## Definition
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and one of the most prestigious road racing events. First held in 1897, it takes place on Patriots’ Day, the third Monday in April, covering 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston, Massachusetts. The race is known for its qualification standards — runners must meet time requirements in other certified marathons to be eligible — and for its challenging course, which includes the infamous “Heartbreak Hill” near Boston College. The Boston Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors and is considered the most prestigious marathon for amateur runners, many of whom spend years training to qualify.
## Why It Matters
The Boston Marathon matters because it is both an elite sporting event and a democratic institution. Professional runners compete for significant prize money, but the majority of participants are amateur runners who have trained for years to meet the qualifying times. The race is a cultural event for the entire region: schools close, businesses shut down, and hundreds of thousands of spectators line the course. The marathon has also been shaped by tragedy: the 2013 bombing near the finish line killed three people and injured hundreds, an event that transformed the race from a sporting event into a symbol of resilience. The bombing’s aftermath — the manhunt, the capture, and the following year’s race — was one of the most watched news events in Boston history.
## Example
The 2013 bombing is inseparable from the Boston Marathon’s modern identity. Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line on Boylston Street at 2:49 PM, approximately four hours after the winners crossed. The victims included an 8-year-old boy, a 29-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old graduate student. The bombers, two brothers of Chechen descent, were identified through surveillance footage and killed or captured after a four-day manhunt that shut down the city. The 2014 marathon, held one year later, was a deliberately defiant statement: security was massively increased, but the race went on, and the finish line was packed with spectators. “Boston Strong” became the city’s motto, and the marathon became a symbol of recovery.
## Internet Angle
The Boston Marathon is a major internet event. The race is livestreamed globally, and social media is flooded with posts from runners, spectators, and supporters. The qualifying process is extensively discussed online: runners share training plans, compare qualifying times, and celebrate their acceptance emails. The 2013 bombing was also an internet event: the manhunt unfolded on Twitter and Reddit, with users analyzing photos and speculating about suspects — sometimes incorrectly, with real consequences. The marathon’s online presence reflects its dual nature: a celebration of athletic achievement and a reminder of vulnerability. The internet has made the Boston Marathon both more accessible and more complicated.
## Related Terms
– **Heartbreak Hill**: The famous incline near mile 20 of the course
– **Qualifying standards**: The time requirements runners must meet to enter
– **Boston Strong**: The slogan that emerged after the 2013 bombing
– **Patriots’ Day**: The Massachusetts holiday on which the marathon is held
– **World Marathon Majors**: The series of six elite marathons that includes Boston
– **2013 bombing**: The terrorist attack that transformed the marathon’s meaning
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