About the Boston Marathon
The 2012 Boston Marathon will take place on Monday 16th April 2012.
Inspired by their experience at the 1896 Olympic Games, several members of the Boston Athletic Association founded their own marathon in 1897. The race has been run every year since (though the 1918 edition featured a military relay rather than an individual race) and is now the world's oldest annual marathon. Both the start and finish lines have been moved over the years, but much of the original course remains exactly as it was originally designed. Since 1924 the race has begun in the town of Hopkinton, and from there the point-to-point course descends through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley. Upon entering Newton, the course gradually rises to the famous Heartbreak Hill. As runners reach the top, they can see downtown Boston for the first time, four miles in the distance. After running through Brookline, the course enters Boston where it finishes on historic Boylston Street. Runners must qualify for entry by meeting time standards corresponding to gender and age, which is another aspect – besides its course and longevity – unique to the Boston Marathon.
Capacity:
27,000
Largest Field (total finishers):
35,868 - 1996
Recent Participation:
Year
Finishers
Male
Female
2004
16,733
10,496
6,237
2005
17,528
10,884
6,644
2006
19,682
12,061
7,621
2007
20,338
12,364
7,974
2008
21,948
13,019
8,929
2009
22,844
13,543
9,298
2010
22,721
13,161
9,560
2011
23,913
13,839
10,074
Estimated Spectators:
500,000
Prize Purse:
$806,000 ($150,000 for the male and female champions)
Official Charities:
31
World Records (Men):
2:25:39 - Yun Bok Suh, 1947