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The is the
oldest footrace in America! The Boston
Marathon takes place the third Monday in April each year since 1969. This
is also "Patriot's Day" in Massachusetts (and Maine) named for
the anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19,
1775. Therefore, as its name implies, the Boston Marathon is always held
in the city of Boston, Massachusetts on "Patriot's Day,"
Ironically,
the Boston Athletic Association first organized the race to be run on St. Patrick's day in 1897, with only 15 runners. Today it
records as many as 9,000 runners each year. The course is 26.2
miles long and begins in Hopkinton and ends in the front of the
Prudential Center of Boston. It's basis is the original Olympic
footraces held in 1896 which is from the legend that a Greek runner ran
25 miles to bring the news of the marathon to Athens that they WON over
the Persians in 490 BCE. The first modern Greek winner of this race was
in 1896 named Spiros Louis.
The Olympic
marathon was changed to a standard 26 miles, 385 yards in 1924.
Runners from
all over the world now come to Boston to run this marathon which is
considered the most prestigious running even in the world today (that as
far as I know is open to anyone and not just professionals like the
Olympics are.) Some well-known winners include John Kelley, won
twice and continued to compete into his 80's. Then "young"
John Kelley (no relation to the old Kelley) was the first American in
the Post WWII era. Someone named "Tarzan" Brown won in 1938
and also took a quick swim in Lake Cochichuate. Bill Rodgers won 3
in a row, 1978, 1979 & 1980.
As far as women winners, we have Rosa Mota of Portugal who was the first
to win 3 in a row.
Then we have
the infamous scandal of 1980 where Rosie Ruis tried to defraud the BAA
by showing up at the end of the race to take the Laurel Wreath without
having actually run the race. Fortunately, television coverage at
various checkpoints proved her unworthy and Jackie Gareau of Canada was
later declared the official winner. But, Rosie Ruiz continued to insist
she ran that race fairly and deserved the win.
Heartbreak Hill
is located at mile 21 of the race and considered the downfall of many
runners. It is 2/3 of the race at that point, when many runners have
just lost most of their steam, this part of the race has an incline that
is just dreadfully challenging.
But if you make
it, you get the infamous Laurel Wreath placed on your head as the
traditional winners won back in ancient Greece. The laurel tree
was sacred to Apollo, (God of Light, Healing, Music, Poetry, Prophecy
and Manliness) so the leaves were used to weaves garlands and crowns and
signified that anyone who wore this crown or garland had overcome great
obstacles and/or negative influences to achieve their goals and won!
Information
Source based on the book, "Holiday Symbols, 2nd Ed." by Sue
Ellen Thompson
Omnigraphics, Inc. 2000 Midi
Title is "Chariots of Fire" Theme from the movie by Vangelis |
