Marathon Park

Directly across the street, not far from the commuter rail station, are a couple of plaques and a small path leading into the woods. It’s incredibly unassuming and very easy to miss, but if you stop to take a look, you’ll discover a unique location related to American athletic history. 

When the first modern Olympic Games were held in Greece in 1896, members of the Boston Athletic Association were inspired to create their own marathon event. The first run of the Boston Marathon was held a year later in April 1897 and has been held every year since, making it the world’s oldest annual marathon. The original starting area was near the former location of Metcalf’s Mill along the Sudbury River Reservoir, and the marathon would begin here for over 25 years until it was moved to Hopkinton in 1924, where it starts today. This early period of the marathon has been dubbed “The Ashland Era” and is full of memorable moments. 

At the start of the 20th century, Americans could legally gamble on just about any sporting event, which naturally attracted many gamblers placing bets on the runners. In 1901, the marathon was rocked by a fixing scandal which alleged that the 1898 marathon champion Ronald MacDonald was drugged during the race with a sponge soaked in chloroform rather than water, so Canadian runner Jack Caffery would be the winner. The marathon of 1909 was nicknamed “The Inferno” due to 97-degree weather knocking many runners out of the race, with a novice runner named Henri Renaud from Nashua, NH, eventually crossing the finish line. In 1910, Clarence DeMar ran his first marathon, where he finished second and intended to run again the next year. Doctors warned him of a heart murmur and advised him not to participate, but DeMar ran anyway, not only winning but setting a record for that time at 2:21:39. 

In 2003, Marathon Park was dedicated, and even though the Boston Marathon starting point has been moved to Hopkinton, Ashland still hosts a half marathon and 5K events near the park. Marathon Park itself is rather small and in a secluded area, but quite scenic with a nice walking trail and lots of informational plaques scattered throughout the area. If you have an interest in Boston Marathon history, it’s definitely worth a quick visit.