Monday marks the start of the 123rd Boston Marathon. This year, the Moving Greater Boston team is volunteering on behalf of the American Liver Foundation in Copley. We’ve put together a digestible list of some of the greatest marathon moments in history that you can read between Hopkington and Copley.
Historical Moments of The Boston Marathon
- The marathon at the Athens Summer Olympics inspired the creation of the Boston Marathon in 1896.
- From 1897-1986, the Marathon was held on Patriots Day, April 19 and was moved to Monday when the 19th fell on a Sunday. In 1969, the marathon moved to the third Monday of April.
- John Graham organized the first Boston Marathon in 1897.
- John J. McDermott placed first on April 19, 1897.
- Women weren’t allowed entry into the race until 1971, but Roberta Gibb and Katherine Switzer snuck into the race and competed in 1966 and 1967.
- Nina Kuscsik was the first woman to win the Boston Marathon in 1972.
- The Boston Marathon included the first wheelchair division in 1975, recognizing Bob Hall who finished the race in 2 hours and 58 minutes.
- Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach won the women’s race in 1985, finishing at 2:34:06.
- Ernst Van Dyk holds 9 titles at the Boston Marathon, making him the most successful marathoner to date.
- There was a partial eclipse of the sun in 1939 in Hopkington when runners were faced with dark Northeast weather.
- In 1905, the temperature climbed to 100 degrees. Just 3 years later, in 1908, runners competed in snow and rain.
Viewing the marathon, but not running?
- Optimal Viewing Times – baa.org
