Norwood residents lacing up for the Boston Marathon

By Michele Taranto

It’s been a long wait for the 125th Boston Marathon. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was not held on its original Patriot’s Day, April 20, 2020 date. It was postponed to September, and ultimately converted into a virtual experience September 5-14. Sixteen thousand, one hundred, and eighty-three finishers from all 50 states and nearly 90 countries joined in the event.

This year, the traditional race is on! It is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 11, and 13 Norwood residents will be competing through Boston suburbs and the city streets. In order to enter, runners must provide proof of vaccination or produce a negative COVID-19 test through a detailed process. Masks will not be required while running the 26.2-mile course, but enforced on participant transportation and other areas according to local guidelines. Marathon volunteers and officials will follow similar processes. All medical volunteers will be fully vaccinated.

The Norwood community is well represented in this beloved yearly tradition with 13 local residents participating on Oct. 11. 

Name Age

Thomas Ahearn 58

Anthony Bonaccorso 67

Bill Conley 39

Marykate Galvin 27

Benjamin Hampton 37

Chunhua Liu 52

Jaime Mazzola 43

Roberta Myers 55

Michelle Nolan 30

Jennifer O’Donnell 26

Susan O’Donnell 58

Sean Rooney 42

Javier Velasquez 45

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and has been organized by the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) since its inception in 1897 and is considered the world’s most prestigious road races. A marathon has ancient roots but the 26.2 mile length was not established until the 20th century.

The Distance

The first organized marathon was run in the Athens Olympics in 1896 was 24.8 miles and according to Greek legend, it was based on the Greek foot soldier Pheidippides who was sent from the plains of Marathon to Athens with news of victory over a superior Persian army.

The distance was extended in the 1908 London Olympic Games when King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted the marathon race to begin at Windsor Castle so the Royal family could view the start. The distance from the castle and the Olympic Stadium is 26 miles and organizers added a few extra yards (385) so the runners would finish in front of the king and queen’s royal box. Of the first seven Olympic games, there were six marathon distances until it was standardized for all future Olympic marathons at 42.195 kilometers, or 26 miles, 385 yards.

When

From 1897-1968, the Boston Marathon was held on April 19, Patriots’ Day, which commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War. The exception was when the 19th fell on a Sunday, then it was held on the following Monday. In 1969, the state holiday was officially moved to the third Monday in April and since then, the race has been held on that day.

ON A MONDAY: THE PATRIOTS’ DAY RACEB.A.A. Announces Participant Health & Safety Policies for 125th Boston Marathon