The 2013 American Elites

Meb%20Keflezighi%2C%20a%20three-time%20Olympian%20that%20placed%20fifth%20in%20Boston%20in%202010%20and%20third%20in%202006%2C%20is%20looking%20for%20a%20Boston%20win%20to%20add%20to%20his%202009%20New%20York%20City%20Marathon%20medal.%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20ADRIAN%20DENNIS%2FAFP%2FGettyImages%29

%E2%80%9CAs%20I%20come%20towards%20the%20end%20of%20my%20running%20career%2C%20there%20are%20still%20a%20few%20goals%20I%20want%20to%20achieve%3B%20winning%20the%20Boston%20Marathon%20is%20one%20of%20them%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Keflezighi.%20%28Photo%20by%20Patrick%20McDermott%2FGetty%20Images%29

Abdi%20Abdirahman%20has%20appeared%20in%20four%20straight%20Olympic%20Games.%20%28Photo%20by%20Thomas%20B.%20Shea%2FGetty%20Images%29

At%2036%20years-old%2C%202013%20will%20be%20his%20Boston%20Marathon%20debut.%20%28Photo%20by%20Thomas%20B.%20Shea%2FGetty%20Images%29

2013%20will%20be%20Kara%20Goucher%E2%80%99s%20third%20Boston%20Marathon.%20She%20was%20disappointed%20to%20finish%20third%20in%202009%20%28pictured%20here%29.%20She%20returned%20and%20finished%20fifth%20in%202011%20with%20a%20personal%20best%202%3A24%3A52.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

%E2%80%9CThe%20city%20of%20Boston%20captured%20my%20heart%20when%20I%20ran%20my%20first%20Boston%20Marathon%20in%202009%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20Goucher.%20%20%E2%80%9CThe%20support%20for%20the%20Marathon%20in%20Boston%20is%20incredible.%E2%80%9D%20%28Photo%20by%20Bob%20Levey%2FGetty%20Images%29

For%20Shalane%20Flanagan%2C%20it%20will%20mark%20her%20Boston%20Marathon%20debut%2C%20a%20very%20special%20event%20for%20the%20Marblehead%20native.%20%28Photo%20by%20Stu%20Forster%2FGetty%20Images%29

This%20will%20be%20the%20fourth%20Boston%20Marathon%20for%20Ryan%20Hall%2C%20a%20two-time%20Olympian%20who%20set%20an%20American%20course%20record%20in%202011%20with%20a%20time%20of%202%3A04%3A58%20%E2%80%94%20good%20for%20a%20fourth%20place%20finish.%20He%20finished%20third%20in%202009%20and%20fourth%20in%202010.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

%E2%80%9CI%20go%20back%20this%20year%20eager%20to%20%20experience%20all%20that%20Boston%20has%20to%20offer%3A%20the%20epic%20crowds%2C%20the%20challenging%20course%2C%20but%20mainly%20to%20be%20a%20part%20of%20and%20make%20history%2C%E2%80%9D%20Hall%20said.%20%28Photo%20by%20Thomas%20B.%20Shea%2FGetty%20Images%29