OF MARCH, NEXT YEAR, THE RACE TURNS TWENTY-FIVE, AND THE ORGANIZERS HAVE ALREADY BEGUN PLANNING A GRAND CELEBRATION.

BUT FIRST, THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH THIS YEAR, AND THERE ARE SOME WHO CONTEND THAT NEXT YEAR’S RACE WILL BE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS ONE. PERHAPS THAT IS THE CASE. CERTAINLY, NEXT YEAR’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY BOSTON MARATHON WILL DRAW A RECORD-BREAKING NUMBER OF ENTRANTS AND INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE.