Boston Marathon

The race commonly known as the Reddish Road Race in fact has had several names over its history, reflecting who put it on. The commonality is that it was run in Jamaica Plain, starting near Jackson Square and going through West Roxbury and Roslindale on its way back to the starting line. Between 1908 and 1913 it was sponsored by the Acme Athletic Association. In 1914 the William Reddish Club sponsored the race. For 1916 and 1917 the Jamaica Center AA sponsored the race. After a hiatus, the Michael J. O’Connell American Legion Post 76 sponsored the race until 1938. In 1939, William Reddish reappeared, with the Reddish AA sponsoring the race until 1948. During this time, the race distance was changed from 10 miles to 15, starting in 1947. William Reddish died 12 days after the 1948 race, which marked the end of the event.

Race Winners-

Beginning in 1909, the Cathedral Road Race, originally put on by the Cathedral Young Men’s Catholic Association, run through the South End and South Boston for a distance of 10 miles. In 1968, its running was delayed due to the disturbances that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is a photograph of Charlie Robbins crossing the finish line first in the 1950 Cathedral Road Race. He set a course record on the day, but due to handicapping, he ended up in 17th place. This is from the Leslie Jones Collection (click on photograph for more information.)

Race Winners-

Beginning in 1932, the Presentation Athletic Association put on a 10-mile road race that ran through Brighton and Newton. Most notably, part of the course was the Commonwealth Avenue section of the Boston Marathon. When the Presentation AA’s clubhouse burned down in 1943, that spelled the end of the race. In 1947, the Brighton Road Race began following the same route. That version appears to have lasted 3 years.

Race Winners-

The North Medford Running Club dates back to 1933, when the North Medford Road Race began. At 20 miles, at the the time it was the longest of the marathon prep races. The name and sponsorship of the race changed to the Dilboy VFW Post in 1950, and the last race was run in 1951.

Race Winners-

Beginning in 1949, Hyde Shoe put on a 12 mile race in Cambridge. In 1965, the sponsorship changed to the Marsh Post. This is a race we were not able to track to its conclusion, but it was still being run in 1978.

Race Winners-

Today, one must earn his or her way into the Boston Marathon with a qualifying time. The BAA’s website lists some of the top qualifying races, but there are others in the area that could be used to qualify for Boston. Some Massachusetts marathons include:

• Baystate Marathon, Lowell
• New England Green River Marathon, Greenfield
• Cape Cod Marathon, Falmouth
• Walter Childs Memorial Race of Champions Marathon, Holyoke
• Old Colony Marathon, Westfield
• Martha’s Vineyard Marathon, Oak Bluffs