chapter 1 The Starting Block A marathon is a 26 2-mile 42 2-kilometer foot race The first marathon was held at the very first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens Greece More than 1 million people around the globe participate in marathons each year Run clubs meet each week to train together Volunteers pass out water to runners at races Spectators gather on the sidelines to cheer for runners Some marathons raise money for charities Other marathons help runners qualify for the Olympics One of those races is the Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is the oldest annual marathon in the world In 2013 a tragedy took place at the Boston Marathon 4 21st century skills library
The Boston Marathon draws elite runners from all over the world Boston is the capital city of Massachusetts It is also the home of one of the world’s most famous marathons The first Boston Marathon took place in 1897 There were only 15 runners in the first race It is held every April on Patriots Day the third Monday in April Runners from all over the world compete in the Boston Marathon The race route goes through many Boston neighborhoods It takes runners past several Boston landmarks such as Boston College 5 Sports Unite Us
Fenway Park home of the Boston Red Sox is next to the final stretch of the Boston Marathon There are many traditions that make the Boston Marathon special Every year on marathon day the Boston Red Sox have a morning baseball game Baseball fans can watch the game and see the runners entering the final stretch of the marathon Around the halfway mark of the race is the Wellesley Scream Tunnel Wellesley College is an all-women’s college in Boston Students from the college line the route and scream at the runners going by They also hold signs asking for kisses and high fives The Boston Marathon’s male and female winners receive olive wreaths from Marathon Greece This gesture honors the 6 21st century skills library
ancient Olympics and the site of the first marathon More than 20,000 runners compete in the Boston Marathon each year Hundreds of volunteers help with the race Medical tents and emergency crews are stationed along the route Around 1 million people come to watch the marathon Spectators are allowed to line up behind fencing along every mile of the race Friends and family can sign up for phone alerts to track specific runners Because so many people gather for the marathon security measures are very important Qualifying Runners hoping to race in the Olympics must qualify in a race sanctioned by USA Track Field The Boston Marathon is a sanctioned race A runner’s Boston Marathon finishing time can qualify them for the United States Olympic track and field team A male runner must finish the marathon in 2 hours and 19 minutes A female runner must finish in 2 hours and 45 minutes An athlete who has qualified at Boston or another sanctioned course can then run in the Olympic trials 7 Sports Unite Us
