It's been more than a year and a half since the throngs of thrill seekers climbed out of buses in Hopkinton and made their way on foot back to Boston. But this year's Marathon Monday, usually the region's bellwether for spring, heralded fall's rusty palette instead.
The change in colors isn't the only thing different in 2021. Runners had to meet stringent testing standards to compete. Start times were rejiggered to increase safety. Spectators were asked to refrain from some of the race's close-setting traditions, like the Wellesley "scream tunnel," or kissing the runners.
The race also highlighted and celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day, after officials apologized for impinging upon the holiday.
Here's a rundown of everything Marathon Monday.
Race Results
Diana Kipyogei of Kenya has won the women's race, finishing ahead of 2017 winner Edna Kiplagat.
Benson Kipruto of Kenya has won the men's race in the Boston Marathon. Kipruto broke away from a large group of elite runners on Heartbreak Hill to win the race.
The bells of Old South Church started ringing as the first marathoner has crossed the finish line on Boylston Street. Men's wheelchair division racer Marcel Hug took his fifth Boston on Monday, just seconds off of his personal best in the race. Hug may have missed that course record after missing the turn onto Hereford Street, losing precious seconds and missing his personal best in Boston.
Manuela Schär won the women's wheelchair division, picking up her third olive wreath at the Boston Marathon.
"The differences are numerous, starting with the return of a traditional feature of the New England calendar, a sign of normalcy after more than a year of a deadly pandemic," writes Alex Ashlock. "It's also the first Boston Marathon run in October, set among autumn colors instead of the usual spring blossoms of Patriots' Day."
With the change in date, the Boston Athletic Association landed on today, which is also Indigenous Peoples' Day in Newton (and of last week, in Boston). That did not sit well with tribal leaders and partners who had hoped to keep the day focused on their remembrances.
In the end, the Boston Marathon's organizers apologized for the decision, and said they will acknowledge that the race is being run on indigenous lands, and will highlight Ellison Brown, an Narragansett marathoner who won the Boston race twice.
Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy spoke with Indigenous Peoples' Day Newton Committee members Chali’Naru Dones and Darlene Flores about the decision to move the marathon to Idigenous Peoples' Day and the process of getting those recognitions from race organizers. You can listen to that conversation here.
Marathon voices
Dave McGillivray, the race director of the Boston Marathon, joined Morning Edition Monday to talk about the 125th marathon.
"My coach said, whatever you do, just keep going. Your hands are going to hurt. They're going to get really cold, because we grip our racing gloves — so sometimes the circulation stops a little bit in the really severe cold weather," remembers Tatyana McFadden, five-time Boston Marathon winner and one of the most successful marathoners of all time.
"Gloria G. (Graceffa) Ratti died in July, at the age of 90. On Monday, the Boston Marathon, the oldest annual marathon in the world, will celebrate its 125th running without Gloria, who leaves a hole as deep as Heartbreak Hill is high," writes Barbara Huebner of the beloved long-time "doyenne" of the Boston Marathon.
"Many people already associate Columbus Day with a general celebration of Italian culture, but its original intent was quite different," writes Travis Franks. "The creation of the holiday, in fact, erased part of the identities of both Indigenous and Italian people."
Weather
Expect temperatures in the low 60s, with cloudy skies to kick off the marathon, says meteorologist Dave Epstein.
"There may be some sunshine this afternoon and the air will feel somewhat more like early September rather than October," he says.
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The 2021 Boston Marathon
PHOTOS: Scenes from the Boston Marathon
It's been more than a year and a half since the throngs of thrill seekers climbed out of buses in Hopkinton and made their way on foot back to Boston. But this year's Marathon Monday, usually the region's bellwether for spring, heralded fall's rusty palette instead.
The change in colors isn't the only thing different in 2021. Runners had to meet stringent testing standards to compete. Start times were rejiggered to increase safety. Spectators were asked to refrain from some of the race's close-setting traditions, like the Wellesley "scream tunnel," or kissing the runners.
The race also highlighted and celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day, after officials apologized for impinging upon the holiday.
Here's a rundown of everything Marathon Monday.
Race Results
Photos
What to know about this year's marathon
"The differences are numerous, starting with the return of a traditional feature of the New England calendar, a sign of normalcy after more than a year of a deadly pandemic," writes Alex Ashlock. "It's also the first Boston Marathon run in October, set among autumn colors instead of the usual spring blossoms of Patriots' Day."
Read more from Ashlock here.
Recognizing Indigenous Peoples' Day
With the change in date, the Boston Athletic Association landed on today, which is also Indigenous Peoples' Day in Newton (and of last week, in Boston). That did not sit well with tribal leaders and partners who had hoped to keep the day focused on their remembrances.
In the end, the Boston Marathon's organizers apologized for the decision, and said they will acknowledge that the race is being run on indigenous lands, and will highlight Ellison Brown, an Narragansett marathoner who won the Boston race twice.
Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy spoke with Indigenous Peoples' Day Newton Committee members Chali’Naru Dones and Darlene Flores about the decision to move the marathon to Idigenous Peoples' Day and the process of getting those recognitions from race organizers. You can listen to that conversation here.
Marathon voices
Dave McGillivray, the race director of the Boston Marathon, joined Morning Edition Monday to talk about the 125th marathon.
"My coach said, whatever you do, just keep going. Your hands are going to hurt. They're going to get really cold, because we grip our racing gloves — so sometimes the circulation stops a little bit in the really severe cold weather," remembers Tatyana McFadden, five-time Boston Marathon winner and one of the most successful marathoners of all time.
"Gloria G. (Graceffa) Ratti died in July, at the age of 90. On Monday, the Boston Marathon, the oldest annual marathon in the world, will celebrate its 125th running without Gloria, who leaves a hole as deep as Heartbreak Hill is high," writes Barbara Huebner of the beloved long-time "doyenne" of the Boston Marathon.
"Many people already associate Columbus Day with a general celebration of Italian culture, but its original intent was quite different," writes Travis Franks. "The creation of the holiday, in fact, erased part of the identities of both Indigenous and Italian people."
Weather
Expect temperatures in the low 60s, with cloudy skies to kick off the marathon, says meteorologist Dave Epstein.
"There may be some sunshine this afternoon and the air will feel somewhat more like early September rather than October," he says.
Read the full forecast here.
This article was originally published on October 11, 2021.
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Roberto Scalese Senior Editor, Digital
Roberto Scalese is a senior editor for digital.
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