11 Boston Marathon Fun Facts

In honor of today’s Boston Marathon, which is the 120th anniversary, here are some fun and interesting facts about this historic race!

1. It is always held on Patriot’s Day, the 3rd Monday in April.
2. Patriots day celebrates the famous battles of Lexington and Concord. Maine and Massachusetts both celebrate this day. These battles were the first battles of the Revolutionary War.
3. The top two finishers get $150,000. (One male and one female)
4. In 1975 Boston became the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division.
5. Bostons is the fastest marathon  in the country, with a 3:44 median time.
6. It is the World’s  oldest marathon, starting back in 1897. This year is the 120th race.
7. The Boston Marathon expo is largest in the world with 200 plus exhibitors.
8. The highest point in the course is actually the start line, by far. It is 463 feet above sea level.
9. Prior to the 2013 bombings, About 500,000 spectators line the streets of Boston for the marathon, that’s 80% of Boston’s population. Since 2014 they expect close to a million spectators!
10. Women were excluded from the race until 1972.
11. As the final finishers run through the line, race director, Dave McGillivray heads back to Hopkinton to run the 26.2-mile course in memory of his grandfather, as he’s done for 39 straight years.