Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon takes place in Boston, Massachusetts, in mid-April, on Patriots' Day, a state holiday in Massachusetts. It is the oldest annual marathon in the world and remains one of the most prestigious races on the international calendar. The 26.2-mile course runs from Hopkinton to Boston, across New England, and is generally downhill, with the listing showing about 540 feet of climbing. The Newton hills late in the race are feared, and they include the famous Heartbreak Hill. Nearly half a million spectators line the route, and the dense, noisy atmosphere leaves a lasting impression on participants. Runners who go out too fast on the early downhills often feel it later.