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Boston Half · Nov 9 2025

About Us

Boston Athletic Association: Running in Boston since 1887

Boston Athletic Association

Mission

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running.

Boston Athletic Association

Vision

Committed to a world where all people can access and benefit from running and an active lifestyle.

Our Team

Meet the team who bring the B.A.A.'s vision and mission to life.

Our Staff

Community Driven

The B.A.A. hosts year-round events ranging in distance from the mile to marathon, featuring athletes of all ages and abilities.

Run

No matter where you are on your running journey, there's a B.A.A. event for you. We welcome all to run with us at an upcoming event.

Volunteer

Our events wouldn't be the same without the passion and energy which thousands of volunteers bring on race day.

Support

What makes B.A.A. events unique is the spectator support and community spirit. The running community unites on race day.

History

The B.A.A. is one of the nation’s oldest athletic clubs, established on March 15, 1887.

The club held its first organized track and field competition in 1890, and chose a mythical unicorn as its symbol, which remains to this day.

On April 19, 1897, the 24.5-mile B.A.A. Road Race was held as part of the B.A.A. Games spring competition. The race would eventually become known as the Boston Marathon, with a starting field of 15 runners. Ten participants finished the inaugural run.

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Land Acknowledgement

We run on the homelands of the Nipmuc and Massachusett. Long before the Boston Athletic Association was created and still to this day, Indigenous and Native American people have run on these lands—their homeland. We acknowledge the trauma experienced over centuries by the Indigenous people who live on these lands and continue to face injustice. We honor with gratitude those peoples who have stewarded this land throughout the generations and their ongoing contributions to the region. We look forward to our continued collaboration in the years ahead. We thank all Indigenous and Native Americans who have shared and continue to share their stories.