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 Marathon 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.
Media
looking to cover the 125th Boston Marathon may submit credentials
requests here.
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.
* * *
MEDIA CONTACTS
Kendra Butters
Director of Communications
508-954-0210
Chris Lotsbom
Communications Manager
508-505-8347
沒有留言:
發佈留言