Winner John J. McDermott ran the course in two hours, 55 minutes and 10 seconds. .

On April 19, 1897, John J. McDermott of New York won the first
Boston Marathon with a time of 2:55:10.

The Boston Marathon was the brainchild of Boston Athletic
Association member and inaugural U.S. Olympic team manager
John Graham, who was inspired by the marathon at the first
modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. With the assistance
of Boston businessman Herbert H. Holton, various routes were considered, before a measured distance of 24.5 miles from the
Irvington Oval in Boston to Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland was
eventually selected.

Fifteen runners started the race but only 10 made it to the finish
line.

John J. ("J.J.", "little Mac") McDermott
(1880 – 1948)

John J. McDermott of New York won the first Boston Marathon with
a time of 2:55:10.

The Boston Marathon was the brainchild of Boston Athletic Association member
and inaugural U.S. Olympic team manager John Graham, who was inspired by
the marathon at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. Fifteen
runners started the race but only 10 made it to the finish line.

John J. "J.J." McDermott was born
in Ireland  in 1871 or 1872. He was
a lithographer by trade.

Earliest Known Photo of the Boston Marathon in 1904

The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by several cities in Greater
Boston in eastern Massachusetts. It is always held on Patriots’ Day, the third
Monday of April. The first annual event was held in 1897, inspired by the
success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer
Olympics. The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon, and
ranks as one of the world’s best-known road racing events. It is one of six
World Marathon Majors. The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has
managed the marathon since its inception.

The widely viewed event attracts about 500,000 spectators each year. The
Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 established a record as the world’s
largest marathon with 38,708 entrants, 36,748 starters, and 35,868 who 
crossed the finish line. This years marathon was marred by tragedy when
two bombs were exploded near the finish line, killing 3 people and injuring
more than 170.