Boston Marathon 2021: The 125th Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, October 11, but with some notable changes. For one thing, this is the first time the race has been held in the fall.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the April date for the race was postponed to October. The race was canceled last year due to the pandemic, but they held a virtual race instead. This year, there are only around 20,000 participants, while there are typically more than 30,000.
Because it is Boston’s first in-person marathon since 2019, before the pandemic began, there are some new rules that participants must follow. There is a continuous start for the first time in race history for runners to socially distance themselves. The Athletes’ Village at Hopkinton, where runners can generally stay, will be closed. Additionally, runners must be vaccinated or have proof of a negative test to participate in the race.
During last year’s virtual race, no one was named the official race winner. Therefore, the defending champions are from the 2019 race. Lawrence Cherono of Kenya is the defending male champion, while Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa is the defending female champion.
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Boston Marathon 2021 start time, the route, qualifying times
- Date: Monday, October 11
- Weather: 8 am ET
- TV: NBC Sports Network
- Live broadcast: fuboTV
This year’s Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, October 11. The first group to go out is the men’s wheelchair division, which takes off at 8:02 am ET, and the women’s wheelchair race begins three minutes later.
Starting at 8:30 am, the group of handcycles and duos will take off. The professional men’s division begins at 8:37 a.m., followed by professional women at 8:45 a.m. The last race to take off will be the athlete’s division at 8:50 am Continuous departure will begin at 9:00 am
NBC Sports Network coverage will begin at 7:30 am ET and conclude at 12:00 pm There will be a repeat broadcast of the race on the Olympic Channel at 8:00 pm ET. You can also stream the Boston Marathon live with fuboTV, offering a 7-day free trial.
Boston Marathon Start Times
| Event | Time (ET) |
| Wheelchair for men | 8:02 am |
| Wheelchair for women | 8:05 am |
| Handcycles and Duos | 08:30 am |
| Professional Men | 8:37 am |
| Professional Women | 8:45 am |
| Para Athletics Division | 8:50 am |
| Start rolling | 09 am |
Boston Marathon Route 2021
The historic Boston Marathon course spans 26 miles in eight cities. The runners start in Hopkinton, a small town with a population of fewer than 20,000 people.
From Hopkinton, participants run on “side” roads that go mostly downhill for the first half of the marathon. But, when they reach mile 16, the runners must climb four hills, this is known as “Heartbreak Hill”.
The runners finish in Boston at Bolyston Street to finish the race.
Boston Marathon weather forecast
During the last few Boston marathons, the participants have been drenched from the rains. This year’s race could see the rain again, but it is not expected to be as strong as in previous years.
Otherwise, temperatures will be near 70 degrees with winds of only five to 10 mph.
Boston Marathon qualifying times
| Age | Men | Women |
| 18-34 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 35–39 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:10:00 | 3:40:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:25:00 | 3:55:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:35:00 | 4:05:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65–69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75–79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 |
| ≥80 | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 |
List of Past Boston Marathon Winners
Men
| Year | Corridor (country) | Weather |
| 2019 | Lawrence Cherono (Kenya) | 2:07:57 |
| 2018 | Yuki Kawauchi (Japan) | 2:15:58 |
| 2017 | Geoffrey Kirui (Kenya) | 2:09:37 |
| 2016 | Lemi Berhanu (Ethiopia) | 2:12:45 |
| 2015. | Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia) | 2:09:17 |
| 2014 | Meb Keflezighi (United States) | 2:08:37 |
| 2013 | Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia) | 2:10:22 |
| 2012 | Wesley Korir (Kenya) | 2:12:40 |
| 2011 | Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) | 2:03:02 |
| 2010 | Robert Kiprono Cheruiyot (Kenya) | 2:05:52 |
| 2009 | Deriba Merga (Ethiopia) | 2:08:42 |
Women
| Year | Corridor (country) | Weather |
| 2019 | Worknesh Degefa (Ethiopia) | 2:23:31 |
| 2018 | Desiree Linden (United States) | 2:39:54 |
| 2017 | Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) | 2:21:52 |
| 2016 | Atsede Baysa (Ethiopia) | 2:29:19 |
| 2015. | Caroline Rotich (Kenya) | 2:24:55 |
| 2014 | Buzunesh Deba (Ethiopia) | 2:19:59 |
| 2013 | Rita Jeptoo (Kenya) | 2:26:25 |
| 2012 | Sharon Cherop (Kenya) | 2:31:50 |
| 2011 | Caroline Kilel (Kenya) | 2:22:36 |
| 2010 | Teyba Erkesso (Ethiopia) | 2:26:11 |
| 2009 | Salina Kosgei (Kenya) | 2:32:16 |
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.