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Women Start First at Hot Boston Marathon

Posted on: Monday, 19 April 2004, 06:00 CDT

BOSTON - Women took the lead at the Boston Marathon on Monday, getting a head start of 29 minutes on the men in a historic change to the 108-year-old race.

The 83-degree temperature at the start was expected to slow the contenders and cause problems for a field of more than 20,000 on the 26.2-mile run to Boston's Back Bay.

"The heat is never an advantage in terms of performance," said Dr. Jim Barahal, president of the Honolulu Marathon, where it gets so hot and humid in early December that the race starts at 5 a.m. "The heat will slow you down no matter how tough you are mentally."

The average maximum for Boston on April 19 is 57 degrees. The good news for runners: There was some cloud cover and winds of about 20 mph were expected to be at their backs.

"With 107 years behind us we've had everything," spokesman Jack Fleming said. "We've had snow, sleet, ice, high cloud cover, low cloud cover, driving rain."

Stations at every mile had extra water, and additional medical personnel were stationed along the route and at the finish line.

The Red Cross had double the usual amount of ice - 80 pounds at each of 26 spots along the route, said Bruce Kahn, station supervisor at the starting line in Hopkinton.

"We've got lots of ambulances standing by," he said. "If they don't cool off, it can be life threatening."

By midmorning, runners gathered by the hundreds at the starting line at the Hopkinton Common, some reading newspapers and magazines to kill time, others talking with family and friends. A few decided to take a quick nap on the town green.

Rick Burton, 51, of Weymouth, was running his 10th Boston Marathon, but his first since he had his hip replaced with an artificial one made of titanium and cobalt.

"I'm planning on walking it for the most part," said Burton, who was wearing a T-shirt reading "Hip Replacement Survivor."

He was running to raise money for New England Baptist Hospital, where he received his artificial hip. "This is a way to give back," he explained.

Catherine Ndereba hoped to add to her 2000 and 2001 titles. She did not compete here last year, but she is the reigning world champion and the second-fastest woman ever at the distance.

Russian Svetlana Zakharova did not return to defend her victory. Ethiopia's Elfenesh Alemu, two-time Olympian Jelena Prokopcuka and Lyubov Denisova, second in Boston last year, were trying to keep Ndereba from a third win.

The top three men's finishers from a year ago returned: Kenyans Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, Benjamin Kosgei Kimutai and Martin Lel. Mohamed Ouaadi of France, Hailu Negussie of Ethiopia, and Daniele Caimmi of Italy were also expected to contend.

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