Although the Boston Marathon isn’t held anywhere close to Butler County, it’s the race everyone, runner or non-runner, knows as “the marathon.” And two dozen area runners are registered for the big event on Monday.

April 15 marks the 123rd running of the Boston Marathon. The first event in 1897 began at noon on Patriots’ Day, a local New England holiday commemorating Paul Revere’s famous ride and the opening shots of the Revolutionary War at Lexington and Concord.

The tradition began when officials of the newly formed Boston Athletic Association were inspired by the Olympic Marathon of 1896 and decided to hold their own endurance epic. The original race started at noon with 15 participants who ran 24.5 miles from Ashland to Irvington Oval in Boston. The route followed the rail route as it does today.

The Boston Marathon has been run annually since, making it the oldest annually contested marathon in the world. It has been an individual’s race except for the war year of 1918 when the event was held as a ten-man military relay.

In 1924, the Boston Marathon start was changed to Hopkinton to lengthen the course to the marathon standard 26 miles, 385 yards. The event was an exclusively male race until Roberta Gibb ran the course unofficially in 1966. Although Katherine Switzer finished wearing an official number in 1967, it wasn’t until 1972 that women’s competition was formally recognized.

With the first running boom of the 70s, Boston Marathon participation grew to over 1,000. BAA instituted a minimum qualifying standard of four hours in a previous marathon to limit the field of runners, but runners took that as a challenge.

Although the time standards have changed over the years, qualifying for Boston remains “the everyman’s Olympics” and a gold standard in performance for weekend warriors. In any given year, only 10 percent of marathon finishers will post a Boston qualifying finish time.

When more than 38,000 runners qualified and ran the 100th Boston Marathon in 1996, race organizers knew the event had reached its maximum. Even with new standards, interest continued to build, leading to participation over 20,000.

In 2012, the BAA instituted a rolling admissions schedule for registrations so that those who beat the qualifying times by the most registered first. This was the first time that runners who had met the qualifying standard would be shut out of the race for lack of space.

In 2013, more than 26,000 runners were present when two terrorists set off homemade pressure cooker bombs, killing three and injuring several hundred more spectators and runners. For the following year, runners dedicated their training to standing up to terrorism and supporting Boston. In each year beginning with 2014, participant numbers have topped 30,000.

This year more than 7,000 runners who run under their qualifying standard by almost five minutes were turned away. To resolve the issue, organizers have set the bar higher, toughening qualifying standards for the 2020 marathon by five minutes for all genders and ages.

Although most runners would prefer entry by qualifying, the Boston Marathon reserves approximately 20 percent of registrations for charity runners who raise at least $5,000 each in exchange for entry, elite runners, sponsors, towns which the race runs through and others. In 2018, more than 100 charities raised over $36.6 million.

Good luck to all 2019 Boston Marathon runners, especially: Daniel Spaulding, Marilyn Larocca, Mary Morgan, Chuck Sarver, Jinny Hertweck, Terence Ake, Mark Courtney, Katherine Colton, Kristen Suvick, Leslie Kramer, Lori Fromlak, Elizabeth Perry, Jennifer Weber, Meredith Heusey, Melissa Conjack, Kevin Berger, Kimberley Hohman, John Armstrong, Jeff Lynn, Tom Cavicchi, Amanda Devlin, Gar Bercury, Rob Diloreto, Mark Hunkele, Andrew Chambers, Jason Sittler.

Upcoming Events

Saturdays, 8 a.m.: Up-N-Running Group Run, Valencia. Training for distances up to marathon, starts at All Fit parking area. 724-898-2525 or shoes@runpa.com

Saturday, 10 a.m.: Easter Egg Dash 5k and Bunny Hop 1 Mile and Kids Easter Egg Hunt. Held at Butler Senior High School’s Art Bernardi Stadium. Kaitlyn_reges@butler.k12.pa.us

Sunday, 9 a.m.: Run to Breathe Half Marathon and 5k, Portersville. Starts at Moraine State Park’s McDaniel’s Boat Launch. 724-841-6528 or bonnherb@yahoo.com

Sunday, 9:15 a.m.: Montour Trail National Tunnel 5k and 10k, Hendersonville. Run on Montour Rail Trail, 10k start at 10 A.M. 412-818-5905 or dandlpoe@juno.com

April 18, 6:30 p.m.: Mercer Elementary Glow Run, Mercer. Run or walk 2 miles to benefit Mercer Elementary Field Day, participants encouraged to wear neon and/or glow sticks. Register online at www.runsignup.com or wmcclure@mercer.k12.pa,us

April 20, 7:30 a.m.: Pirates Charities 5k Home Run, Pittsburgh. Run at PNC Park to benefit Pirates Charities. 412-325-4781 or pirates.com. Register online at www.mlb.com/pirates/community/race

April 20, 9 a.m.: Boston Trail ½ Marathon and 5k Run/Walk, Elizabeth Township. Run on Yough River Trail of Great Allegheny Passage. 412-780-7802 or donna.bour@bourassociates.com

April 20, 9 a.m.: Erie Runners Club Spring into Fitness, Presque Isle State Park, Erie. Benefits ERC scholarships, also beach cleanup following the run. 814-881-0600 or davecomi@gmail.com

April 20, 9:30 a.m.: 19th Annual Rabbit Race 5k, Latrobe. Run from Latrobe Memorial Stadium. 724-537-4331 or dawn@latroberecreation.org

April 27, 10 a.m.: 4th Annual Patti J Nelson 5k and 1 Mile Run/Walk, Evans City. 724-272-7564 or pattijnelson5k@gmail.com

May 4, 8 a.m.: Pittsburgh Marathon 5k, Pittsburgh. Begins on North Shore, ends downtown. www.thepittsburghmarathon.com

May 4, 9:30 a.m.: Pittsburgh Kids Marathon, Pittsburgh. Begins on North Shore, ends downtown. www.thepittsburghmarathon.com

May 5, 7:05 a.m.: Pittsburgh Marathon and Half Marathon, Pittsburgh. Also marathon relay. Registration open until April 21. www.thepittsburghmarathon.com

May 8, 6:30 p.m.: Muskie 5k Mini Marathon and 2 Mile Walk, Jamestown. Run starts at Pymatuning State Park’s Main Beach. 724-932-3186, ext. 1319 or muskie5k@yahoo.com

May 11, 6 a.m.: Glacier Ridge Ultra (30k, 50k, 50 miles), Portersville. Run Moraine State Park trails starting at McDaniels Boat Launch on the North Shore. info@glacierridgetrailultra.com or dmurray@civildesign.org

May 11, 9 a.m.: Masonic Miles for Heroes 5k, Punxsutawney. Run on rail trail. 814-939-9770 or Justin_mauk@yahoo.com

Race Results

19th Annual Sean T. Smith Memorial Just a Short Run 30k, March 30: Dan Berkenpas, 1st Overall M, 2:02:16; Lauren Reasoner, 1st Overall W, 2:02:50; Josh Flanhofer, 2nd 35-39 M, 2:15:33; John Armstrong, 1st 50-54 M, 2:33:41; Rene Whiteman, 2nd 35-39 W, 2:42:47; Amanda Temple, 3rd 35-39 W, 2:46:08; Marilyn LaRocca, 2nd 55-59 W, 2:53:34; Lori Fromlak, 2:46:14; Robert Porco, 2:47:59; Karl Johnson, 2:51:36; Regiane Morgueta, 2:59:06; Johanna Scott, 3:03:06; Leanne Finney, 3:03:11; Thomas Lyncj, 3:06:32; Amy Cegan, 3:09:19; William Woods, 3:10:01; James Caruso, 3:11:58; Matt Scoletti, 3:12:38; Wendy Wick, 3:14:52; Stephanie D’Arbarno, 3:31:45; Laura Palison, 3:32:05; Nate Macioce, 3:32:05; Janelle Fumerola, 2:56:58;

19th Annual Sean T. Smith Memorial Just a Short Run Half Marathon, March 30: Kenny Goodfellow, 1st Overall M, 1:12:32; Jennifer Bigham, 1st Overall W, 1:19:55; Melissa Conjack, 2nd 30-34 W, 1:34:01; Leslie Kramer, 1st 40-44 W, 1:36:58; Todd Allman, 1st 50-54 M, 1:37:52; Heather Miller, 1st 30-34 W, 1:38:26; Gary Hayden, 3rd 45-49 M, 1:43:50; Stacy Kopchak, 1st 55-59 W, 1:44:51; Mary Morgan, 2nd 60-64 W, 2:04:48; Aaron Thomas, 3rd 15-19 M, 2:17:17; Lori Griffith, 3rd 55-59 W, 2:20:54; Nazli Dum, 1st 15-19 W, 2:52:26; Matt Grossman, 1:45:17; James Franks, 1:45:19; Rachel Williams, 1:51:36; Cortney Hagerty, 1:51:36; Gregory Reed, 1:54:59; Suzette Cappola, 1:58:59; Kelley Baumgartel, 2:06:46; Alan Dum, 2:10:14; Jennifer Pacella, 2:13:20; Megan Kosar, 2:14:57; Becky Ponsonby, 2:17:49; Robert Whittington, 2:19:27; Rich Carlson, 2:19:30; Michael Griffith, 2:24:13; Caroline Hufnagle, 2:27:28; Alfred Schnabel, 2:31:49; Jed Daltorio, 2:34:00; Erin Foley, 2:35:00; Kevin Kramer, 2:36:03; Dustin Kopchinsky, 2:36:42; Kelly Kopchinsky, 2:36:44; Jordan Nemchek, 2:46:13; Cole Lesser, 2:46:14; Jennifer Wimer, 1:56:52

19th Annual Sean T. Smith Memorial Just a Short Run 8.1 Mile, March 30: Mac Howison, 1st Overall M, 46:54; Caitlin Mathis, 1st Overall W, 56:41; Heather Hudak, 2nd 45-49 W, 57:42; Lindsey Schnur, 2nd 35-39 W, 1:01:01; Ashley Gage, 3rd 35-39 W, 1:01:06; Donald Donatelli, 3rd 35-39 M, 1:01:11; John Evankovich, 3rd 30-34 M, 1:01:20; Cathy McManus, 1st 45-49 W, 1:02:24; Tom Neff, 1st 55-59 M, 1:02:37; Steve Smith, 3rd 45-49 M, 1:06:05; Mitch Radella, 1st 50-54 M, 1:06:19; Mark Breedlove, 1st 60-64 M, 1:06:39; Michelle Carnicelli, 1st 40-44 W, 1:07:29; Josh Venderlic, 1:02:55; MacKenzie Fagan, 1:08:20; Suzanne Freeze, 1:31:36; Amy Lehman, 1:34:15; Julie Turner, 1:35:35; Peg Harper, 1:36:01; Kristen Ricupero, 1:42:44

19th Annual Sean T. Smith Memorial Just a Short Run 5k, March 30: Peter Boyd, 1st Overall M, 17:37; Erika Suhy, 1st Overall W, 19:52; Ian Bilger, 1st 15-19 M, 21:30; Mark Likoudis, 1st 60-64 M, 23:01; Brad Hunkele, 1st 10-14 M, 23:11; Alex Neary, 2nd 25-29 M, 24:52; Bradan Lenz, 2nd 10-14 M, 26:32; Jeff Mayer, 1st 40-44 M, 27:08; Alexandra Klaff, 1st 45-49 W, 27:58; Levi Kerlick, 3rd 40-44 M, 28:11; Tali Klaff, 2nd 15-19 W, 29:14; Corinne Reed, 3rd 15-19 W, 29:23; Christine Lenz, 2nd 45-49 W, 30:05; Barbara Ford, 1st 60-64 W, 30:27; David Denk, 2nd 50-54 M, 31:42; Carrie Denk, 3rd 45-49 W, 31:42; Peter Taube, 3rd 50-54 M, 31:59; Glenn Dittman, 1st 55-59 M, 33:55; Patti Dittman, 2nd 60-64 W, 33:56; Troy Stiffler, 2nd 55-59 M, 34:33; Jody Mayer, 30:59; Eli Lenz, 31:10; Jim McCaffrey, 39:34; Erica Ritenour, 44:39; Toni Everetts, 18:35; Linda Rizza, 57:49

Send comments and suggestions to Patricia Neubert. Phone 724-352-4395. Email lotzak@consolidated.net.

Pat Neubert is a running columnist for the Butler Eagle