Which race is known as the oldest annual marathon in the United States?

The Boston Marathon is known as the oldest annual marathon in the United States.

The race was first held on April 19, 1897, inspired by the marathon at the 1896 Athens Olympics. It originally covered roughly 24.5 miles from Ashland to Boston. The course was later extended to the standardized marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yards, or 42.195 kilometers.

The Boston Athletic Association organizes the event. Its point-to-point course begins in Hopkinton and finishes on Boylston Street near Copley Square. Famous features include Heartbreak Hill in Newton, although the hill is not the course’s highest point.

Boston is also distinctive because most participants must meet qualifying standards, although charity entries, invited runners, and other entry categories exist. The New York City and Chicago marathons are major American races, but both began much later than Boston.