Can you feel that slight incline under your feet? This is Heartbreak Hill. It is the most infamous part of the Boston Marathon course.
Heartbreak Hill might sound intimidating. But its story is quite interesting. Its name comes from the 1936 Boston Marathon.
Let’s go back to that race. John A. Kelley had already won the Boston Marathon twice. He was in the lead aiming for another victory. On the Newton hills, Kelley passed Ellison “Tarzan” Brown. However, as they reached the final and most challenging hill, Brown overtook Kelley and won. It is said that Kelley was so disheartened that his heart was broken. That is how this hill became known as Heartbreak Hill.
Heartbreak Hill gets a lot of attention. However, it might not be the biggest challenge in the Boston Marathon. If you only consider the length and grade of Heartbreak Hill, it is not that challenging. Its difficulty lies in its location. It is the fourth in a series of hills known as the Newton Hills.
These hills begin around the 16-mile mark and continue until the 21st mile. Heartbreak Hill is the last and most talked about. The entire sequence of hills can be quite challenging for runners. The first hill begins just after the 16-mile point. It tests the runners’ stamina and strength. The second and third hills add to this challenge. They gradually wear down the runners.
Heartbreak Hill gets the spotlight. It is the last hill. It comes at mile 20 when runners are already tired. It is important to remember that it is the combination of all four hills that truly tests the runners. Each hill contributes to the overall challenge. It makes the elevation gain a crucial part of the Boston Marathon. Runners need to be prepared for all of them. They should not only focus on Heartbreak Hill to do well in the race.
Heartbreak Hill is approximately 0.6 miles long. That is about 800 meters. It starts just after the 20-mile mark of the Boston Marathon course. It stretches up to around the 21-mile point. This distance might not seem very long. However, the hill’s placement near the end of the marathon makes it a significant challenge. The runners are already fatigued.
The incline is not extremely steep. That is part of its difficulty. If you don’t know there is a hill, you won’t be able to see it. After a few minutes, you will start to see your pace slow down. Many marathon runners start to feel discouraged exactly here. After this part of the course, there is a nice downhill section. You can pick up the pace there.
Remember this story of Heartbreak Hill. The hill is not just a physical challenge. It is a mental one. Visualize yourself conquering it. Develop a mantra that you can repeat. Stay positive. You can navigate it better with the right mindset.