Boston is a marathon like no other. The course is deceptively difficult and more like multiple races combined into one. For elite runners, this is not a get-in-the-zone and chase-the-clock kind of race. It takes some thinking, strategizing, and specific training to win on Patriots’ Day.
I became obsessed with the Boston Marathon back in 2008 and wanted to run my way into the history books. In 2009, I placed third, the highest finish I would ever have in Boston. I came back in 2011 and 2013 and finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
But in my experience, the Boston code is a tough one to crack: Many athletes falter their first time in Boston. It’s easy to get caught up in the early miles, going too fast on the rolling downhills, only to find yourself suffering and out of energy later on the uphills. And then? The last 10K is pretty flat and very fast—you need to have some speed left in those legs. Even Eliud Kipchoge, arguably the greatest marathoner of all time, faltered at his first and only Boston Marathon in 2023. It takes a very special and patient athlete to get Boston right.
As has become customary, the elite fields at this iconic race continue to get deeper and faster every year, and the 2025 Boston Marathon is no different. When the athletes line up on Monday, April 21, you’ll see seasoned Boston veterans and talented newcomers alike, all hoping to master one of the most unrelenting courses in marathon racing.
Predicting a winner in Boston is never easy because you never quite know who’s truly ready for what this course will throw at them. Some will toe the starting line confident that they’re in the shape of their lives, and some will hope it all comes together, despite an imperfect training block. But I’ve done my best here to break it down and highlight the athletes you should be watching this Marathon Monday.
Read more at: run.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/kara-goucher-breaks-down-the-2025-boston-marathon-field