Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon is an annual sporting event hosted by the city of Boston and held on Patriots' Day. Considered the world's oldest annual marathon, it is known as one of the most prestigious foot races in the country. Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot won the 2008 marathon, becoming the fourth man in history, and the first Kenyan, to win the race four times.Boston Athletic Association: About the B.A.A.

Over 25,000 participants competed in the 2009 Boston Marathon on April 20.The Boston Channel: Boston Marathon 2009 Details Deriba Merga from Ethiopia won the men's race in 2:08:42, while Kenya's Salina Kosgei took the women's race with a time of 2:32:16.The New York Times: Kosgei and Merga Win Boston Marathon

Considered one of the oldest races in the world, the Boston Marathon was established by the Boston Athletic Association. The Association began on March 15, 1887, under the guidance of Robert F. Clark. Once located at the corner of Exeter and Boylston streets, the association offered sporting facilities such as a gym, tennis courts and a bowling alley. While the location of the association has moved, the offerings have grown, and to date they offer year-long sports programming in addition to the annual marathon.Boston Athletic Association: B.A.A. History