LOU WATERS, CNN ANCHOR: It's marathon day in Boston. The 105th running of the Boston Marathon kicked off today at noon, and the first runners should be crossing the finish line within the hour. The race is 26.2 miles: 15,000 people are in the race. Another 450,000 will be watching the race. And the top 15 winners will divide $525,000 between them. Before the start of the race today, marathon officials named Johnny Kelly runner of the century. Though he's not running today, Johnny Kelly has completed the Boston Marathon more than 60 times. His first win, 1935. And Dan Rea of CNN affiliate WBZ has more on the Johnny Kelly story.</s>DAN REA, WBZ REPORTER (voice-over): No name is more synonymous with the Boston Marathon than Johnny Kelly. No runner's started in or finished more marathon's than Johnny Kelly, now 93 years young. Johnny Kelly ran his first marathon in 1927. Coolidge was the president back then and a guy named Babe Ruth hit 60 that very year. Kelly won the race twice in 1935 and in 1945, but he also finished second seven times and in the top 10 in 19 different Boston marathons. Johnny's last complete marathon, his 61st start, was in 1992. For the record, 11 presidents after "Silent Cal." Through it all, Johnny was rarely silent, whether talking about his love of running or singing his theme song, aptly named.</s>JOHNNY KELLY, BOSTON MARATHON LEGEND (singing): And here is the best part, you had a head start, if you are among the very young at heart.</s>NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Wow, and he's such an unhappy guy, too. I mean, every shot of him running he's smiling.</s>WATERS: Running might be the answer, huh? 93 years old.
Boston Marathon Officials Name Johnny Kelly 'Runner of the Century'