‘Favorite day of the year’: Boston Marathon participants unfazed by cold temperatures

TL;DR

Participants of the 130th Boston Marathon embraced the cold temperatures, finding them ideal for running. Many runners, including first-timer Jenna Larsen from Utah, expressed gratitude for the cooler weather.

Key points

130th Boston Marathon took place despite cold temperatures
Runners found cooler weather ideal for racing
First-time participant Jenna Larsen traveled from Utah

Mentioned in this story

Utah

Boston MarathonJohn Korir

It was a brisk start to Marathon Monday but nothing participants of the 130th Boston Marathon couldn’t handle.

Live updates on 130th Boston Marathon: Defending champion John Korir sets course record

Most competitors tell Boston 25 News, that the cooler temperatures are ideal for running a marathon, although some were chilly leading up to the race.

Runner Jenna Larsen came all the way from Utah for her first ever Boston Marathon.

“It’s kind of cold, but I’m grateful that it’s not hot,” Larsen said.

Runners started dropping off personal belongings around 5:30 Monday morning at the corner of Boylston and Berkeley Streets before taking busses over to the start line in Hopkinton.

Mike Brooks said he’s been volunteering for the marathon for the last 18 years.

“This is my favorite day of the year, it brings the best out of the city,” Brooks said. “There’s such a buzz in the air, I’ve heard so many personal stories through this race and I found personally, it has brought the best out of people.”

Clark Larsen, also from Utah, said he’s looking forward to seeing fans cheering on all 33,000 marathon participants.

“I’m excited for the crowds, I’ve never ran a race like this where there are spectators the whole way, so I think that will be exciting,” Larsen said.

Nizar Nayani is from Houston and is running his second Boston Marathon.

Nayani said it’s an honor to be able to run 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.

“If I can qualify myself to run every year, I think that’s my wish. I think that I have achieved everything in life. This is big getting to Boston,” he said. “It’s very big, it’s very emotional, it’s not easy but it’s amazing to be a part of the Boston Marathon.”

Nayani said it’s emotional because of all the hard work and sacrifice needed to qualify for the race.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Q&A

What is the significance of the 130th Boston Marathon?

The 130th Boston Marathon is a historic event, marking over a century of this prestigious race that attracts thousands of runners from around the world.

How did the cold temperatures affect Boston Marathon runners?

Most runners found the cooler temperatures ideal for marathon running, with many stating it was preferable to hot weather.

Who is the defending champion of the Boston Marathon?

The defending champion of the Boston Marathon is John Korir, who set a course record during this year's race.