MarathonGuide.com Logo - Marathon Directory, Marathons, Marathon Results, News and More Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor facebook icon  twitter icon
Site Map
 
   Marathon Press Releases
Press Releases Home
Boston Marathon: Information & Reviews | Press Releases | News |
 

Press Release - Boston Marathon - 9/28/21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

      B.A.A. Announces 125th Boston Marathon Programming, Race Starters, 
                 Grand Marshals & $125,000 Grant Recipients

      Celebrations to honor Boston Marathon history & future of running

BOSTON-With two weeks until the 125th Boston Marathon, the Boston Athletic 
Association (B.A.A.) announced today a slate of race weekend events and 
programming that honor the history of the race and support running for the 
next generation.

"I am delighted to share the many ways we at the B.A.A. will celebrate the 
historic running of the 125th Boston Marathon," said Tom Grilk, President 
and Chief Executive Officer of the B.A.A. "Whether it be through free 
children's fitness activities or a dine-out campaign to spur economic 
recovery, our events throughout Boston Marathon weekend demonstrate that it 
is more than a race-it's a community celebration."

Celebrating 125 Years

More than 900 days after the last in-person Boston Marathon took place, the 
B.A.A. will host its first-ever Opening Celebration, which will highlight 
important moments from Boston Marathon history and feature a presentation 
of the Greek Olive Wreaths presented annually to Boston Marathon champions. 
The celebration will be held on Friday, October 8 at 6:00 p.m. in Copley 
Square.

A woman's running pioneer who finished first three times at a point when 
women were not yet welcome in the Boston Marathon, Sara Mae Berman will be 
honored and recognized with a banner on the occasion of the 50th 
anniversary of her final victory-which falls on International Day of the 
Girl. The B.A.A. will also welcome Anna Brown-Jackson and Michael Monroe, 
Sr., the grandchildren of two-time Boston Marathon champion Ellison Brown, 
to accept a banner on behalf of their family. Brown, a member of the 
Narragansett tribe, took first place in 1936 and 1939. The 85th anniversary 
of his first historic win falls on Indigenous Peoples' Day.

"Running and winning the Boston Marathon was something grandpa loved! He 
had gained another family through the Boston Athletic Association that he 
always talked about, one that we today are also glad to be a part of," said 
Brown-Jackson. "Being an Indigenous person meant everything to grandpa 
because he was very competitive to begin with. If someone told him he 
couldn't do something, whether it was winning the marathon or crossing 
through a path of land to gather shellfish for his family, he'd make sure 
to prove them wrong and do it!"

The Opening Celebration will also honor the legacies of notable Boston 
Marathon figures who were lost this year. The B.A.A. will award the first 
Dick & Rick Hoyt Award, which will be presented annually to someone who 
exhibits the spirit of Team Hoyt's legacy. Additionally, Boston Marathon 
champions and members of the John Hancock Professional Athlete Team Des 
Linden, Meb Keflezighi, Manuela Schär, Yuki Kawauchi, Lelisa Desisa, Edna 
Kiplagat, and Geoffrey Kirui will help dedicate the Gloria Ratti 
Collection-the expansive archives compiled over decades by the B.A.A.'s 
late Vice President and archivist Gloria Ratti. Throughout the weekend, a 
mobile collection of the archives will be on view in Copley Square.

In consultation with the Boston Running Collaborative Steering Committee, 
the B.A.A. is awarding $125,000 to organizations working to increase access 
to running for communities of color. The B.A.A. is proud to recognize those 
organizations during the Opening Ceremony: Boston Public Schools, Black 
Girls Run Boston, Black Men Run, PIONEERS Run Crew, TrailblazHers, Adaptive 
Sports New England, Boston Lions Track Club, Boston United Track Club, 
MetroCobras Track Club, SoleTrain: Boston Runs Together, Youth Enrichment 
Services, and YMCA of Greater Boston.

Boston Marathon Weekend Programming

Copley Square will be buzzing with free, outdoor programming all weekend 
long at the Boston Marathon Fan Fest presented by Amazon. From community 
shake out runs led by Black Men Run and Black Girls Run, to kids fitness 
activities and panels with the top Americans racing Boston or with 2020 
Olympian Abdi Abdirahman, there will be something for everyone. Fan Fest 
will be held Friday, October 8 until Sunday, October 10 and will coincide 
with the Boston Marathon Expo. Open to the public, anyone can shop the 
largest adidas Boston Marathon store in Boston. Masks will be required 
within the Expo, and only participants who have received their health and
safety bracelet may enter the bib number pick up area.

Looking for something to eat before race day? Celebrate the 125th Boston 
Marathon while supporting restaurants across Boston with Boston Marathon
Restaurant Week presented by Samuel Adams. Beginning Monday, October 4 
through Sunday, October 10, select restaurants will feature 
marathon-inspired items to dine with friends and families, grab something 
to go, or carbo load for race day. This year the Mile 27 Post-Race Party 
presented by Samuel Adams will also be transformed into a citywide 
celebration. The B.A.A. and Samuel Adams invite you to toast the 125th 
Boston Marathon at one of the official Mile 27 Post-Race Celebration spots, 
located across Boston, on Monday, October 11.

Honoring the Boston Marathon's Indigenous History

For the only time in its history, the Boston Marathon will take place on 
Monday, October 11-which is recognized as Indigenous Peoples' Day in cities 
and towns on the marathon route. Patti Catalano Dillon, Mi'kmaq, three-time 
Boston Marathon runner-up, will be interviewed at Fan Fest about setting 
the American marathon record at Boston 40 years ago. Catalano Dillon, who 
is also featured in the 125th Boston Marathon Banner Program, will serve as 
an official starter for the Men's and Women's Open Races on October 11.

"It's such an honor to be asked and I'm so humbled and excited to celebrate 
both aspects of my identity-as a Bostonian and an Indigenous person," said 
Catalano Dillon. "The Boston Marathon and the Native community both made me 
who I am today, and I am delighted to have an opportunity to celebrate 
them."

On the five-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon Pursuit Program, the 
B.A.A. will donate $10,000 to WINGS of America, a national organization 
with a mission of strengthening Native youth and their families through 
running, to support youth programming. Dustin Martin, executive director of 
WINGS of America, will be recognized in a race weekend event. At Fan Fest, 
painter and muralist, Yatika Starr Fields, who will be running in support 
of WINGS of America on October 11, will create a piece that expresses 
gratitude to the history of Indigenous runners of the Boston Marathon past 
and present. From October 8-10 in Copley Square, Fields will engage with 
local artists, community members, and Indigenous runners to develop a piece 
inspired by Ellison Brown.

In August, the B.A.A. announced it would donate $20,000 to fund the
first-ever Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration in Newton. The B.A.A. will 
also read a land acknowledgment prior to the October 11 race.

Grand Marshals & Official Race Starters

The 125th Boston Marathon Grand Marshals will be frontline workers who have 
been nominated by hospitals from the John Hancock Non-Profit and B.A.A. 
Charity Programs. The frontline workers, who will be announced over race 
weekend, will be accompanied by marathon champions including Meb 
Keflezighi, Sara Mae Berman, Bill Rodgers, and Joan Benoit Samuelson and 
driven the 26 miles in two Boston DUCK Boats, Back Bay Bertha and Catie 
Copley.

In addition to Patti Catalano Dillon starting the open races, 1968 Boston 
champion Amby Burfoot will start the Men's and Women's Wheelchair Races. 
Russell Hoyt, son of the late Dick Hoyt, will be the starter for the 
Handcycle and Duo Divisions, while Christina Welton, great granddaughter of 
the late George V. Brown, will keep the family tradition going by serving 
as a starter for the Para Athletics Division. Finally, the Boston 
Marathon's first-ever rolling start will be signaled by Hopkinton Fire 
Chief, Bill Miller. Returning to the Boylston Street announcers' booth for 
the final stretch of the race is 1983 Boston Marathon champion Greg Meyer.

Announced earlier this year, the 125th Boston Marathon will feature a 
rolling start and earlier start times:

DIVISION/PROGRAM

START TIME

Men's Wheelchair         8:02 a.m. ET
Women's Wheelchair       8:05 a.m. ET
Handcycles & Duos        8:30 a.m. ET
Professional Men         8:37 a.m. ET
Professional Women       8:45 a.m. ET
Para Athletics Division  8:50 a.m. ET
Rolling start begins     9:00 a.m. ET

The B.A.A. strongly encourages everyone to "Earn A PR" by practicing
personal responsibility for the 125th Boston Marathon. From participants to 
guests traveling with athletes to spectators cheering on participants, all 
are encouraged to take efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Everyone 
is strongly encouraged to wear a mask when they cannot socially distance, 
including at any outdoor events, and all will be required to wear a mask 
indoors. Anyone who develops any symptoms must avoid public activity except 
for going to get a COVID-19 test.

The 125th Boston Marathong will be broadcast live in its entirety locally on
WBZ-TV (CBS Boston), nationally on NBC Sports Network, and on the NBC 
Sports App. Participants, volunteers, and spectators can also download the 
new B.A.A. Racing App to stay updated on news, leaderboards, athlete 
tracking, and more.

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.) 

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit 
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through 
sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and 
supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The 
Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, along with 
international marathons in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York 
City. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been 
John Hancock. The 125th Boston Marathon is scheduled to take place on 
Monday, October 11, 2021. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit 
www.baa.org.

                                     ###


 

Some Ads

Become an Advertiser

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Click Here: Please visit our Sponsor

Become an Advertiser



All material Copyright ©2000-2024 MarathonGuide.com LLC (MarathonGuide.com). All rights Reserved.
Please Contact Us for more information.

MarathonGuide.com makes no representations as to the accuracy of information on this site or its suitability for any use. | privacy policy | refund policy