Hours Before the Foot Race, Cyclists Complete the Boston Marathon Route

Hours before the first runners , or even left from Hopkinton, dozens of cyclists rode the route starting at midnight Sunday.

Unlike the more-than-a-century-old , the Boston Marathon Midnight Ride, "instigated by" Boston Societies of Spontenaity and Greg Hum, is an annual tradition since 2009.

Riders take the last train out to the starting line, and bike the entire 26.2 mile route in the quiet, wee hours of Marathon Monday morning. It is not a race, there are no leaders, it is all for fun. The whole route takes about three hours to complete. 

Hum told the Globe that the idea came to him and some friends while they were attending Boston University. The first ride, in 2009, had 70 participants who brought their own bikes. This year, the Globe reports they expected 300 participants.

"I thought the ride was really fun, and not too difficult until the end. The hardest hill was actually getting to the starting line," Boston University student Elise Greenberg told Patch. "I had a great time, and will definitely do it again next year!"

This year, bike sharing network also offered free bikes to members interested in participating in the ride. 

Did you or a friend make the Marathon Ride? Want to share your photos and stories from the event? Click the "upload photos and video" button below the image to the right.