Caroline Rotich wins 2015 BAA Boston Marathon, photo by PhotoRun.net
In 1986, when John Hancock became the first professional sponsor of the B.A.A. Boston marathon, the field was a humongous 6,600 people, I believe. Then chairman of John Hancock David D’Allesandro, always quotable, said, “For three million dollars a year, I own the city of Boston for one day.” And right he was.
The most iconic and historic marathon in the world was dragged, kicking and screaming from some, into the modern world of road racing. That past few years have been full of ups and downs for Boston and its fans.
But 2015 brought the race full circle. The ebullient Caroline Rotich showed us that it was okay to truly celebrate a hard fought win. And Lelisa Desisa, who had won in 2013, and gave his medal and some of his prize money back to the marathon he loves, came back won in 2015, and took the medal home: his second win, and his first medal.
But it is the Boston marathon, its fans, its sponsors, the BAA, its city that we salute, in wind, cold and rain, that make this race an institution and fitting of being the RBR Event of the Month for April.
The Boston Marathon has earned it each and every year, but 2015, was just a bit more special and poignant.
and, as the voice over noted, ” a day for Boston.”
Thanks to the Shoe Addicts for developing this video as they always do for RunBlogRun Awards.