Boston Marathon 2010 - As It Happens

The 114th Running of the Boston Marathon - As It Happens

Refresh this page every few minutes to see the latest updates. We'll have all of the updates for all races on this one page - trying to make it as easy as possible for our readers to see what's happening.

Note, as you read these reports, they will appear in reverse chronological order. Newest updates will be at the top of each section.

Men's Race | Women's Race | Wheelchair Races

Overview
Why Boston? At 114 years old, this is the most famous and storied marathon in the world. And the 114th running will be no different.

History for 2010? Last year we asked: "History for 2009?" and we repeat the question for 2010. As in the prior year, America has a chance to regain the Boston Marathon title - this time with two serious contenders in the men's race: Meb Keflezighi and Ryan Hall. We spoke with Meb's coach Bob Larson before the race and he told us that what we've previously seen from Meb doesn't even approach what he is capable of. We spoke to Terrence Mahon, Ryan's coach, and he told us how Ryan has learned from his 2009 Boston experience and has spent the previous three weeks studying every inch of the course. We spoke to Deriba Merga who told us that in 2009, his first Boston, he wasn't sure what to expect but that for 2010 he knows he will win and that a course record is possible.... We shall see.

Excellent Weather!: The official weather at the starting line was 49 degrees. The forecast suggests the temperature may rise to 54 degrees at the finish, that is nice... It's quite sunny, and there is a slight tail wind which coming off the runners' left shoulder... These are excellent conditions - perhaps some PRs and course records will be broken.

Men's Race back to top

The Finish... Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot runs 2:05:52 to shatter Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot's previous record 2:07:14. Tekeste Kebede finishes second in 2:07:23. Deriba Merga barely holds on to keep third place in 2:08:39. Ryan Hall - running his own race - nearly catches Merga, but settles for fourth place in 2:08:41, the fastest time ever run by an American at the Boston Marathon. A struggling Meb Keflezighi keeps fifth place in 2:09:26.

Mile 24 (1:55:18). 40K (1:59:21) Cheruiyot has broken Merga and he is putting distance between himself and Merga. Tekeste Kebede is starting to pick it up and we'll see if he can reach Merga before the finish. Ryan Hall has passed Keflezighi and moved into fourth place, but he is 1:20 out of third. Keflezighi is in fourth with much time separating him from fifth.

Mile 21 (1:41:22), 35K (1:44:47), Mile 22 (1:45:58), Mile 23 (1:50:42). Deriba Merga and Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot are trading the lead and extending their lead over the others. Merga and Cheruiyot are running faster than the previous course record - that might be toppled.

Mile 19 (1:31:37), Mile 20 (1:36:27). Merga is running hard and pushing the pace. Cheruiyot is struggling to stay with Merga but still running strong. The others are falling further behind. Tekeste Kebede is about seven seconds back. Meb Keflezighi is alone in fourth place another ten seconds back.

Mile 18 (1:27:00). The lead pack is breaking up. Merga is pushing it apart as the runners get to the hills. With Merga is Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot, they are pulling away. We have gotten word that Abderrahim Goumri is now walking...

25K (1:15:01), Mile 16 (1:17:10), Mile 17 (1:22:19). Chala Dechase has fallen out of the pack and behind Hall. The lead pack is down to seven runners. Hall has fluctuated frome ten to twenty seconds back, but just seems to be running his own race - it is not clear if he is out or still in...

Mile 14 (1:07:36), Mile 15 (1:12:32). The lead pack is down to 8 runners. Kigen, Goumri, Merga, Cheruiyot, Dechase, Keflezighi, Mandango, Kebede - that is the lead pack... Hall is now fading back again, but this time it looks for real. But it did before as well.

Mile 13 (1:02:54), Half (1:03:25). Ryan Hall has been leading and continues to lead. He looks comfortable. there are still about twelve men in the lead pack. Keflezighi is still in the pack, at the back...

Mile 10 (48:08), Mile 11 (53:08), Mile 12 (58:05). Ryan Hall is confusing us... He had let himself fall back ten seconds - while taking his fluids. He looked out of it. But, he has returned to the front - he is running smart, this is impressive...

Mile 9 (43:33), 15K (44:58)... Hall is off... Deriba Merga has pushed the pace and he and Chala Dechase have pulled off the front. Keflezighi and a large pack of thirteen total are still near. Hall has fallen back to be 9 seconds back in 17th place. Because of the surge, the men are again four seconds ahead of the course record time through 15K that Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot had in the year he set the course record. Before the race when we spoke to Merga he told us that he thought a new course record was achievable - perhaps he is looking for the extra $25K for that record.

Mile 7 (33:55). Mile 8 (38:44). Ryan Hall has dropped back to the middle of the pack, leaving the lead. Is he getting tired??? We might think so, but after a few minutes, Hall has moved back to the front - perhaps he was just settling back to look at and assess the pack, or maybe he was going back to talk with his teammate Keflezighi. We'll ask Hall after the race what was going on...

Mile 6 (29:05), 10K (30:06). The 10K time is now one second slower than the record pace from 2006 - we don't really expect a record today, but it's fun to write about...

Mile 4 (19:20), Mile 5 (24:15). Ryan Hall continues to lead - and we'll note that they are ahead of Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot's mile 5 split (24:21) when he set the course record in 2006. In 2009, Hall ran through mile 5 in a crazy 23:28, and he paid the price...

Mile 3 (14:58), 5K (14:53). Approximately 19 men in the front pack. Ryan Hall continues to lead the pack. Also behind, we can see Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (KEN), Meb Keflezighi (USA), Gilbert Yegon (KEN), Deriba Merga (ETH), Elijah Keitany (KEN), David Mandango (KEN), Dmytro Barnovsky (UKR), Tekeste Kebede (ETH), Samuel Mugo (KEN), Stephen Kiogora (ETH), Moses Kigen (KEN), Chala Dechase (ETH), Abderrahim Goumri (MAR), Brahim Lahlafi (MAR) and a few others we can not recognize in the middle of the pack. This is still about 20 seconds slower than 2009 - that is good for the runners. We're hearing reports that the wind has swung around and it feels like a slight headwind.

Mile 2 (9:40). Ryan Hall continues to lead, he looks comfortable and we can tell from his confidence that he really knows the course - he has been in Boston for three weeks studying it... The pack remains large - we can't distinguish all of the runners at this point.

In 2009, Ryan Hall led the men's field at breakneck pace from the start. For 2010, Hall is again leading, but the pace appears much more leisurely. Meb Keflezighi is also at the front and many are evident in the lead pack. Mile 1 is passed in 4:52, much easier than 2009's 4:40.

The Men's Race has started. We won't have anything to report until the field begins to breakup.

Women's Race back to top

The Finish. Erkesso holds on and keeps the win in 2:26:11. Pushkareva is just three seconds back in 2:26:14. Wow, that was close.... Now comes third place - two women in another sprint: Salina Kosgei and Waynishet Girma are footstep to footstep... But with ten yards remaining, Kosgei is stronger and takes third place in 2:28:35. Girma is fourth in 2:28:36.

40K (2:18:52). Erkesso's lead is down to 15 seconds. Mile 25 (2:18:52). The lead is down to 12 seconds. The lead is down to 8 seconds. The lead is down to 4 seconds....

Mile 22 (2:03:04), Mile 23 (2:08:44), Mile 24 (2:14:05). Erkesso continues to lead, but she seemed to be feeling somewhat ill after she finished the hills. Pushkareva is gaining on Erkesso - and this may be a close finish....

Mile 19 (1:46:28), Mile 20 (1:51:55), Mile 21 (1:57:43), 35K (2:01:36). Erkesso is 1:05 ahead of Pushkareva. Salina Kosgei and Waynishet Girma are together five seconds back. Other runners are spread out behind: Lididya Grigoryeva, Bruna Genovese, Koreen Yal, Agnes Kiprop, Weiwei Sun, Albina Mayorova-Ivanova all within a minute of standing on the podium (third or better).

Mile 18 (1:41:02), 30K (1:44:31). Teyiba Erkesso is far away in the front of the race. Two Russians, Tatyana Pushkareva and Lidiya Grigoryeva - running together - have overtaken Koren Yal, but are 1:20 behind Erkesso. Yal is just follwing the Russians. Thirty seconds behind Yal four women are together: Waynishet Girma, Bruna Genovese, Agnes Kiprop and Weiwei Sun.

25K (1:35:33), Mile 16 (1:30:04). Mile 17 (1:35:33) Yal has run a little ahead of Erkesso and they are talking. It seems that Erkesso might want Yal to do some of the work at the front. But then Erkesso is away - she has put in an extra gear and is building a lead that will be insurmountable. Yal looks behind her and sees no one coming behind her.

Mile 14 (1:19:35), Mile 15 (1:24:58). Dire Tune - where is she? She is gone - dropped out? Two women are alone, Teyiba Erkesso leads and Koren Yal looks comfortable running just behind her.

Mile 12 (1:09:00), 20K (1:11:22), Mile 13 (1:14:17), Half (1:14:51). Three women are now away from all others - all Ethiopia... Dire Tune has been pushing the pace and Teyiba Erkesso has been right with her. Koren Yal stepped up to join the other two and they have opened a significant lead over all others.

Mile 10 (57:09) Mile 11 (1:03:08). Dire Tune has taken over the lead of the race, followed closely by her compatriot Teyiba Erkesso.

Mile 8 (45:25), Mile 9 (51:11), 15K (53:03)...

Mile 6 (33:50), 10K (35:05)
Nakamura has returned to the front of the pack, which is relatively unchanged over the prior two miles.

Mile 4 (22:15); Mile 5 (27:57) Chaofeng Jia has taken over the lead - in her debut marathon - but we are confused as we see her continually rubbing her nose, something looks wrong. The pace is still strong - it has slowed a little bit and a 2:26 finish is the pace that is being carried.

Mile 2 (11:01); Mile 3 (16:34), 5K (17:10) - at 5K, the pack is down to 12 runners and the pace suggests a finish time of about 2:24... Yurika Nakamura (JPN) has been setting the pace since the start from the start. Chaofeng Jia (CHN) is on Nakamura's right shoulder and Dire Tune (ETH) on her left. Also in the front pack are Salina Kosgei (KEN), Madai Perez (MEX), Teyiba Erkesso (ETH), Bruna Genovese (ITA), Agnes Kiprop (KEN), Koren Yal (ETH), WeiWei Sun (CHN), Waynishet Girma (ETH), Merest Legesse (ETH), Nailya Yulamanova (RUS), Tatyana Pushkareva (RUS).

Women have run the first mile in 5:29. That is a full minute faster than the incredibly slow time from the first mile of 2009. There are 14 women in the lead pack.

The Woman's race has started. No hats or gloves to be seen - it really is perfect weather... We'll report more as the women go through the various miles and as the pack starts to separate.

Wheelchair Race back to top

Please note that wheelchair coverage is often spotty, but we'll have updates as we get them.

Ernst Van Dyk gains his ninth marathon win! Krige Schabort, the man who was able to beat Van Dyk in 2007, takes his ninth runner-up finish in 1:26:57. Kota Hokioue of Japan is third in 1:27:05. In the women's race, Wakako Tsuchida takes her third win in 1:43:32. Diane Roy takes her fifth runner-up finish in 1:47:08. Amanda McGrory takes thrid place in 1:57:20.

Halfway for the men wheelers in 41:47. Van Dyk is no longer alone, he has been joined by 5 other wheelers and they are working together.

At 10K, Van Dyk and Tsuchida are well ahead of any of their respective competition, but both are now well behind any record. Van Dyk at 17:53 for 10K, Tsuchida at 21:10 for 10K.

Ernst Van Dyk is flying through the miles at course record pace - all alone... Through 5K in 8:03, well ahead of his 8:57 5K split when he set the record. Tsuchida also on record pace through 5K in 9:49, ahead of 10:22 5K split when the women's record was set in 1994.

The wheelchair race has started! Ernst Van Dyk, the course record holder from 2004 (1:18:27) - looking for his ninth win - has started with a huge lead right from the start, passing the one mile mark 2:41.

On the women's side, Wakako Tsuchida will be looking for her third consecutive and fourth overall win.

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