Boston Marathon postponed amid coronavirus concerns

The next Boston Marathon will not be run until fall of 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said. 

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) announced Wednesday that the race, which typically takes place on the third Monday in April, will not be held until sometime in the fall of 2021. 

No date for next year’s race has been set. 

“With fewer than six months until Patriots’ Day and with road races prohibited until Phase 4 of the Massachusetts reopening plan, we are unable to host the Boston Marathon this coming April,” Tom Grilk, the BAA president, said in a statement. “By shifting our focus to a fall date, we can continue to work with stakeholders to adjust the in-person experience for runners and supporters alike. Prioritizing the safety of participants, volunteers, spectators, and community members, we continue to assess all elements of the race including a potential reduced field size or weekend date.”

In April, the 2020 event was rescheduled and held virtually in September. 

The postponement of next year’s race comes as public health experts warn of a second and third wave of coronavirus cases in states across the country. 

Professional sports leagues began play again this summer after the pandemic shut virtually all events, concerts and mass gatherings of any kind down in March. 

The BAA said it will work with local, city and state officials and members of its COVID-19 Medical & Event Operations Advisory Group to “establish under what conditions the next live, in-person Boston Marathon can occur,” and hopes to announce a date for the 2021 race before the end of the year. 

“We are optimistic that the Boston Marathon will continue its tradition of celebrating the spirit of community and athletic excellence next fall. We know there will be many questions and we will look to address them in the coming months ahead,” Grilk said.