John Kelley (#2) and Hal Higdon (#129) leading the pack of the 1959 Marathon. | Photo via @wellesleyhistorical
The 129th Boston Marathon is just days away — this Monday, April 21, to be exact — so we wanted to look back on some historic finishes for the oldest marathon in the world. Here are 15 milestone years from the race’s highly decorated history.
(P.S. — don’t miss our guide to this year’s event.)
The first race was only 24.5 miles from Ashland to the Irvington Street Oval near Copley Square.
The first woman to run as an unofficial entrant was Roberta “Bibbi” Gibb in 1966.
Sisay Lemma, a runner in the men’s open, won the 2024 Boston Marathon with a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, and 17 seconds.
Hellen Obiri, a runner in the women’s open, won the last two marathons, finishing them both in less than 2 hours and 25 minutes.
We did the math: Lemma’s average mile time is 4:51, or a little more than 12 mph. Obiri’s average mile time is 5:29, or almost 11 mph.
Give a shoutout or words of encouragement to someone running in the 2025 Boston Marathon...
“Jeff Robinson, we’re all so proud of you! You’ve trained hard for your first Boston Marathon and you’ll do great!” — reader Susie R.
“Go Kate! Running for Boston Children’s Hospital!” — reader Carrie T.
Events
Events
Thursday, April 17
The Running Nerd Game Show with host Laura Green | 7 p.m. | WBUR CitySpace | Things may get a little out of control at this “unhinged” night of comedy and games hosted by Laura Green, a comedian and runner.
Friday, April 18
USA250: Boston Revolutionary Walk | 12:45-5:30 p.m. | Boston Common | Free | Go on a historic and scenic tour of the city in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War.
Chicago White Sox vs. Boston Red Sox | Friday, April 18-Monday, April 21 | Fenway Park | $44 | There’s only enough room for one Sox team in Bean Town.
Saturday, April 19
Yoga for Runners | Saturday, April 19-Sunday, April 20 | 9-10 a.m. | Boston Common | Join a 60-minute session designed for flexibility, mobility, and recovery.
Aziz Ansari | 7 p.m. | Boch Center | $63+ | Prepare to laugh with this talented comedian and actor who played Tom Haverford on NBC’s “Parks & Recreation.”
Donnie Darko | 9 p.m. | Saturday, April 19-Sunday, April 20 | The Brattle Theatre | Spend your night watching a cult classic film staring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, and Patrick Swayze.
Sunday, April 20
Central Square Cambridge Food and Mural Arts Tour | Sunday, April 20 | 12-2:30 p.m. | Central Square Meeting Location, Cambridge | $80 | Unleash your inner art + food critic on this exploration of Central Square.
Monday, April 21
CITGO’s One-Mile-To-Go Block Party | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Beacon Street | Free | Cheer on runners in their final stretch at this pop-up beer garden with live music, activities for kids, and music provided by DJ Tony Clarke from Big Night Live.
Tuesday, April 22
“Friends” Trivia | 6-8:30 p.m. | Central Perk Coffee Co. | Free | Could this themed trivia night be any more fun?
Friday, April 25
Friday, April 25
The Center Will Not Hold: A Dorrance Dance Production | Friday, April 25-Saturday, April 26 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre | $66+ | Experience an exciting dance production that blends tap, breaking, hip-hop, and other street dance styles, accompanied by original music and live percussion.*
Thursday, May 29
Boston Pops Film Night | Thursday, May 29-Saturday, May 31 | 7:30 p.m. | Symphony Hall, Boston | $46+ | Join Keith Lockhart as he leads a special program curated by John Williams, featuring iconic film scores by Williams and the music of the composers who have inspired him.*
Fresh off his successful Netflix show, John Mulaney is hitting the road. The award-winning comedian and actor is making a stop in Boston on Sunday, June 29 at Tanglewood and tickets are on sale now. We fully expect this to sell out, so don’t hesitate.
Sports
Paige Bueckers is going to the big leagues. The highly decorated UConn all-star was selected as the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Dallas Wings (hey, DALtoday) in the 2025 WNBA Draft. There have been five other Huskies drafted at No. 1, including Maya Moore and Sue Bird.
Try This
A 10,000+ person commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is taking place Saturday, April 26 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. at the Boston Common. This day is in honor of the 1965 Freedom Rally that was hosted by MLK and other prominent figures urging for systemic change.
Number
61. That’s how many wins the Boston Celtics achieved this year, marking just the 12th time in franchise history the team surpassed 60 wins. Take a look at the other 11 teams to do so + how their seasons ended.
Coming Soon
Nine, a new French cuisine restaurant, is expected to open in Beacon Hill at the former No. 9 Park location. Our favorite part? This scoop was discovered by a private local Facebook group dedicated to restaurant openings, which confirmed their suspicions via job postings for the new eatery. (Boston Restaurant Talk)
Festival
OUTLOUD Boston, a summer LGBTQ+ music festival, announced Kim Petras and Trixie Mattel as headline performers. Kim Petras is the first trans woman to win a Grammy + Trixie Mattel is best known for her appearance on “RuPaul Drag Race.” (The Boston Globe)
Opening
A new Trader Joe’s is opening in West Roxbury at 1999 Center St., according to the grocery chain’s website. An exact opening date was not announced.In the meantime, check out other locations on Boylston Street + Thompson Place.
Trending
We love local newsletters. Yup, guilty as charged. That’s why we are recommending this new locally produced newsletter, “Apricitá Pictures,” so you can stay in the loop about casting calls, movies, and other productions taking place in Boston.
Ranked
A new study from WalletHub shows it’s easy being green in Massachusetts. The Bay State is ranked the eighth most eco-friendly state in the country. Our high-quality water and environment + various climate change efforts led the way to the high ranking.
Finance
We know you’re smart (you’re a BOStoday subscriber, after all), but we all have our blind spots when it comes to spending. Here are the 11 dumbest things smart people waste money on.*
Seasonal
It’s social event season — outsmart the noise of rumbling crowds and hear conversations more clearly. Most hearing aids have one processor, but these bad boys have two. They process speech and noise separately, so speech gets clearer and crisper. That’s why 540,000+ customers swear by them.*
Calling all small business owners. Features in our 2025 Parents Gift Guide are now 20% off. Secure a spot for your business’s product or service by using code PGG2025 at checkout.
City Guide
City Guide
📍 No place like home
The Boston University Bridge is unlike any other in the world. | Photo by @paulcanottaggio
Nah, just kidding. If you know us, you know we’re here for the deep cuts — and there’s plenty of interesting factoids to go around. Maybe you’ve lived here your whole life and know some of this, or maybe you’ll learn something new. Either way, test your local knowledge with these 15 interesting facts.
1. The MBTA’s Tremont Street subway was the first subway tunnel in America and is the third oldest still in use worldwide. It opened to the public in 1897, and the original five-mile track ran from an entrance at the Public Garden and an entrance near Haymarket Square.
2. The Boston Public Garden is America’s first public botanical garden. The Boston Common was established in 1634 and the Public Garden, located right across the street, came later in 1837. The historic green space was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
Really cute waterdrop earrings, with one pair of gold and one pair of silver for $12.99. The minimalist earrings hug ears + look heavy while feeling surprisingly lightweight.
We have the Red Sox, Celtics, and Huskies all mentioned in this newsletter — might as well drop a Bruins headline too.
It’s been a rough season for the B’s as they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Management, however, is not deterred. They confirmed to local reporters that no major changes will be made to the front office this off-season and they are focused on getting back on track next year.
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