Boston Marathon Canceled For First Time In 124-Year History

BOSTON — The 2020 Boston Marathon was canceled amid concern about the spread of the coronavirus, marking the first time since the race started in 1897 that it was called off.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced Thursday that the Marathon, one of the longest running in the country, is "not feasible this year for public health reasons."

The last time the Marathon came close to canceling was in 1918, at the height of World War I and the influenza pandemic. Instead of completely shutting down, organizers had a military marathon relay in its place. In 2013, the race was stopped when two bombs were detonated at the finish line hours after it had already started.

"This is this year's reality," said Tom Grilk of the Boston Athletic Association, which operates the marathon.

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In March, officials postponed the iconic race, which bring some 31,000 runners from around the world to run from Hopkinton through Wellesley to Newton and Brookline to round the last bend and finish on Boylston Street. Rather than running it on Patriot's Day in April, the plan was to hold the race in September.

"The spirit of Boston, and the spirit of the Boston Marathon, is to be strong and to be smart and when necessity drives you in a direction you might not like, you need to have the strength ... to do what's right," Grilk said.

The Marathon brings in hundreds of thousands of people to the city as people show up to run, watch and cheer on runners. In a good year, the weekend brings in more than $200 million to the city.

"Economically it's going to be a big hit," Walsh said.

Walsh and the Boston Athletic Association made the decision last week.

Grilk said looking ahead to 2021, qualifying times going back to the middle of September 2018 through 2020 would count toward registration for that race.

The BAA later announced the 124th Boston Marathon will be held as a virtual event.

“While we cannot bring the world to Boston in September, we plan to bring Boston to the world for an historic 124th Boston Marathon," he said in a statement.

All participants who were originally registered for the April 20, 2020 event will be offered a full refund of their entry fee associated with the race and will have the chance to participate in the virtual alternative to the 124th Boston Marathon, which can be run any time between September 7–14. The B.A.A. will also offer a series of virtual events and activities throughout September’s Marathon Week in an effort to bring the Boston Marathon experience across the United States and around the world.

Boston is one of six World Marathon Majors and the latest, following Tokyo, London and Berlin, to cancel its race.