See Triumphant Photos of Boston Marathon Runners Through History

  • Arthur Roth, winner of the 1916 Boston Marathon.
    Bettmann—Corbis
    1 of 25
  • Johnny Miles, winner of the 1926 Boston Marathon.
    Underwood & Underwood—Corbis
    2 of 25
  • Ellison M. "Tarzan" Brown, from Alton, R.I., crosses the finish line in the 43rd Boston Marathon, in 1939. Brown finished the 26 miles, 385 yards in 2 hours, 28 minutes and 51.8 seconds, breaking the marathon world record.
    AP Photo
    3 of 25
  • Gerard B. Cote, winner of the Boston Marathon in 1940.
    Paul J. Maguire—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    4 of 25
  • Joe Smith. 36 year old Medford, Mass., milkman, crosses the final line to win the 46th renewal of the Boston A. A. Marathon, setting a new world mark of 2 hours 26 minutes 51 1/5 seconds, in 1941.
    © Bettmann—Corbis
    5 of 25
  • Boston Marathon, 1946. The race was won by Stylianos Kyriakides from Athens, Greece.
    Corbis
    6 of 25
  • Gerard Cote running the 1946 Boston Marathon.
    Bill O'Connor—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    7 of 25
  • Suh Yun-bok, 24, of South Korea, crosses the finish line, setting a new record in the Boston Marathon, 1947.
    Charles McCormick—The Boston Globe/Getty Images)
    8 of 25
  • Keizo Yamada, 25-year-old Japanese mining engineer, crosses the finish line to win the 57th Boston Marathon, in 1953.
    AP Photo
    9 of 25
  • 237 runners competing in the annual Boston Marathon crossing the starting line, in 1963.
    Ted Russel—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
    10 of 25
  • The rule that no women shall run in the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) Marathon is being put to a very real test in this photo. Trainer Jack Semple (in street clothes) enters the field of runners to try to pull Kathy Switzer (261) out of the race. Male runners move in to form protective curtain around the female track hopeful, until the protesting trainer is finally wedged out of the race, and Switzer is allowed to finish the marathon.
    Bettmann—Corbis
    11 of 25
  • Ambrose Burfoot of Wesleyan University crosses the finish line of the 72nd running of the Boston Marathon, in 1968.
    Bettmann—Corbis
    12 of 25
  • Amby Burfoot, right, and Jock Semple at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, April 19, 1968.
    Joe Dennehy—The Boston Globe/Getty Images)
    13 of 25
  • Kathy Switzer runs in the Boston Marathon on April 19, 1971.
    Frank O'Brien—The Boston Globe/ Getty Images)
    14 of 25
  • Kathy Switzer Miller running the Boston Marathon on April 17, 1972.
    Frank O'Brien—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    15 of 25
  • Bill Rodgers, of Melrose, Mass., crosses the finish line to win the Boston Marathon in Boston on April 17, 1978. Rodgers finished with an unofficial time of two hours, 10 minutes and 13 seconds. This was Rodgers' second marathon win.
    AP Photo
    16 of 25
  • Joan Benoit, the women's winner of the Boston Marathon, April 16, 1979.
    Janet Knott—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    17 of 25
  • Patti (Lyons) Catalano in the Boston Marathon in 1981.
    Bill Brett—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    18 of 25
  • Alberto Salazar looks over his shoulder to check on Dick Beardsley, rear, as they neared the finish line April 19, 1982 in the 86th annual Boston Marathon. Salazar went on to win the 26-mile, 385-yard distance in 2:08.51. Beardsley followed by two seconds.
    AP Photo
    19 of 25
  • The pack at the start of the 1983 race in Hopkinton. Grey Meyer, the eventual winner, led wearing number 3. The top five finishers were all Americans: Ron Tabb was second, Benji Durden, third, Ed Mendoza, fourth and Chris Bunyan finished fifth.
    David L Ryan—The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    20 of 25
  • Joan Benoit crosses the finish line Apr. 18, 1983 in Boston to win the women's division of the Boston Marathon in 2:22:42, shattering the world women's marathon mark by nearly three minutes.
    AP Photo
    21 of 25
  • Dave Reinhart falls for a second time just short of the finish line of the Boston Marathon, 1983. Reinhart was able to stand and cross the finish line ahead of record setter Joan Benoit, who finished with a time of 2 hours 22 minutes 42 seconds.
    Mike F. Kullen—AP Photo
    22 of 25
  • Greg Meyer raises his arms in victory as Boston Mayor Kevin White places laurel wreath on his head on Monday, April 18, 1983 in Boston.
    AP Photo
    23 of 25
  • An unidentified man, attired in business suit and black hat, jumped into the Boston Marathon pack Monday, April 17, 1984.
    AP Photo
    24 of 25
  • John A. Kelley, 78, smiles as he approaches the finish line at the 90th running of the Boston Marathon, April 21, 1986. Kelley's finish marked his 55th Boston Marathon.
    Mike Kullen—AP Photo
    25 of 25
By Liz Ronk and Lily Rothman

The 119th Boston Marathon, taking place on April 20, 2015, is sure to be an occasion for remembrance of the tragic crimes that were committed at the race two years ago. As the city continues to recover from that wound, it’s also worth remembering that the marathon has long been a symbol of perseverance, in which runners can conquer obstacles both personal and societal. Here’s a look back at some of those victories.

Read about the history of the Boston Marathon, here in the TIME Vault: A Long Running Show

More Must-Reads From TIME

Write to Lily Rothman at lily.rothman@time.com.

You May Also Like
Next Up: Editor's Pick
How Black Filmmakers Are Reclaiming Their History Onscreen
EDIT POST