UPDATE: Two bombs have exploded at the finish line of Boston Marathon 2013. For more of this breaking story, please see Tara Dodrill’s report.
Boston Marathon 2013 opens this morning to beautiful weather with good running temperatures that will likely reach the mid 50s, a relief to organizers after last year’s dangerous heat. It’s the 117th annual event for the world’s oldest and perhaps most respected marathon. At around 9:17 am local time, the race began.
In 2012, the forecast predicted highs in the 90s — a dangerous heat for many marathon runners. The Boston Athletic Association provided extra water and medical assistance. They also said that anyone who had qualified for 2012 but decided not to run because of the heat would be automatically allowed into the 2013 race.
About 2,200 runners took the deal, according to the BAA’s Boston Marathon 2013 official Twitter feed.
They also said that about 12,500 marathoners participated in last night’s pre-race dinner, which required preparing over 11,300 pounds of pasta. Eating a lot of pasta and other carbs is a traditional way that runners fuel for endurance.
The race promises to be a thrilling one, although forecasters are already predicting that American men won’t end a decades-long losing streak. Last year’s winner Wesley Korir of Kenya is back to defend his title, and there are several other strong Kenyan and Ethiopian runners in the race.
According to the BAA, either a Kenyan or an Ethiopian has won 23 of the last 25 Boston marathons, and 2013 will likely only add to that number.
Although American men haven’t won since Greg Meyer took the title in 1983, American women aren’t doing much better. The last women’s winner from the United States was 1985’s Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach.
Weather in Hopkinton at 9 a.m. is 46 degrees with winds at 6 mph out of the ENE. Boston is 47 degrees with a 5 mph ENE breeze.
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 15, 2013
W: Sharon Cherop captured her Boston title in a dramatic 2:31.50. In the last five years, Boston has been decided by a combined 10 seconds.
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 15, 2013
M: Ten men have run under 2:06:30. Boston’s record time is 2:03.02 set by Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) in 2011.
— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) April 15, 2013
Who’s your pick for the winners of the Boston Marathon 2013?
[Wesley Korir #1 marathon photo by Steve Yager / Shutterstock.com ]
