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The spirit of the Boston Marathon has become stronger than ever.
Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
For those reasonsand many othersthe Boston Marathon holds a unique place in the world of competitive sports.
The Boston Marathon is a particularly prestigious race.
Running the Boston Marathon is a challenge in and of itself.
But getting entry in the first place is arguably even tougher.
“Many refer to [Boston] as the ‘Peoples Olympics,’ " Lotsbom tells SELF.
The first early miles are significantly downhill.
The Newton hills coincide with the time when many marathoners hit the wall, or feel extremely fatigued.
Its really the tough part physically, says Lotsbom.
It’s known for drawing tons of spectators.
Its very hard to find a spot where there are no spectators, says Lotsbom.
The closer runners get to the city center, the largerand louderthe crowds.
The final mile of the course is particularly raucous.
Its three, four, five people deep sometimes,” says Lotsbom.
Athletes who are especially gritty tend to do well in Boston.
Of course pretty muchallmarathoners, no matter the course, have impressive levels of fitness and perseverance.
After all, theyre tackling 26.2 miles in one straight push, which is no easy feat.
But when it comes to doing well at Boston, athletes typically need an additional dose of grit.
Another challenge for athletes is the fact that New England weather is very unpredictable, says Lotsbom.
One year it can be cool and cloudy; the next year it can be hot and sunny.
The elite field is stacked for the 2019 race.
According to B.A.A., 17 Boston Marathon champions from all divisions of the race are competing again this year.
There are a few other special highlights this year.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the races official charity program.
Benoit Samuelson, now 61, first won the Boston Marathon in 1979 as a 21-year-old Bowdoin College student.
6. you could track runners and watch from wherever you are.
you might also see updates on the Boston MarathonFacebook page,Twitter,Instagram, andVimeoaccounts.
