Boston Marathon’s 129th Race Has 480-Foot Drop Across Eight Towns
The 129th Boston Marathon is set for Apr. 21, Patriots Day, and the day after Easter Sunday. The course will be the same, starting in Hopkinton and finishing near Copley Square in Boston. Runners will navigate its other formidable topography, including steep elevation changes and the notorious Heartbreak Hill.
“This is an example that it really does take a village to put on an event of this magnitude,” said Jack Fleming, Boston Athletic Association president and chief executive officer, praising the dedication of the town’s departments and committees involved in organizing the event.
After a long descent at the start of the course, things get dicey after a while, with some stout climbs and rolling hills. Heartbreak Hill, situated between miles 20 and 21, is a major test for the runners, featuring a half-mile ascent and a 5 percent grade. Though the Boston Marathon is often seen as a downhill race, the over 800 feet of elevation gain combined with 1,200 feet of descent greatly strains runners’ quadriceps and endurance.
With just six weeks remaining until race day, participants are encouraged to focus on hill training to prepare for the unforgiving terrain. The marathon’s traditional course travels along Route 135 and Route 16, passing through several New England towns before turning onto Beacon Street and onward toward the final mile before reaching downtown Boston.
The final stretch of the race is a memorable moment for all runners. It includes a left turn onto Hereford Street and a right turn onto Boylston Street, ending at the iconic finish line near the Boston Public Library.
However, the net downhill profile of the race, with various downhills and short climbs interspersed, will require strategic training and preparation. Both veterans and first-time qualifiers, runners must train their bodies for endurance and the miles of muscular damage from steep descents.
As excitement mounts for the world’s oldest annual marathon, Boston remains a showcase for elite talent, personal journeys, and a timeless test of grit for thousands of competitors from across the world.