LETTER: Welcome to All Marathon Runners

Submitted by the Board of Selectmen

Congratulations! To all the runners participating in the 116^th running of the Boston Marathon, congratulations on successfully making it to the start of this prestigious event. For most of you, this event is the culmination of countless dedicated hours of training. You have endured good days on the road as well as bad, and without doubt, they have both helped make you stronger.

The Boston Athletic Association, in conjunction with hundreds of volunteers and community organizations, has worked tirelessly to make this event the world’s premier marathon. Joining the efforts of our police, fire and public works departments here in Hopkinton, all are equally focused on making your stay in Hopkinton fun, safe and memorable.

This year, we mark the 40^th anniversary of women breaking the gender barrier in the Boston Marathon. While Roberta Gibb paved the 26.2 mile path in earlier years, it wasn’t until 1972 that eight women entered and ran the Marathon “officially” for the first time. We are honored that Roberta and five others were able to return this weekend to remember this landmark event.

Along with partaking in any of an abundance of Marathon related activities planned for the weekend, we hope you will take the time to enjoy the natural beauty of our community. Hopkinton is home to spectacular natural resources including three pristine lakes and thousands of acres of open space, filled with trails for walking and riding. Hopkinton is a rare New England find, and one of the best school systems in Massachusetts, this is a wonderful place to raise a family.

Helping to drive our strong economy, Hopkinton is home to some of the best companies in America. Leading the way is , a truly world class data storage company employing over 40,000 people worldwide. Lonza, , Arteiocyte and are examples of a few of our corporate citizens, each adding to our community while calling Hopkinton home.

And so we come to the day you have trained for, and as a result of your training, you will need no luck. Excitement and anticipation fill the air. Breath it in deeply, take one step at a time, and enjoy the memorable experience you are about to embark on.

The people of Hopkinton wish you the best of days, we hope you enjoy your experience, and look forward to your return.

Todd A. Cestari, Chairman

Ben Palleiko, Vice Chairman

Michelle Gates

John Mosher

Brian Herr