By Molly Herbert
As the birthplace of the first Olympic marathon revival, Boston is a city known for running. The Boston Marathon is that revival, beginning on April 19, 1897 with a starting-line of 18 runners. Obviously that starting line is miniscule compared to the thousands who run today. In its early stages, the marathon length was 24.8 miles based on the Greek legend of Pheidippides who, according to myth, ran that same distance. The length was later changed after the 1908 London Olympic Games to 26 miles. This length grew over time but was standardized in 1926 as 26.22 miles. Because of this, the Boston Marathon started in Hopkinton and finished in Boston to accommodate the extra length of the race. The race has grown enormously since then, with participation in the hundreds by the 1940’s and up to the thousands by the 1960’s. Kathrine Switzer was the first female to finish the race in 1967, and had to conceal her identity to do so. By the 1970’s, women were officially allowed to compete in the race, allowing it to grow in popularity even more.
Now, tens of thousands run the Boston Marathon for the glory of completing it, and millions watch the intense race. Boston is a great location for joggers, runners, or anyone wanting to explore. The sidewalks provide space to run safely and out of the way of cars, of course always watch out for people walking. The city stretches for miles and there are many routes to take to get in a quick run or some marathon practice.
A run along the Charles River Esplanade is a great way to see the sights of the city while also getting a great workout. Running there in the early morning while watching the sunrise is truly inspiring and makes the occasional pain of running dissipate. There are also a lot of places to go to escape the urban setting! A few places are the Muddy River Reservation and The Emerald Necklace.
Surrounded by trees and ponds, running in these areas gives a rural feel while not having to travel too far out of the city. Other areas of Boston are also great for runners. The Boston Common and Gardens is a large area full of greenery and sidewalks stretching a long way while also right in the heart of the city. It’d be easy to grab a snack after a run there and not have to take too much time out of the day.
Timing is always important to getting a good run in everyday, especially for marathon training. Setting a schedule of things to do and free time is helpful, and deciding what times of the day are best. Some people enjoy early morning exercise while others prefer to work out at night or in the afternoon. Making time to find out what works is key in maintaining a good running plan. That isn’t to say that running needs to become too regimented, that could begin to make running seem like a negative activity and become more draining than energizing. Finding great places to run will always help, and Boston provides many places to do so!
Virtual Boston 
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