The Boston Marathon, sponsored by John Hancock since 1986, is the world’s oldest annual marathon and is ranked as one of the most prestigious road race events. The B.A.A. (Boston Athletic Association) managed the Boston Marathon this year, and contestants could earn admission into the race via qualification. To get into the race, prospects had to be able to register for the 127th Boston Marathon. The registration period lasted from September 12 to September 16 and could be found via the B.A.A. Athletes Village online platform.

According to the B.A.A., the “registration from September 12–16 was not first-come, first-served,” and “applicants [would be] notified of acceptance or non-acceptance once the B.A.A. has verified all qualifying times and applications.”

In this year’s race, the B.A.A. said that a few of the runners may not have gotten a medal after finishing the race. At 5:15 p.m. on the 17th of April, the metals had run out while many thousands were still running. The B.A.A. has said that they reached out to the runners who didn’t receive a medal and that they will indeed be sent out as soon as possible, while according to WCVB, “racers will have to wait ‘several days or weeks’ to receive the prize.”

Another incident that took place during this year’s race was what seemed to be slight racism. YouTuber Remy B. Real, who participated in the race, alleged that at some point during the marathon, the police targeted a cheer zone at Mile 21. The cheer zone was said to have been heavily guarded by police as the event planners were grilled while playing music. Remy B. Real was a member of this cheer zone, and he recorded his interaction with the police, telling them that “it just doesn’t feel like a coincidence that the cheer zone that was policed is the cheer zone that was organized by black and brown people.”

30,000 people were recorded running the Boston Marathon on April 17, with the first two winners being Evans Chebet of Kenya at 2:05:54, winning the men’s race, and Hellen Obiti from Kenya at 2:21:38, winning the women’s race.

The Boston Marathon is not only a marathon but also a time of grieving for many. On April 15, 2013, at the end of the Boston Marathon, a bomb was exploded by two members of radical Islam. Three people were exploded at the Boston Marathon, and a memorial was set up to remember those who lost their lives that day.