Yesterday, a century later in that same town, about 30,000 runners crossed the starting line.
Distance running, once a niche sport, has exploded in popularity over the past few decades.
Many of those who run marathons today are middle-aged or older, and some are less fit and less experienced.
As a result, the average finish time in American marathons has slowed considerably, even as the top runners keep getting faster.
It’s a sign of how popular marathons have become.
Organizations:
Boston Marathon
Locations:
Hopkinton, Mass