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The most famous hill in all of
running is almost certainly “Heartbreak
Hill”, between miles 20 and 21
of the Boston Marathon course.
In 1936, while running the last
of the four Newton hills, defending
champion Johnny Kelley finally
caught the leader, Ellison “Tarzan”
Brown. As he passed him, Kelley
gave him a gentle pat on the
shoulder, figuring that Brown
would quickly fade. Instead,
Brown, motivated by this bold
move, immediately regained the
lead and went on to win.
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The late Boston Globe sportswriter
Jerry Nason coined the term “Heartbreak
Hill” in the next day’s issue
when he described Kelley’s bitter
defeat ("breaking Kelley's heart").
Every Patriots Day since 1936,
Heartbreak Hill on Commonwealth
Avenue in Newton has become a
focal point for many of Boston's
most vocal and knowledgeable
marathon spectators ---- particularly
those eager to witness the drama
(and agony) as runners strive
to conquer the most challenging
section of this historic course.
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