Our History

Among the nation’s oldest athletic clubs, the Boston Athletic Association was established on March 15, 1887 under its first president, Robert F. Clark, and with the support of leading sports enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and politicians of the day.

The B.A.A. held its first organized track and field competition. The Association chose a mythical unicorn as its symbol, which remains on the Boston Marathon and B.A.A. medals to this day. (The origin of how they decided the unicorn would be the B.A.A.’s emblem is still a mystery!)

B.A.A. athletes made up a majority of the USA team at the first modern Olympics in Greece, and witnessed the inaugural Olympic Marathon – which would be an inspiration to create the Boston Marathon.

The 24.5-mile B.A.A. Road Race concluded the B.A.A. Games, a springtime athletic competition. The first Boston Marathon, as the race would later become known, was held on April 19, 1897 with a starting field of 15 runners. Ten participants finished the inaugural run, which began in Ashland, Mass., and the race has been held every year since.

The Boston Marathon race route was extended to 26.2 miles to meet the official marathon distance. The race started in Hopkinton for the first time

Heartbreak Hill earned its famed nickname as Ellison Brown ‘breaks’ Johnny Kelley’s heart with a winning pass on the Newton hills. The term was coined by the Boston Globe’s Jerry Nason.

John J. Kelley became the first (and only) B.A.A. runner to win the Boston Marathon

Roberta ‘Bobbi’ Gibb jumps into the Boston Marathon from the bushes and becomes the first woman to complete Boston Marathon.

Kathrine (KV) Switzer becomes the first woman to run Boston with a bib number, prevailing at a time when women were not allowed to enter the event.

Qualifying standards are implemented for the first time in race history as a way to manage the growing field size.

Women were officially allowed by the AAU to run the Boston Marathon. 8 women start the race.

First year of wheelchair participation, as Bob Hall completes the course in 2:58 to become the first official finisher in wheelchair division history.

Kenya’s Ibrahim Husssein becomes the first African to win Boston, ushering in an era of East African dominance at the race.

The historic 100^th running of the Boston Marathon features a then-world record 38,708 entrants (36,748 starters/35,868 finishers)

The Professional Women’s start is implemented at the front of the field to better showcase the women’s race; becomes an industry standard for races around the world.

Two explosions go off along the final stretch on Boylston Street, resulting in five deaths and many injuries. “Boston Strong” becomes rallying cry for community.

Boston Marathon goes Virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 16,183 runners around the world complete 26.2 miles at home.

First Boston Marathon held in the fall due to the pandemic; B.A.A. begins return to racing.