Boston Marathon 2023
Running routeMarathonBoston, MA, USA
Boston Marathon 2023
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon. Since John McDermott won the race in 1897, runners from all over the world have come to Boston to test themselves.
The race begins in the charming town of Hopkinton and descends gradually for the first four miles. The next 12 miles (19 km) are fairly flat with some memorable highlights like the Wellesley College “Scream Tunnel.” At mile 16 (25 km), the Newton Hills begin. The last of these hills, Heartbreak Hill, which falls between miles 20 and 21, is the toughest challenge on the course. In 1936, Johnny Kelly patted Ellison Brown on the back as he passed him on their way up Heartbreak. Brown came back to win, breaking Kelly’s heart in the process, and the name stuck.
After you summit Heartbreak Hill, it’s a gradual descent to the finish line. In the last mile, you’ll make the two most famous turns in the world of marathoning, right on Hereford, and left on Boylston. Then, it’s only a few hundred meters to the finish line in Copley Square. After crossing that line 55% of runners will upload their race to Strava. Join the community!
Details
- Distance
- 26.21 mi
- Elevation Gain
- 862 ft
- Surface Type
- Road
Plan Your Race
Use our Running Pace Calculator to see your estimated finish time.
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The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest and most prestigious marathon. Since John McDermott won the race in 1897, runners from all over the world have come to Boston to test themselves.
The race begins in the charming town of Hopkinton and descends gradually for the first four miles. The next 12 miles (19 km) are fairly flat with some memorable highlights like the Wellesley College “Scream Tunnel.” At mile 16 (25 km), the Newton Hills begin. The last of these hills, Heartbreak Hill, which falls between miles 20 and 21, is the toughest challenge on the course. In 1936, Johnny Kelly patted Ellison Brown on the back as he passed him on their way up Heartbreak. Brown came back to win, breaking Kelly’s heart in the process, and the name stuck.
After you summit Heartbreak Hill, it’s a gradual descent to the finish line. In the last mile, you’ll make the two most famous turns in the world of marathoning, right on Hereford, and left on Boylston. Then, it’s only a few hundred meters to the finish line in Copley Square. After crossing that line 55% of runners will upload their race to Strava. Join the community!
Course Map and Elevation
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Challenges
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Boston Marathon takes place on Monday the 17th of April 2023.
The first group of athletes to start the Boston Marathon in 2023 are the wheelchair racers. They begin the race at 9:02 am local time.
The men’s elite runners start at 9:37 am local time. Then the elite women start at 9:45 am. After that, there are staggered starts beginning at 10 am for all other competitors.
Runners are arranged into corrals by predicted finish time.
Yes. Registration for the Boston Marathon is closed for 2023 but the qualifying window for the 2024 Boston Marathon is open. Registration details for 2024 will be announced following the 2023 Boston Marathon.
The Boston Marathon follows the official marathon distance of 42.195 km (26.2 miles) as set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
You can download the official Boston Marathon App to track runners on race day. To celebrate your favorite athletes’ performances, create a free Strava account and give kudos for their hard work!