Winners Lelisa Desisa and Rita Jeptoo posed with their laurels at the Boston Marathon finish line.

Lelisa Desisa Benti of Ethiopia won the men’s division at the Boston Marathon.

Rita Jeptoo was alone on her way to the finish line.

Rita Jeptoo of Kenya crossed the finish line.

Women’s winner Rita Jeptoo of Kenya kissed the pavement after she crossed the finish line.

Chris Mullen of Waltham gave runners an equestrian boost on Chestnut Hill Avenue.

Marblehead native Shalane Flannagan , right, and her training partner Kara Goucher after they crossed the finish line in fourth and sixth place respectively.

Ana Dulce Felix looked over her shoulder to see no runners in sight as she climbed Heartbreak Hill.

Runners make their way by Wellesley College on Route 135.

Juli Windsor, one of two dwarfs competing in the marathon, ran by Wellesley College.

Women's Elite class runners passed Dick and Rick Hoyt, a father-son team that has become an icon of the marathon.

Rita Jeptoo, far right, was in a pack following Ana Dulce Felix (not shown) up Heartbreak Hill in Newton.

A man dressed as a hot dog high-fived the crowd in Wellesley.

Men's wheelchair division winner Hiroyuki Yamamoto crossed the finish line.

Tatyana McFadden of the US won the women's wheelchair division.

The leader for the elite women, Yolanda Caballero, ran by Wellesley College.

Students cheered on women runners at Wellesley College.

Runners in the first wave made their way by Wellesley College.

This Hopkinton house displayed signs of support for the competitors.

Chris Royer, of Coventry, Vt., raised his hands as he began running the marathon.

The herd of runners started the 117th Boston Marathon in Hopkinton.

The first wave of runners crossed the start line.

The elite men’s race kicked off in Hopkinton.

The elite women, including Shalane Flanagan of Marblehead, start their race.

Jacqueline Benson shot the starting pistol for the elite women’s race.

John Young of Salem, one of two dwarfs registered to run the marathon, at the start of the Mobility Impaired Program.

Dick Hoyt, left, and his son, Rick, at the start of the race.

No parking and no stopping signs were ubiquitous in Hopkinton as runners geared up for the marathon.

Yoshi Naruse of Rochester Hills, Mich., was about to run his third Boston Marathon dressed from head to toe as a monkey.

Runners gathered before the 117th Boston Marathon in Hopkinton.

Tracy Ellsworth of Lynnfield put on a blister pad before the race.

The Boston Marathon finish line at Boylston Street was still calm as runners began their route Monday morning.

David Chapin Jr. (left), 26, of Natick, had his father, David Chapin Sr., apply a heating pad to his back before the start of the marathon.

Dick Hoyt (left) and his son, Rick, posed for photos by the statue of them in Hopkinton before the start of the 177th Boston Marathon.

The Hoyts will be running in their 31st Boston Marathon this year.

Tranist police lined up in Hopkinton.

Kristina Morrocco wrote a message on Emily Clark's shirt before the start.

Varinka Ensminger, coach of Team Hoyt, wrote Heather Ekola's name on her bib.

Runner Mike Martin, 42, of Cambridge, rested before the start of the 117th Boston Marathon in Hopkinton.

Martin's running shoes, a banana, and a bottle of water. He says he has run the marathon more than 10 times.

Volunteer Kelbi Magnuson, 17, tried to stay warm in Hopkinton.

In Boston Common early Monday, runners headed to buses bound for the starting line in Hopkinton.