Other Initiatives

Celebrating 100 Starts

April 15, 2024 marked the 100th time that the Boston Marathon started in Hopkinton, MA.

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate!

Thank you to our 100 Starts Premier Sponsor, DELL Technologies.

100 Starts Celebration!

This year’s Boston Marathon, presented by Bank of America, marked the 100th anniversary of the race’s start from Hopkinton, MA, a collaborative community event organized by the HCA and the 26.2 Foundation, and celebrated by the town on April 4th. (Prior to 1924, the race began in Ashland.) Honoring the milestone and recognizing and thanking the town, guest speakers included Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, Counsel General of Greece Symeon Tegos, Alpha Omega Council President, Paul Tsitsopoulos, B.A.A. Board of Governors Vice Chair, A. Keith McDermott, Hopkinton Marathon Committee founding member, Paul DiBona, and 100 Starts Premier sponsor Dell Technologies, represented by Michael Charest.

Winged Foot Art Exhibition and Auction

A unique art installation of the ‘Winged Foot’, featuring the spirit of the marathon. Each foot was painted by a regional artist and displayed on the Hopkinton Town Common. There was also an auction for each Winged Foot that served a joint fundraiser for the 26.2 Foundation and the HCA.

A Wicked Good Run
by Carl Ristaino

  • My life-long love of the Boston Marathon began when I was 10 years old. I was so excited that I road my bike along the course, stopping along the way to watch the runners.

Run with strength and encouragement
by Jennifer Trendel

  • Running is about good thoughts and positivity especially for such a lengthy run.

    A marathon is an elusive accomplishment for many. The determined runners who commit to the physical challenge, have to find strength within and believe in themselves hence the words of encouragement.

    The feathers represent strength, power and freedom to obtain a goal being the Boston Marathon.

No More Stolen Sisters
by Rachel Healing Willow Bayliss

  • My name is Rachel (Curtis) Bayliss, and I was born in Framingham, MA and grew up in Medway, MA. My native name is Healing Willow. I am a member of the Natick Nipmuc Indian Tribe and I also hold a seat on the Tribal Council as secretary. Winged Foot project to be featured during the Boston Marathon, I felt an inner calling to design a piece representing my indigenous heritage and remind all people watching that this event is being held on Native land and WE ARE STILL HERE!!

    The top portion on my Winged Foot is a tribute to all of the missing and murdered indigenous women of North America. The red handprint symbolizes all those whose voices have not been heard and may never be again. I take it upon myself to speak up for the souls we have lost and keep my heart and mind open so that I may be a vessel for their stories and struggles to pass through. I encourage you to research this cause. #MMIW.

    The remaining portion of my Winged Foot is in honor of my tribe, the Natick Nipmucs. The fire represents our sacred traditions. In addition to the fire being the center of our ceremonies and circles, its versatile nature gives us a great many things like warmth and a place to cook what our hunters have gathered for nourishment and strength. The smoke from the fire also provides a pathway to Manitoo and our ancestors to hear our prayers.

    The writing on the Winged Foot “We Are Still Here” is the message I would like to send to our ancestors as they watch over us on this day and always. The eastern woodland animal tracks at the bottom stands for the 5 named clans 1 of the Natick Nipmuc tribe: Eagle, Deer, Turtle, Hawk and Bear.

    Aquene kah Nahonnushagk! (Peace and Farewell!) Kuttabotomish! (I thank you!)

Dainty Yet Mighty
by Visi Tilak

  • The Hoyts inspire me, as do amazing women like Katherine Switzer, so many people of color, and others who broke barriers to be included in the marathon.

    This winged foot with Henna, jewels and pretty peacock feathers at the 100th Boston Marathon from the Hopkinton start-line is a testament to the truth that "anyone can achieve their goals when they set their mind and heart to it no matter who they are, their sex, where they come from, the color of their skin or their abilities."

Tying the World Together
by Karen Webb

  • This piece was created with running shoelaces donated from by runners from multiple countries and from the Boston area.

    The feathers of this winged foot were created by sewing together pairs of running shoelaces in a loop design. The foot itself was created by weaving running shoelaces into a cloth. The blue and yellow tied laces represent Boston Strong and are a nod to my daughter and the other children who were present at the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, and who have battled PTSD since that day.

    This piece includes laces which were worn in the 2008 Amsterdam Marathon, 2011 New York Marathon, 2014 Chicago Marathon, 2015 & 2017 Budapest Marathon, 2015 & 2017 Paris Marathon, 2019 Great Wall of China Marathon, 2019 Chicago Marathon, 2019 Berlin Marathon, 2021 London Marathon, 2022 Istanbul Marathon, 2022 Vienna Marathon, 2024 Tokyo Marathon, and multiple years of the Boston Marathon.

Sponsored by Unibank.

Thank you to our Winged Foot Sponsors.

stART Line Experience

Launched in 2023, the stART Line Experience is a self-guided art and education tour of the ‘Marathon Legend’ sculptures in Hopkinton. Attendees began at the HCA, where they viewed a short video about the sculptures and a Marathon-themed exhibit. They were then given a map to visit each of the statues, as well as provided with a discount coupon to use at Start Line Brewing to enjoy lunch. This was a joint fundraiser for the 26.2 Foundation and the Hopkinton Center for the Arts.

Marathon Mural

A unique, one-of-a-kind mural celebrating the marathon and featuring ‘Aeolian Step, the Flight of Victory’ by Faith Sycaoyao displayed on the Hopkinton Public Library.

Sponsored by Concierge Physical Therapy. Special thanks to Corporate Communitions.

Special thanks to our friend and partner, the HCA and to our Celebration Committee

Keep an eye on our ongoing effort: Hopkinton’s Marathon Footprint

The 26.2 Foundation is building on ‘Hopkinton’s Marathon Footprint’ project, with the goal of preserving those artifacts that commemorate Hopkinton’s historical association with the Boston Marathon. This initiative, created by the 26.2 Foundation, involves collecting, cataloguing, storing and displaying the artifacts for the common good.

Ultimately, the project’s objective is to archive and display these artifacts at the International Marathon Center in Hopkinton, the Foundation’s signature project. In addition to leaving a legacy for future generations, the overarching goal is to ensure that the materials and artefacts do not end up lost or forgotten.