In perfect weather, 117th Boston Marathon begins

BOSTON: The 117th Boston Marathon began on Monday, with about 27,000 participating in the 26.2-mile trek from Hopkinton to Boston’s Back Bay.
Defending champion Wesley Korir was among those leaving Hopkinton at 10 a.m., the start of the men's rce.
Americans Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher left about 30 minutes earlier in the women's division, hoping be the first US winner at the world’s oldest annual marathon since 1985.
The wheelchair racers started much earlier.
The temperature was 48 degrees with a few clouds in the sky, perfect conditions for the 117th running of the race. Temperatures were expected to reach the mid-50s.
The comfortable running weather comes a year after unseasonably warm temperatures that reached 90 degrees and convinced organizers to allow competitors to withdraw and be guaranteed a spot in this year’s race to Copley Square.