The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon held in Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April (A holiday commemorating the American Revolution, and celebrated as an official state holiday only in Massachusetts, USA). Started in 1897, this year was the 114th running of the marathon with 26,000 runners participated. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and is one of five World Marathon Majors: Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City.

The course starts in Hopkinton, Mass, and ends in downtown Boston. Approximately 33.5 Kilometers (21 miles) into the race, in the City of Newton, Mass., there is an elevation in the course called Heartbreak Hill. On and around that hill is where these photos were taken.