Boston Marathon 2021: Start Times, Results

Boston MA

10 October, 2021

10:13 PM

Description

BOSTON — It's been 910 days since Boston Marathon runners crossed the Boylston Street finish line. On Monday, triumphant, blistered feet will once again cross the yellow-and-blue strip. The 2021 Boston Marathon for the first time is taking place in the fall, pushed back six months from its traditional April date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 Boston Marathon was postponed before being canceled, the first time the race didn't take place in its 124-year history (though there was a virtual event.) The race's defending champions, Lawrence Cherono of Kenya and Worknesh Degefa of Ethiopia, have been wearing the crown for thirty months. Now others will have a chance. The Marathon returns with a reduced field of fewer than 20,000 runners — the usual amount is over 30,000. Those running won't need to wear masks on the course, but they will if they enter any medical tents or other facilities; Boston has an indoor mask mandate in effect. Runners must be vaccinated or have a recent negative COVID-19 test. Sign up for one of Patch's free local daily newsletters to get the latest about what's happening in your city or town. This year will feature rolling starts as a pandemic precaution. Runners have six hours to complete the course. Here are the start times for the 2021 Boston Marathon: Men's wheelchair: 8:02 a.m.Women's wheelchair: 8:05 a.m. Handcycles and duos: 8:30 a.m.Professional men: 8:37 a.m.Professional women: 8:45 a.m.Para athletics division: 8:50 .am.Rollings start begins: 9 a.m.Rolling start ends: 11:30 a.m. The Boston Marathon is unique to major counterparts across the world in that much of the race takes place outside the city. Runners will start in Hopkinton, pass through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton and Brookline and finish in Boston. Newton is home to Heartbreak Hill, a famously grueling stretch 20 miles from the start line. Race officials are asking runners and spectators to keep their lips to themselves this year, a reference to the historically smooch-happy "Scream Tunnel" at Wellesley College, near the race's halfway point. Heading to the race? Find the best place to watch the Boston Marathon, no matter where you're going. There is the chance for rain Monday, but it's expected to be much, much lighter than in previous years, which saw runners soaked to the bone. It should otherwise comfortable, with temperatures ranging throughout the 60s all day. Viewers can watch the local feed of the Boston Marathon on WBZ-TV (catch the online stream here) from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. A rerun of the race will be shown at 8 p.m. on myTV38. There will be live national coverage on NBC. People watching outside the United States can find who is carrying the race here. Find out more about the race broadcasts here. Want more on the Boston Marathon? Bookmark this story for live updates throughout the day, and visit our Boston Marathon 2021 hub for additional content. Even with the game in October instead of on Patriots Day, the Red Sox will continue the tradition of playing a baseball game a few miles away at Fenway Park. Instead of a 11 a.m. start time, Boston will host Tampa Bay at 7 p.m. in Game 4 of the American League Division Series. "It's a special day for everybody," Sox manager Alex Cora said before Friday's Game 2. "And yeah, I mean, that's the goal, right? To play two at home. And it should be a very special day for us." Read also For "Spotlight" Actor, Boston Marathon Means Something Extra