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Boston Marathon’s iconic unicorn begins magical journey
The Boston Marathon is about a month away, and runners are rising to the occasion with training rituals, carb loading and pep talks.And the unicorn also rises. “This is on my to-do list every couple of days, yes!” said Howard Kramer.Kramer, operations manager for the Boston Athletic Association, stands in front of a large, bright window on the top floor of BAA’s offices on 1 Ash St. in Hopkinton. The office overlooks the Boston Marathon start line in a town that has hosted the beginning of the race for 100 years.Thousands of people will be watching the race in person from the sidelines and around the world, as it’s broadcast on WCVB.But Spike has one of the best seats in the house. “Spike is our famous unicorn,” said Kramer.Spike is the name given to the iconic unicorn logo associated with the marathon. According to the BAA, the club held its first organized track and field competition in 1890, choosing the mythical unicorn as its symbol. To this day, marathon medals are made in Spike’s image. Watch how this Massachusetts company makes the marathon medals: But there’s another tradition that’s been quietly playing out from that big window in Hopkinton for the last 20 years. A month out from the race, the tip of Spike’s unicorn horn becomes visible at the bottom of the window. And, inching his way up every few days, he becomes fully visible on the day of the race.“Just made of some thin plywood,” explained Kramer. “And it’s got two legs and magically appears, just like a true unicorn.”Kramer said the tradition actually began years before Spike, when the building was inhabited by the Gorman Richardson architecture firm. At the time, its staff would slowly reveal a big pumpkin in the lead-up to Halloween.When the BAA took over the building, Kramer said longtime start line painter Jack LeDuc decided to swap the pumpkin for the unicorn. “It looks beautiful race morning, and it’s a very iconic picture,” Kramer said. “A lot of people take photos of it!”Despite the work and chaos surrounding the countdown to race day, Kramer said it’s important to take time out of his day to make sure Spike is sticking to his annual journey. “I’m proud of it, you know?” he said. “I like to keep the tradition going.”
The Boston Marathon is about a month away, and runners are rising to the occasion with training rituals, carb loading and pep talks.
And the unicorn also rises.
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“This is on my to-do list every couple of days, yes!” said Howard Kramer.
Kramer, operations manager for the Boston Athletic Association, stands in front of a large, bright window on the top floor of BAA’s offices on 1 Ash St. in Hopkinton.
The office overlooks the Boston Marathon start line in a town that has hosted the beginning of the race for 100 years.
Thousands of people will be watching the race in person from the sidelines and around the world, as it’s broadcast on WCVB.
But Spike has one of the best seats in the house.
“Spike is our famous unicorn,” said Kramer.
Spike is the name given to the iconic unicorn logo associated with the marathon. According to the BAA, the club held its first organized track and field competition in 1890, choosing the mythical unicorn as its symbol.
To this day, marathon medals are made in Spike’s image.
Watch how this Massachusetts company makes the marathon medals:
But there’s another tradition that’s been quietly playing out from that big window in Hopkinton for the last 20 years.
A month out from the race, the tip of Spike’s unicorn horn becomes visible at the bottom of the window. And, inching his way up every few days, he becomes fully visible on the day of the race.
“Just made of some thin plywood,” explained Kramer. “And it’s got two legs and magically appears, just like a true unicorn.”
Kramer said the tradition actually began years before Spike, when the building was inhabited by the Gorman Richardson architecture firm. At the time, its staff would slowly reveal a big pumpkin in the lead-up to Halloween.
When the BAA took over the building, Kramer said longtime start line painter Jack LeDuc decided to swap the pumpkin for the unicorn.
“It looks beautiful race morning, and it’s a very iconic picture,” Kramer said. “A lot of people take photos of it!”
Despite the work and chaos surrounding the countdown to race day, Kramer said it’s important to take time out of his day to make sure Spike is sticking to his annual journey.
“I’m proud of it, you know?” he said. “I like to keep the tradition going.”
Boston Live News