HOPKINGTON, Mass. -- Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry fired the opening shot at the world’s oldest annual marathon on Monday, letting loose a torrent of runners onto the storied Boston Marathon course.

NewsCenter 5’s Gail Huff reported that more than 26,000 runners took part in the 113th marathon, with another 34 wheelchair competitors soaring down the race course.

Legendary marathon champion Bill Rodgers was among the first to set foot onto the race course in Hopkington at the start of the competition, competing in his first marathon since an incomplete finish in 1999. After being treated for prostate cancer, the four-time Boston champion returned to the course this year determined to put a period on the end of his marathon career with a complete finish.

Runner Patrick Harten, who was also near the front of the pack at the start of the race, had a special request granted by race organizers this year. Harten, a flight controller from New York, was working the radio when a US Airways flight made a spectacular crash landing in the Hudson River. Harten wore bib 1549, the same number as the flight, for good luck as he ran the marathon.

As always, a cast of marathon characters turned up at the start line as well, from the Pesky pole runner who was embarking on his fourth marathon run with a miniature version of the Fenway landmark planted on top of his head, to the application developer who was plodding through the course in an iPhone costume.

The blisters and sore backs are par for the course for seasoned runners, but many others who began training for the competition have taken on the challenge to support charities. Organizers estimate that $10 million will be raised for charities through the efforts of 2009 marathon runners.