Runners try to stay dry at start of 122nd Boston Marathon
Runners are arriving in Hopkinton and trying to stay dry as they await the start of the Boston Marathon. It's cold, wet and windy on Monday for the 122nd running of the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon.Bruce Rogers, a 46-year-old runner from Rochester, New York, says he's nervous but excited for "one heck of an adventure." Runners are gathering underneath large tents set up outside of the town's high school. Many are wearing ponchos, extra layers of clothing and grocery bags wrapped around their sneakers to keep warm and dry before the race.
Go to permalink. Everyone knows someone who’s run the marathon . Oh, and the runners were all male. Women were banned from running marathons . In 1966, Bobbi Gibb employed the same strategy at the Boston Marathon and unofficially finished in 3:21:40.
At the 2002 Boston Marathon , a sample of 488 runners approached randomly at race registration completed a survey prior to the race and, at the finish line, provided a blood sample, and completed a questionnaire detailing their fluid consumption and urine output during the race.

Cristopher Nzenwa, of Boston, prays at the site of the first explosion during the 2013 Boston Marathon on April 15, 2018, in Boston.
Transgender Runners Can Compete in the Boston Marathon as Their Self-Identified Gender, Organizers Affirm
The Boston Marathon has reiterated its policy that allows transgender runners to compete under their self-identified gender – amid renewed debate among runners. The Boston Athletic Association, which oversees the marathon, told NPR that organizers only ask that runners compete under the same gender identity they declared when they qualified for the marathon. That policy has been in place for “several years,” according to the statement given to NPR. The New York and Chicago marathons have similar policies, NPR reported. “We don’t require that runners outline their gender identity history with us, so we can’t say for certain how many trans runners are in our race. We do know that we have had several transgender runners in the past,” the Boston Athletic Association told NPR. However, runners are required to show a government-issued ID to get an official bib number and, BAA said “We do compare the ID with the person’s qualification-associated gender description.” The Boston Athletic Association told NPR it does not have a specific policy on how it would handle a runner whose gender identity is not the same as the one listed on the government ID. The BAA said it would try to resolve the issue with “a strong emphasis on inclusion.” The issue of transgender runners has become a topic of discussion in the marathon community following an article in Canadian Running magazine about three transgender women who will run the elite race as their identified gender.
Running the 2017 Boston Marathon ? Get our Boston -specific training articles, exclusive But, despite the universality of this knowledge, you’ll still find many runners out way over their heads In this interview, Terry is going to share with us the secrets of the Boston marathon course and how to
Here in Boston , the Boston Marathon is legendary. Runners and athletes from all over the world Three—this will be my fourth! Why are you running Boston this year? To beat my time from last year. If I wanted to go to the Boston Marathon , why not actually run it and get the full experience?

Boston Marathon bombing victim Jeff Bauman (L) attends a ceremony at the site of the first explosion on the 5th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings in Boston on April 15, 2018.
People run course that spells out 'Boston' on 5th anniversary of bombings
The city's triathlon team began what they call the #BostonRun two weeks after the 2013 bombings, in tribute to those affected by the attack. The city's triathlon team, Zoom Multisport, began what they call the #BostonRun two weeks after the 2013 bombings, said Greg Soutiea, one of the organizers. Several members of the club were stopped short of finishing the race or, for the ones who did finish, they were still downtown when the bombs exploded.
Columns, Resources, Your Ultra-Training Bag of Tricks . Essential Elements of Successful Ultramarathon Training. They may be experienced at the ultra distance but their race results don’t reflect that. Several years ago I trained for a marathon with the goal of a Boston qualifier.
A decade ago, Judy Pitasi was enraged to see thousands of pounds of discarded clothes going into the trash in Hopkinton after the start of the Boston Marathon . But after 2013, a service that allowed runners to have a bag bussed back to the finish line in Boston was eliminated due Beat the Press.

Boston Marathon bombing witness Carlos Arredondo carries a "Boston Strong" banner after blessing the runners during services at Old South Church on the 5th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings in Boston on April 15, 2018.
Who Was The Last American Woman To Win The Boston Marathon?
No American woman has won the Boston Marathon since 1985. This year's women's elite field has a strong chance of ending the drought. This year's women's elite field includes reigning champion Edna Kiplagat of Kenya, who looks to become the first woman to win back-to-back Boston Marathon titles since Rita Jeptoo in 2013 and 2014. Jeptoo was later stripped of her 2014 win after she tested positive for EPO. Before Jeptoo, the last back-to-back champion was Catherine Ndereba in 2004 and 2005. The U.S. women's field for 2018 features Marblehead native Shalane Flanagan, who won the 2017 New York City Marathon. She has run Boston three times and finished as high as fourth. Jordan Hasay looks to improve upon her third place finish from last year and is coming off a 2:20:57 at the Chicago Marathon. Desiree Linden was second in 2011 and consistently races in Boston most years. The pre-race favorite among the Americans appears to be Molly Huddle, who has only run one previous marathon and was third at the 2016 New York City Marathon. American record holder Deena Kastor is also in the field at 45 years old. Flanagan, Hasay, Huddle and Linden look to become the first woman to win Boston since Lisa Rainsberger broke the tape in 1985. The highest American finish since Rainsberger was the runner-up finish by Linden. The last American man to win Boston is Meb Keflezighi in 2014.
With the Boston Marathon today, I want to help all those runners who are having a hard time walking. We’re going to look at some tactics to help you recover faster and minimize soreness from the race. A handful of nuts, some leftover chicken, or even a protein shake will do the trick .
About Our Running Experts. Runners Connect » Boston Marathon Qualifying. Day 5 – Qualifiers who have met their age/gender qualifying time by a margin of 5 minutes or faster may apply. Day 8 – Open to all qualifiers to register.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, center, stands with the mother of Krystle Campbell, Patricia Campbell, second from right, following a wreath-laying ceremony at the Boston Marathon finish line where Krystle Campbell was killed by an explosion in the 2013 bombing on Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Boston.
Desi Linden shows incredible sportsmanship in winning Boston Marathon
Desi Linden didn't hesitate to help her friend and competitor Shalane Flanagan, who needed to make a quick stop, during the Boston Marathon.Miles before Desi Linden made history by winning the Boston Marathon, she didn't think she'd even finish the 26.2-mile race.
“I was approaching about mile 26. I could see the other runner in front of me, his legs were wobbly. He looked like he was about to go down…” As Dave Meyer and Jim Grove noticed one of their fellow Boston Marathon runners struggling, they stopped to assist him.
Your Ultra-Training Bag of Tricks : Two-A-Days How to use two-a-days (doubles) in training for an I've definitely seen quite a bit of that around the Boston marathon , and 100 milers. Pain Management for Runners Beat Achilles Pain Recover from Plantar Fasciitis Cure Plantar Fasciitis

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (R) comforts Patty Campbell (2nd R), the mother of Boston Marathon bombing victim Krystle Campbell, during a ceremony at the site of the first explosion on the 5th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings in Boston on April 15, 2018.
Who is Sarah Sellers? The Boston Marathon runner-up is a 26-year-old full-time nurse.
"I still can't believed I finished second. I'm going to wake up and this will be a dream,” Sellers said.Sellers crossed the finish line in second place at the prestigious 26.2-mile race, in rain-soaked conditions, as a virtual unknown. Few online road-race results existed for Sellers, and she was not listed among the elite field for Boston. In the wet and windy conditions, Sellers wore a nondescript outfit, with no visible sponsors, and crossed the finish line by simply clicking the timer on her watch.
Runners offered their opinions on the toughest parts of the Boston Marathon . The most difficult part is running over Route 128, running over 95. That’s tough, because it’s a slow, light hill up. But at the same time, you’re open to the elements .
Filed Under: Boston Marathon , Marathon Running , Marathon Training. It’s not a great time to clean out the garage, go hiking with a friend or hit the mall for some power shopping. Mental Preparation. Runners should use the final week before the Boston Marathon to visualize their race plan, think

The family of Martin Richard, from left, Bill, Jane, Henry and Denise, walk down Boylston Street following a ceremony at the site where Martin Richard and Lingzi Lu were killed in the second explosion at the 2013 Boston Marathon, Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Boston.
Boston Honors Victims, Survivors on Fifth Anniversary of Marathon Bombing
Boston will commemorate the anniversary with One Boston Day, an annual series of events that aims to promote kindness and acts of generosity.Memorials to mark the spot where the two bombs detonated near the finish line by Copley Square are set to be completed in the coming months. The memorials, a mix of granite, bronze and glass, were expected to be unveiled during the five-year anniversary, but work to complete them has taken longer than expected, The Boston Globe reported.
– Take a trash bag , cut a whole for your head, and wear it while you wait at the starting line. Too many runners attempt to maintain their goal pace no matter the conditions. How to Avoid Overstride & Quad Dependency. 12 Fast Facts About The Boston Marathon .
Runners who have beat their time by 5 minutes or more can register on day four. The 10 Best Races to Qualify for the Boston Marathon . How to Treat and Prevent Running Injuries: Runner 's Knee. How to Go From Zero to Marathon in Six Months.
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A man writes a note at a memorial for victims at the site of the first explosion in the Boston Marathon bombings, one day before the 5th anniversary of the blasts on April 14 in Boston, Massachusetts. Events around the city marked the fifth anniversary of the attack that killed three and injured hundreds.
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Passers-by pause at a memorial for victims at the site of the first explosion in the Boston Marathon bombings, one day before the 5th anniversary of the blasts on April 14 in Boston, Massachusetts.
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Boston Marathon bombing survivors Celeste, Kevin, Sydney, and Tyler Corcoran are introduced during a ceremony before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles on April 13 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Before a baseball game at Fenway on April 13, 2018, Boston Marathon bombing survivors pause for a moment of silence for Yarmouth, Mass., Police Officer Sean Gannon, who was killed the day before, while serving a warrant.
Desi Linden details 'American pride' that fueled her Boston Marathon sportsmanship, win
In offering to help Shalane Flanagan, Desi Linden says she didn't think she'd finish the Boston Marathon in the early miles of the race.In an appearance Tuesday on Good Morning America, Linden recounted her act of good sportsmanship that preceded her memorable finish. Flanagan, the 2017 New York City Marathon champ who eventually finished seventh overall, made a quick stop at a Porta Potty early in the race, and Linden slowed up to wait for Flanagan so she could get back on pace.
Marathon course (without a strong tailwind), and her intense pace-setting led the winner, Kenyan runner Rita Jeptoo, to beat the course record of 2:20:43 with a 2:18 As he pulled away from the lead pack at the Boston Marathon , they let him go , which turned out to be a huge mistake on their part.
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Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman and American Red Cross volunteer Carlos Arredondo are recognized before a game between the Orioles and the Red Sox on April 13 in Boston.
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Boston Marathon bombing survivor Dic Donohue and Billy Campbell, brother of Boston Marathon bombing victim Krystelle Campbell is introduced during a ceremony before a game between the Red Sox and the Orioles on April 13 in Boston.
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Boston Marathon bombing survivors Patrick Downes and Jessica Kensky are introduced during a ceremony before a game between the Red Sox and the Orioles on April 13 in Boston.
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Boston Marathon bombing survivors Heather Abbott and Noelle Lambert are introduced during a ceremony before a game between the Red Sox and the Orioles on April 13 in Boston.
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Family of Boston Marathon bombing victim Sean Collier are introduced during a ceremony before a game between the Red Sox and the Orioles on April 13 in Boston.
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Boston Marathon bombing survivors the Rent family are introduced during a ceremony before a game between the Red Sox and the Orioles on April 13 in Boston.
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Charlie Hahn, left, and Dan Kendall, owner of Sincere Metal Works in Chelsea, MA, work to remove the wax from a mold for a cast glass tube that will serve as the inside of the lamp post in three Boylston Street memorials to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings on April 11.
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People walk past the site of one of the Boston Marathon bombing on Boylston Street in Boston on April 11, 2018. The site will soon be marked by a memorial to the victims.
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In this April 9 photo, Boston Marathon bombing survivor Marc Fucarile carries his racing handcycle to a road while preparing to train in Reading, Mass. for this year's Boston Marathon.
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Jessica Kensky and her service dog Rescue at their home in Cambridge, Mass. on March 26. Jessica and her husband Patrick Downes were injured in the Boston Marathon Bombing. Her dog, Rescue, changed her life and she has written a children's book "Rescue & Jessica" based on her experiences with losing her legs.
Mitch Raney had two goals after he qualified for the Boston Marathon following his performance at the Grand Rapids Marathon in Michigan last October. He simply hoped to finish the race, and run a time faster than three hours and 25 minutes to qualify him for Boston next year.
Then Raney refocused his goal and the race took on a more profound meaning after an unexpected gut punch.
“My brother-in-law passed away on my birthday a few weeks ago, so I’ll be thinking of him when I’m running the whole time,” Raney said. “Today, it’s going to be hard.”
Raney’s focus on remembering his brother-in-law, Franz, helped distract from the biting weather. He took shelter in an entrance to the Tremont Street parking garage, one of the few warm spots on Boston Common, as he waited to board a bus for Hopkinton.
© Anthony Gulizia/Globe Correspondent John Ellenbecker bought gardening gloves to wear Monday. Of course, warm was a relative term on Monday morning. It was a chill-inducing 38 degrees at the starting line in Hopkinton, described as the coldest in 30 years at the Boston Marathon. Wind and rain whipped intermittently as runners boarded the school buses.
“I’m feeling super super nervous and have been for the last couple days, but I’m also excited,” said Raney, who is from Bloomington, Indiana.
Liz Libby, one of several volunteers on hand, did her best to greet participants and direct them accordingly. The Lynn resident has volunteered more years than she can remember, having lost count after 20 Boston Marathons.
Monday was undoubtedly the worst conditions.
“We’re just trying to tell them to be happy,” Libby said. “Just trying to give them that good high before they get on the bus. They’re so focused. We’re just trying to give them one smile and take pictures for their loved ones.
“It’s really inspiring. They’re still out there running. A lot of them are not from here so we’re just trying to show them the nice side of Boston.”
Libby’s nieces, Marcia Libby and Michelle Carter, have also volunteered for 14 and 17 years, respectively.
“I just love all the exuberance you can give to the runners,” Marcia Libby said. “They’re not even awake yet.”
Trash bags were popular for runners trying to preserve themselves from the elements. The cheap, and more importantly, disposable household item provided just enough protection from the rain. Plastic shopping bags were effective, too, as runners tied them around their sneakers to keep them dry from the rain and mud.
John Ellenbecker, a runner from Minneapolis, Minnesota, arrived last Wednesday when temperatures were warmer. As the forecast began to predict less favorable conditions, Ellenbecker went to Target and bought a hat and gardening gloves – the durable, waterproof material a key for the race.
“This isn’t too bad with the winter we had in Minneapolis,” Ellenbecker said. “It was probably negative 10 a couple of those days [training].”
There was an abundance of support from relatives and friends sending off participants, which was why Baxter Overton and Susan Snyder stood in the rain all morning. They were wishing their son Kenny well in his first Boston Marathon after qualifying in Toronto.
Kenny’s girlfriend, Sylvia Alba, helped waterproof all of his gear. Their secret was camp dry spray, often used on the outside of tents to keep rain from seeping in. Alba sprayed his shoes, shorts and socks, all part of the effort to help Kenny Snyder to his goal of three hours.
After a quick kiss and hug, Snyder was off to the bus, while his family hoped to catch a quick nap before meeting him a Heartbreak Hill.
“We just told him,’ Be careful, we love you, and good luck,” Susan Snyder said.
Desi Linden details 'American pride' that fueled her Boston Marathon sportsmanship, win .
In offering to help Shalane Flanagan, Desi Linden says she didn't think she'd finish the Boston Marathon in the early miles of the race.In an appearance Tuesday on Good Morning America, Linden recounted her act of good sportsmanship that preceded her memorable finish. Flanagan, the 2017 New York City Marathon champ who eventually finished seventh overall, made a quick stop at a Porta Potty early in the race, and Linden slowed up to wait for Flanagan so she could get back on pace.