Boston Marathon race route gets new “Boston Strong” landmark

This #BostonStrong tribute on Comm Ave speaks to our memory of those lost & our strength going fwd. #BostonMarathon pic.twitter.com/wf9E1x0mCu

— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) April 2, 2016

Runners approaching the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 18 will have added inspiration as the city unveiled its newest landmark on Saturday.

Bowker Overpass now reads “Boston Strong” in yellow text printed on a blue background. Massachusetts governor, Charlie Baker, Boston mayor Marty Walsh and Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) executive director Tom Grilk were on hand for the ceremony. The B.A.A. is the marathon’s host organization.

The newly-unveiled overpass feature is located approximately 1.5K from the finish line, near the point of peak-fatigue for most runners approaching the end of the race.

The 120th edition of the Boston Marathon in two weeks will mark the third anniversary of the 2013 Boston bombings. The finish line attack killed three people and wounded more than 260 others, according to the Boston Globe. MIT Police Officer Sean Collier was killed by the bombers in the hours following the attack.

“This #BostonStrong tribute on Commonwealth Avenue speaks to our memory of those lost and our strength going forward,” reads a tweet from governor Baker.

The Boston Marathon is one of running’s most popular races and is one of six world marathon major events along with Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. The race is also a popular destination for many Canadians looking to run fast times or simply to enjoy the marathon experience alongside 30,000 others.

Proud to unveil the Bowker Overpass #BostonStrong tribute with @marty_walsh @MassDOT and @bostonmarathon. pic.twitter.com/avJUeWBS9C

— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) April 2, 2016

The term “Boston Strong” was coined following the attacks in 2013, initially gaining traction on Twitter as a hashtag as people reacted to the bombings.

“If they need any inspiration at this point, and sometimes they do, they certainly are going to see inspiration here,” Walsh said in reference to the new slogan on the bridge.

The race is point-to-point with runners beginning in Hopkinton, Mass., outside of Boston, before making their way to the downtown core and finishing on Boylston Street. Many runners take the iconic bus ride from the city to Hopkinton on race morning.

The race began in 1897 with 18 entrants and has grown to as high as 35,755 runners (2014).

Other than charity bibs, the majority of runners must qualify for the race by running certain time standards. Qualifying times vary by age groups and the time must be run on a certified course, meaning the athletes of this one race missed out due to a human error.