male. The race began in Ashland, Massachusetts, and followed a 24.5-mile route to the finish line at the Irvington Oval in Boston. The distance was later changed to the now-standard 26.2 miles in 1924 to conform to the Olympic standard.
John J. McDermott, a 23-year-old New Yorker, won the first Boston Marathon with a time of 2:55:10. The winner received a silver cup and a wreath woven from olive branches.
The Boston Marathon has since grown into one of the most prestigious and well-known marathons in the world, attracting elite runners and enthusiastic amateurs from across the globe. The race has seen many iconic moments over the years, such as Roberta Gibb becoming the first woman to unofficially run the Boston Marathon in 1966 and Kathrine Switzer becoming the first woman to officially enter and complete the race in 1967.
Today, the Boston Marathon is held annually on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April, and attracts around 30,000 participants each year. The race has become a symbol of perseverance, sportsmanship, and the indomitable human spirit.
