BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 11: Runners make their way down Commonwealth Avenue during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The 125th running of the Boston Marathon was unique. The Boston Marathon in October on Indigenous Peoples' Day, instead of in April on Patriots' Day.
Of course, the running of the 124th Boston Marathon was supposed to take place on Patriots Day 2020. Then the Coronavirus pandemic hit, and the 124th was postponed to the fall of that year. But even before the fall came around, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh nixed the event and instead announced a virtual running. That, of course, came on the heels of the news that the 124th running of the Boston Marathon would be cancelled. It was the first time in the history of the race that it had ever been cancelled.
2021 would be a year of firsts for the Boston Athletic Association as well. Once again, they slated the race for a Patriots' Day running. Once again, COVID-19 forced them to reschedule. So instead of Marathon Monday being a celebration of spring, complete with an early-scheduled Red Sox home game at Fenway Park, we got a completely different Marathon Monday experience. Marathon Monday on Indigenous Peoples Day. Marathon Monday on a crisp, fall day instead of a crisp, spring day. Marathon Monday with colorful, turning leaves instead of green buds.
The Weird, Wild Time They Ran the Boston Marathon in October
It's likely to never happen again. Hell, let's hope it never happens again. Because if it does, that will probably mean we have another pandemic upon us. And I don't know about you, but I'm all set with that. I mean, technically, I don't think we're actually done with the current pandemic. But I digress. Let's go back in time to when they ran the Boston Marathon in October. It was a one-of-a-kind Boston moment. Kind of like how Dick Hoyt was one-of-a-kind. And Rick was, too.
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Marcel Hug and Manuela Schar of Switzerland pose with the Champion's Trophy after winning the men's and women's wheelchair races during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Manuela Schar of Switzerland poses with the Champion's Trophy after winning the women's wheelchair race during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Marcel Hug of Switzerland reacts after winning the men's wheelchair race during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Benson Kipruto and Diana Kipyogei of Kenya react after winning the men's and women's races of the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Diana Kipyogei of Kenya poses with the Champion's Trophy after winning the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Benson Kipruto of Kenya reacts after winning the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Michael Porter crosses the finish line during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Karl Hebert of Canada reacts after crossing the finish line during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Runners react after crossing the finish line on Boylston Street during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Runners near the finish line on Boylston Street during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Runners near the finish line on Boylston Street during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Aaron Harris reacts as he crosses the finish line during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Runners near the finish line on Boylston Street during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Benson Kipruto of Kenya reacts as he crosses the finish line to win the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Diana Kipyogei of Kenya crosses the finish line to win the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Jeffrey Chalmers and Andre Travis cross the finish line during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Runners turn onto Boylston street during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Runners make their way down Commonwealth Avenue during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
125th Boston Marathon
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 11: Runners make their way down Boylston Street during the 125th Boston Marathon on October 11, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
