New age of the Boston Marathon

AMAA Journal, Spring, 2007 by Dave Watt

It's Boston time. For many runners, it's that time of year when you trek to the most famous marathon starting line in the world--Hopkinton. For some, the journey is the culmination of many years of marathon training. For others, as of recent, it's become a fundraising goal to earn an official entry. The Boston Marathon has a history timeline similar to many other sports. You can view it in two periods: the pure amateur days from its inception in 1897 to 1985 and the post-1985 era when Boston's Board of Governors allowed John Hancock to become the first major sponsor of the race. Some may suggest that Boston's history is a mirror of the population's running activity.

The so-called first running boom started in the late 60s and exploded soon after the 1972 Olympics with Frank Shorter's improbable gold medal win in the marathon. Yet Boston's marathon landscape changed more as a result of sponsorship fees and prize money than that of an increase in qualifying runners.

The thought in the running community after 1985 was that Boston was in trouble. All the top marathoners essentially boycotted the first lady of marathons. Step in sports marketing icon and future CEO David D'Alessandro and the John Hancock Insurance Company. With a million dollar pledge, Boston was rescued and the amateur era was over. Boston saw the return of elite runners and a nod by the international community that it was on par with other major marathons in attracting the best competitive runners. Yet Boston and the running world did not anticipate the next wave of change to alter the operations and landscape of marathoning--the female boom and charity runners.

Prior to 1967, women were banned from officially running Boston. Kathryn Switzer's run as K. Switzer changed that rule. It was another women's foray into marathoning that had an even larger impact on women's participation. In 1994, Oprah Winfrey lost 80 lbs. and grabbed the sports spotlight when she showed up to run the Marine Corps Marathon. Many runners' jaws dropped when they saw that Oprah--yes Oprah--had run a 4:29 marathon, a 26.2 mile run in a downpour no less. In the years to follow, the number of women entering and finishing marathons jumped. Over the next 10 years, the percentage of women running marathons doubled. But many of these women wanted more. They wanted to run for a cause.

The pioneer charity marathon program was the then-Leukemia Society's Team-in-Training (TNT). Fueled by mostly women runners, TNT introduced fundraising to marathoning. Boston soon realized that it was good for the sport and regional supporters to allow "invitational" charity runners.

Today the Boston Marathon still holds itself on an exalted plain in marathoning. The race has adapted to the changing marathon environment and is flourishing. What used to seem impossible at Boston is now probable. This year will mark the second year of the wave start. And more importantly, the 109-year tradition of starting the race at noon is history. The first wave start is scheduled for 10 am. Soon the photo image of K. Switzer being grabbed by the Boston Marathon's Jock Semple will fade into distant memory. Women, charity runners, and elite runners have all found a home in Boston. Enjoy the future of Boston. Enjoy the run.

--Dave Watt

AMAA Executive Director