Moving the Boston Marathon from its usual April date to Sept. 14 due to the coronavirus pandemic seemed like a good enough idea at the time, but it was becoming increasingly clear that even that was ambitious.
And now the news that many have dreaded has arrived: There will be no Boston Marathon at all in 2020. Boston mayor Marty Walsh and the Boston Athletic Association made the announcement Thursday afternoon.
"While our goal and our hope is to make progress in containing the virus and recovering our economy, this kind of event would not be responsible or realistic on September 14 or any time this year," Walsh said.
The @BAA, with our input and support, has determined that the traditional, one-day running of the 124th @BostonMarathon is not feasible this year, for public health reasons.
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh)
May 28, 2020 Walsh says the city and the BAA will be working together on "an alternative approach to the Marathon that allows runners to participate remotely, and allows all of us to celebrate the meaning this race has for our spirit, for our charities, and for our local economy." It's unclear exactly what that will entail at this time.
This marks the first time the Boston Marathon will not be run in its 123-year history.
