The world’s oldest annual marathon, the Boston Marathon has distinguished itself as a race for only the most serious and dedicated runners. Started in 1897, the race attracts an average of 20,000 runners each year. The race winds through 26.22 miles of eight cities and towns in Massachusetts: Hopkinton, Framingham, Wellesley, Brookline, Newton, Natick, Ashland and Boston.
As one of the most difficult marathons to race, not every runner can qualify for the event. The marathon is open to both male and female runners of any nation. However, the runners must complete a qualifying round before being permitted to run the race. About 18 months prior to the marathon, runners ages 18 to 34 must complete a certified course in 3:10:59 if male and 3:40:59 if female. If older than 34, the qualifying time is adjusted based on the runner’s age.
When considering if the Boston Marathon is right for you, you must first take into account the challenges that the Boston Marathon poses. Not only do you have to be fast and well-conditioned to run a long distance, you must also be prepared to face the difficult hills that lie in the marathon’s course. There are four hills in Newton, which begin at about the 16 mile mark. The most notorious of the hills has been dubbed Heartbreak Hill, which lands between the 20 and 21 mile mark. It’s primarily dreaded because of its steep climb; at the bottom, the hill is at an elevation of 148 feet and rises to an elevation at the top of 236 feet.
