5 Things To Know About The 2026 Boston Marathon

BOSTON, MA — Monday marks the 130th Running of the Boston Marathon, making it longest running annual marathon in the world.

But everybody knows the Boston Marathon is the oldest on Earth. Here are five things you may not have known.

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1. Racers From Around The World

Citizens hailing from 132 countries, as well as residents of all 50 of the United States, will compete in the Boston Marathon on Patriots' Day. That includes more than 4,600 runners from Massachusetts.

2. 5o Year Anniversary Of 'Run For The Hoses'

Scorching temperatures neared 100 degree during the 1976 Boston Marathon 50 years ago.

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"Participants relied on spectators spraying hoses, handing out water and oranges, and offering ice to persevere through the conditions," according to marathon media information.

Fortunately for this year's competitors, the National Weather Service is calling for a high temperature of 56 degrees.

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3. Marathon Money Making

The nearly $1.5 million in total prize money up for grabs might seem staggering, but it pales in comparison to the $509.1 million impact on the Greater Boston economy, per a University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute’s analysis of the event.

4. 5 Olympic Gold Medalists Also Boston Champions

Five Olympic Marathon winners have also claimed the Boston crown. Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, a 2021 gold medalist, was the most recent, taking the Boston race in 2022.

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5. Volunteer Effort

A team of 10,000 volunteers will support race weekend festivities for the field of 30,000 competitors. Volunteer roles include prerace preparation, working the Boston Marathon Expo, bib and shirt distribution and the Fan Fest.

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