2009 113th Annual Boston Marathon

Registration is now closed for the 2009 Boston Marathon, but if you would like to get a jump start on the 2010 marathon or if you only want to find out what the Boston Marathon is all about, then this article is a good place for you to start. It includes a brief history of past marathons, how to qualify and who can enter, main highlight of this year's race and important dates for the 2010 Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon which began in 1897. The first Boston Marathon was 24 and a half miles long and included only 15 runners. Today's races are the regulation 26 mile course and has over 20,000 runners each year. Originally, the Boston Marathon was only open to men. It wasn't until 1971 that women were allowed to run in long distance marathons, although several women had secretly run in it in previous years and had actually won.

The Boston Marathon was also the first major marathon to include a handicap division. In 1975, a wheelchair division was added. Since then, divisions for the blind and visually impaired and mobility impaired persons have been added.

In 1986, the Boston Marathon started offering prize money to the top winners to increase the number of runners entering the marathon. To date, over $11 million has been awarded to the winners. The Boston Marathon is also a great source of raising funds for charities. Runners can be sponsored by businesses or personal sponsors with all proceeds going to the charity of their choice.

Not everyone is eligible to run in the Boston Marathon. According to http://www.bostonmarathon.org/, runners in this marathon must be at least 18 years old and must qualify based on their completion time in a recent marathon. Qualifying time is based on age and varies from 3 hours and 10 minutes for ages 18-34 and 5 hours and 30 minutes for ages 80 and older. Some time provisions are allowed for the handicapped divisions.

The 2009 Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2009, and will be the 113th in its history. John Hancock Financial (http://www.bostonmarathon.org/News.asp?NewsID=379) announces the main highlight of this year's race will be the return of last year's winners of the men's and women's division. Four time champion and winner of last year's Boston Marathon, Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya, will once again be competing in the men's division. Competing in the women's division is last year's winner, Dire Tune of Ethiopia.

Runners are invited to relax and enjoy the leisurely Sunday morning International Fun Run where the slow pace allows them to visit and get to know the other runners. Later, they can experience the Expo and have the chance to purchase a race poster with their name on it and an official race jacket. Don't forget to enjoy the Pasta Party hosted by the sponsors. Rather you finish the marathon or not, don't miss the celebration dance after the race.
The 26 mile Boston Marathon will cover the distance from Main Street in Hopkinton and finish on Boylston in Boston, Massachusetts.

**For anyone interested in the 2010 Boston Marathon, registrations will begin in September 2009 and end in late January 2010. The 2010 Boston Marathon will be run on Monday, April 19, 2010.

Sources:
1) http://www.bostonmarathon.org/
2) John Hancock Financial, " News", http://www.bostonmarathon.org/News.asp?NewsID=379