Hopkinton’s Marathon Footprint
The 26.2 Foundation is pleased to share Hopkinton’s Marathon Footprint project; a series of stories written by freelance writer and Hopkinton resident Michelle Murdock. Written to support and promote the mission of the 26.2 Foundation, the stories focus on Hopkinton’s unique connection to the Boston Marathon and marathoning and the effect of that connection on the town and its residents.
From the establishment of the start line in Hopkinton in 1924 and Hopkinton’s connection to the Boston Athletic Association, to the creation of the Hopkinton Marathon Committee in 1980, to Hopkinton’s sister city relationship with Marathon, Greece, and the local presence of the Marathon Flame, the marathon touches all aspects of life in Hopkinton. You’ll read stories about programs in connection with the Scholars and Stars Program sponsored by John Hancock, which brought excitement to the students at Elmwood School, inspiring creativity in artists, celebrating runners - both near and far - creating memories that will be forever cherished.
“These stories will prove that Hopkinton stands alone in the marathon world,” said 26.2 Foundation President Tim Kilduff. “No other community, which hosts the start of a major marathon, exhibits its support, love and respect for the sport of marathoning like Hopkinton does, has, and will continue to do.”
We invite you to join us in this celebration of Hopkinton’s marathon history as we look back at the beginning of the footprint and move forward to explore its growth and future expansion.
Hopkinton, MA: A Special Place to Start
Hopkinton is the start line of the world famous Boston Marathon, but does that make is special in the marathoning world?
Desire to Inspire Programs brings Kennedy to Middle School
Congressman Joe Kennedy visited the Hopkinton Middle School on Friday, March 25 as part of the “26.2 Desire to Inspire” program to speak about the importance of public service.
26.2 Foundation Promotes Connections to Learning, Greece, and Democracy at Hopkinton Middle School
Four Hopkinton Middle School teachers are part of a unique group benefitting from an educational collaborative known as the Marathon Education Committee.
The Boston Marathon Mosaic Mural Project: Teamwork in Action
Eight students at Hopkinton High have just finished a nine-month long project; creating a mosaic mural that includes 4,042 photos representing staff members and students from the graduating class of 2015 to 2027, plus a few pre-school students from 2028.
Inspiring Hopkinton Students: Marathon Champion Meb Keflezighi in Hopkinton
Boston and New York Marathon Champion and Olympic medalist Meb Keflezighi visited Hopkinton on March 18 stopping at both the middle and high school for an inspirational talk with students about his life from war torn East Africa as a child, to his journey to the United States and to winning the 2014 Boston Marathon.
Celebrating Global Connections
Further cementing a connection made in 2010 when honoring the 2500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon in Greece, representatives from the 26.2 Foundation once again celebrated Hopkinton’s global connections by delivering gold, silver and bronze plated wreaths to the winners of the 39th Marine Corps Marathon.
Marathon Connections
“It all starts here”; a familiar phrase in Hopkinton and the town’s claim to fame as the start line of the Boston Marathon. But through the work of the 26.2 Foundation, Hopkinton also has ties to another marathon – Marathon, Greece.
Shortening the Distance from Hopkinton, Ma to Marathon, Greece.
It is 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston and 4,760 miles from Hopkinton to Marathon, Greece, but that distance is soon to be shortened by the strengthening of the sister-city relationship between Hopkinton and Marathon.
Patching Together Marathon Memories
Several Hopkinton residents have connected to the marathon and its enduring spirit through art and one example is quilting. In 2006, the sister-city relationship between Hopkinton, Massachusetts and Marathon, Greece was established.
Kenya Day: A Tradition at Elmwood School
First started in April of 1993, Kenya Day at Elmwood is now a tradition that has been experienced by thousands of Hopkinton students, and represents yet another component of Hopkinton’s Marathon Footprint.
Inspired to Run
It is the runners who live in Hopkinton that are the subject of our story today; runners who will tell you how it feels to live and run in the town that, this year, will welcome 37,000 runners to the start line of the 118th Boston Marathon.
Desire to Inspire
What happens when several groups, all with related goals, work together to create an educational program inspired by the history of the marathon?