The oldest annual marathon in the world, first run in 1897, takes place in Boston. The Boston Marathon began on April 19, 1897, inspired by the marathon race at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens. The inaugural course ran from Ashland to Boston, Massachusetts, covered 24.5 miles, and was won by John J. McDermott in 2:55:10.
The race is organized by the Boston Athletic Association and is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April. Its route now begins in Hopkinton and finishes on Boylston Street near Copley Square. The official marathon distance became 26 miles 385 yards after the 1908 Olympics, so the first Boston race was shorter than today's standard.
Boston's claim is based on its uninterrupted annual tradition in some form, including during the World Wars and the Great Depression. The 2020 in-person race was canceled because of COVID-19, but a virtual alternative was held. Boston is also one of the six World Marathon Majors and is famous for its qualifying standards and challenging hills, including Heartbreak Hill.