 "Boston Marathon: What makes it so popular and India's history with iconic race")
Boston Marathon, the oldest marathon in the world and one of the six major long-distance races, will host its 128th edition on Monday with 30,000 runners from over 100 countries expected to participate. As per tradition, it is held on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday of April. The race course starts in Hopkinton and finishes on Copley Square, covering 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) and an elevation of 248 meters.
The race is net downhill in its length but the undulating course and often unforgiving weather make Boston Marathon one of the more challenging of the six major marathons (New York City, Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago and London). The weather for 2024 edition is predicted to be sunny with temperatures near 4-10 degrees Celsius. As the day progresses, it could become warmer. Around the 20 mile mark, at the famous Heartbreak Hill section, is when the weather becomes especially crucial. There is little chance of rain and moderate winds throughout the day which makes things slightly easier for the athletes.
The iconic race has seen some incredible achievements and a tragic past, most recently in 2013 when an act of domestic terrorism led to the death of three people and injured nearly 300.
Boston Marathon leading the equality race
Boston Marathon had started in 1897 as an all-male race. It took until 1966 for the first woman to complete the race. Roberta Gibb became the first woman to complete the race that year, although she ran without an official number.
A year later, in 1967, Kathy Switzer, who had registered as KV Switzer, was issued an official number and completed the marathon, although the race director tried to have her removed from the course.
Five years later, in 1972, the Boston Marathon became the first marathon race to officially admit women runners. Three years later, it became the first major marathon to hold a wheelchair race.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn 2017, men’s and women’s handcycle events were also introduced into the Boston Marathon programme.
Who is in the running?
In the elite men’s race, featuring professional athletes, Evans Chebet of Kenya is aiming to become the first person in 16 years to win the Boston Marathon three years in a row. The last athlete to achieve the feat was compatriot Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot.
Chebet ran first past the finishing line in a competitive field last year which included former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge. There is no Kipchoge this time around, though Chebet will be up against Ethiopian Sisay Lemma, the fourth-fastest marathon runner of all time, and 2023 runner-up Gabriel Geay of Tanzania.
Despite winning six of his last seven races, including major victories in Boston and New York, Chebet was left off Kenya’s provisional roster for the Olympics. He said last week that he’s hoping a strong finish will rekindle his candidacy.
In the elite women’s race, Hellen Obiri, who won her first major marathon in Boston last year, is a strong contender alongside former New York City Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi.
US athletes Sara Hall, a runner-up at the 2020 London Marathon, and Des Linden, the 2018 winner in Boston, will draw home support.
Boston Marathon’s India link
In 2021, the race organisers opened the opportunity for more amateur athletes to “run” the Boston Marathon. Athletes were given the opportunity to complete the 42.19 kms race in their local area in one go. After the run record was submitted, a unicorn medal was issued to successful runners.
Over 400 Indians registered for the virtual race. It only trailed USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China in terms of participants.
Over in Massachusetts, Nitendra Singh Rawat finished the 2021 Boston Marathon. With a time of 2:22.01 seconds, Rawat finished in 31st position. It shattered the previous record of 2:46.34, set in 2019 by Anubhav Karmakar.
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