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Boston Marathon: Date, start time, course, history, record time & more

The world oldest annual marathon, over 30,000 runners participate in the challenging Boston Marathon as the 26 mile route takes in numerous towns and cities within the Greater Boston district.

Boston Marathon date

The Boston Marathon traditionally takes place on Patriot's Day, the third Monday in April, and the 2025 race will be no different, with proceedings set to take place on Monday 21st April.

Boston Marathon start time

Like most other marathons, the Boston Marathon holds a staggered start to avoid overcrowding and ensure the professional runners are not hindered on their run.

The start time schedule has already been announced ahead of the 2025 event, with the Military march getting underway from 06:00 (ET), before the Professional Men's race starts at 09:37 (ET), 10 minutes before the Professional Women's race gets underway (09:47 ET).

Boston Marathon course

The 26 mile, 385 yard route takes in eight Massachusetts cities and towns - Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and, of course, Boston.

Regarded as one of the more challenging marathons, racers are forced to navigate the extremely hilly terrain and varying weather conditions.

The race starts in Hopkinton, in southern Middlesex County, and concludes at the iconic Copley Square in Boston.

Boston Marathon record time

Kenyan long-distance runner Geoffrey Mutai holds the current record time at the Boston Marathon, completing the 26 mile route back in 2011 in 2:03:02.

Boston Marathon history

Inspired by the success of the first marathon competition at the 1896 Athens Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is now the world's oldest annual races.

The race is on of the seven World Marathon Majors, along with marathons in Tokyo, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York, and has been held annually since 1897.

This includes a 'visual alternative; which was staged in 2020 after the road race was cancelled for the one and only time in its history as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event attracts over 500,000 spectators along its 26 mile route, making it the state of New England's most viewed sporting event.

Just 15 participants took part in the inaugural staging back in 1897, although that number has constantly frown each year, with an average of 30,000 registered participants now taking part each year.

The Centennial Boston Marathon attracted a then world record 38,708 entrants in 1996, with 35,868 managing to complete the race.

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