April 20, 2015 5:30 AM EDT
T he 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
Arthur Roth, winner of the 1916 Boston Marathon. Bettmann—Corbis Johnny Miles, winner of the 1926 Boston Marathon. Underwood & Underwood—Corbis 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 Gerard B. Cote, winner of the Boston Marathon in 1940. Paul J. Maguire—The Boston Globe/Getty Images 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 Boston Marathon, 1946. The race was won by Stylianos Kyriakides from Athens, Greece. Corbis Gerard Cote running the 1946 Boston Marathon. Bill O'Connor—The Boston Globe/Getty Images 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) Keizo Yamada, 25-year-old Japanese mining engineer, crosses the finish line to win the 57th Boston Marathon, in 1953. AP Photo 237 runners competing in the annual Boston Marathon crossing the starting line, in 1963. Ted Russel—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 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 Ambrose Burfoot of Wesleyan University crosses the finish line of the 72nd running of the Boston Marathon, in 1968. Bettmann—Corbis Amby Burfoot, right, and Jock Semple at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, April 19, 1968. Joe Dennehy—The Boston Globe/Getty Images) Kathy Switzer runs in the Boston Marathon on April 19, 1971. Frank O'Brien—The Boston Globe/ Getty Images) Kathy Switzer Miller running the Boston Marathon on April 17, 1972. Frank O'Brien—The Boston Globe/Getty Images 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 Joan Benoit, the women's winner of the Boston Marathon, April 16, 1979. Janet Knott—The Boston Globe/Getty Images Patti (Lyons) Catalano in the Boston Marathon in 1981. Bill Brett—The Boston Globe/Getty Images 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 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 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 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 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 An unidentified man, attired in business suit and black hat, jumped into the Boston Marathon pack Monday, April 17, 1984. AP Photo 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 More Must-Reads from TIME Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE Meet the 2025 Women of the Year The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer? Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone Michelle Zauner Stares Down the Darkness 
