Boston Marathon 2023: What you need to know about the course
We break down the iconic Boston Marathon course which begins in Hopkinton and takes in 'Scream Tunnel' and 'Heartbreak Hill' before finishing on Boylston Street.
Athletics
The Boston Marathon is considered one of the hardest World Marathon Majors due to its hilly profile.
This year, over 30,000 participants are expected to descend on the legendary course which has the standard marathon distance of 42.195km (26 miles and 385 yards).
The 127th Boston Marathon takes place, as usual on Patriots' Day in Massachusetts - the third Monday of April - which this year is 17 April.
It starts in Hopkinton and finishes on Boylston Street, but there is plenty in between including 'Scream Tunnel' and 'Heartbreak Hill'.
Read on for a rundown of the Boston Marathon course.
The start at Hopkinton
The runners assemble for the start at what is considered the Athletes' Village at Hopkinton Middle and High School.
The start takes the enthusiastic crowds down the narrow streets in Hopkinton and Ashland which is initially quick and downhill.
The stretch between the third and 10th kilometres consists of a few hills, but it is mainly a prolonged downhill run testing a runner’s ability to tackle the declines.
The 'Flat Zone' between Framingham and Natick
After the 10km mark in Framingham, the road widens, and the packed crowds become sparser. For the next eight kilometres the course is mainly flat with a bit of an ascent between 17 and 18km.
With the halfway mark approaching, the runners ready for what’s considered the loudest part of the Boston Marathon course.
Halfway point at the 'Scream Tunnel'
The 21km mark is around Wellesley College with students at the all-women establishment continuing the tradition which began in the early editions of the marathon.
The undergraduates are known for their loud cheers - and high-fives and the occasional kiss - at the now famous 'Scream Tunnel'. The cheers energise the runners through the long downhill stretch that begins just after the 24km, followed by a sharp climb over a kilometre into an overpass.
There is a straight way before hitting the 28km where participants pour onto the Commonwealth Avenue.
Heartbreak Hill
This is the notorious uphill part of the race. There are four inclines in Newton with Heartbreak Hill the last of them between 32 and 33km.
While it only climbs 28m, the 3.3 per cent gradient is what makes Heartbreak Hill such a test especially on the back of three slightly less demanding climbs.
It earned its name from the 1936 race when defending champion Johnny Kelly famously patted leader Elison Brown on the back as he ran past him. That gesture fired up Brown, who made a dramatic recovery to win the race.
The downhill stretch before the finish
After conquering the hills, the next 5km is mostly downhill as runners head through Brookline and Kenmore Square.
It’s a crowded section for the spectators, as baseball fans tussle to catch a glimpse of the runners as they head to the finish.
In a tradition which began in 1960 as part of festivities to mark Patriots’ Day, the Boston Red Sox play the only late morning game in the baseball calendar at 11am.
The early start allows the game to end as runners stream through Kenmore Square.
The finish line
The marathoners then head into Hereford Street, where they encounter another small hill that often goes unnoticed as the runners’ dash for the finish.
The last 1.6km (mile) turns into Boylston Street with the finish line near the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.
It was at the finish in 2013 where two bombs were detonated in a terror attack, killing three people and injuring scores of others.
In 2019, monuments comprising three stone pillars and sculptured bronze lighting columns were unveiled to commemorate the victims.
While security has been stepped up in the aftermath of that grave incident, the finish line continues to see thousands of spectators cheer runners as they cross the line and complete, what for many of them, will be a lifetime ambition.