heartbreak hill is a portion of the boston marathon which ascends over 0.4 miles (600 m) between the 20- and 21-mile (32- and 34-km) marks, near boston college. it is the last of four "newton hills", which begin at the 16-mile (26 km) mark. in 1936, kelley overtook ellison "tarzan" brown, giving him a consolatory pat on the shoulder as he passed. this gesture renewed the competitive drive in brown, who rallied, pulled ahead of kelley, and went on to win—thereby, it was said, breaking kelley's heart.