The third Monday of April, Patriots’ Day, always marks the annual Boston Marathon. The Boston Marathon has been occurring annually since 1897, which makes it the world’s oldest annual marathon.  It was originally inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. The event is highly attended by runners all over the world and attracts just as many spectators.

Junior Michael Hill said, “the Boston Marathon has such a rich history, and it is amazing how Boylston Street is packed with spectators cheering on every single runner, especially the ones who struggle at the end”. The Boston Athletic Association manages putting the entire race into running (no pun intended). With the newer technology, family and friends in the past couple of years have been able to track runners progress throughout their journey of 26.2 miles. The app gives four updates, one at the 5k, 10k, 15k, and 20k marks, along with the runner’s pace and predicted finish.

Monday, April 17th, 2017 marked this year’s annual Boston Marathon. It was a gorgeous day with temperatures sitting in the high 70s range. However, that is a very hot temperature for 26.2 miles, and rather unexpected considering April’s consistent low 50s and 60s. Veteran marathon runners advised new and old marathoners of the dangers that high temperatures bring, including dehydration and heat exhaustion. 

Coming up to the finish line, metal stands blocked off spectators from the road with signs and banners overhead and a hanging clock ticking away. Storms of runners, dressed in tank tops and shorts, crossed the line with relief. Their marathon journey finally completed after months and months of hard work and training! Hingham High School’s own Ms. Hebert took up the preparation months in advance working hard alongside her cross country runners well into the season. Junior Heather Linscott said, “I am so proud of my math
Boston Run Base
teacher/cross country coach Ms. Hebert, she is so inspiring and did amazing”. Mr. Young, the chorale director at Hingham High School, also ran the marathon this year.

Marathon training takes tons of preparation and mental stamina. Many runners begin their scheduled training at least six months in advance. The Boston course is notorious for “Heartbreak Hill” and offset terrain, which translates into many hilly training runs! Runners, eighteen years or older from any nation, can either qualify or run for charity.

This year was exceptionally special for the Boston Marathon. The first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, Kathrine Switzer, ran the course again fifty years later. She donned the same number, 261. Her perseverance for competitive women’s marathons and long-distance running sparked the steps needed to establish women’s running as a respected sport. Fast forward, and the great strides the running community has overtaken empowers runners and future runners in all race distances today.