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The was first run in 1897, making it the oldest annual marathon in the world. But with the novel spreading through the United States and across the globe, marathon officials along with state and local officials have decided to postpone the race, scheduled for April 20, until September 14 of this year.

Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThe postponement makes Boston just one of and sporting events considering postponement or cancellation in 2020.

Related Story“On matters of public health and safety we take our guidance from the officials entrusted with protecting the public in this area,” said Tom Grilk, CEO of the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) said in a statement Friday morning. “We understand our role, along with our partners, in ensuring a safe environment for all participants, volunteers, spectators, and supporters that meets the standards set by those officials.”

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.> The 124th Boston Marathon has been postponed - the understands the city's decision that the marathon cannot be held on April 20, and we offer our full support to take all efforts to postpone until September 14, 2020. Read more:

— Boston Marathon (@bostonmarathon) The BAA 5K, which draws a field of 10,000 participants and is held the weekend of the marathon, will also be rescheduled for September 12.

On April 1, the BAA announced that participants registered for the marathon may elect to receive a refund for entry fees if they do not wish to participate in the race scheduled for September. The September 14 race will serve as a qualifier for the 2021 Boston Marathon, and will take place after Monday, September 14.

Since it started, the Boston Marathon has never been fully canceled, except in 1918 when a was run instead. The race was stopped in 2013 when two bombs were detonated at the finish line.

A full cancellation of the race would have been a logistical hurdle for BAA officials because of how a majority of the field—about 31,500 for the April 20 race—is made up of time qualifiers.

Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowThe Boston Marathon is unique because it benefits the fleet of foot to gain entry. Since 1970, the primary way for runners to enter Boston has been by running a qualifying time in another marathon. For the 2020 race, about 80 percent of the field is made up of ; the BAA sets aside a few thousand bibs for runners affiliated with one of the marathon’s official charities.

For many, running a Boston qualifying time (or BQ) is a lifetime running achievement. That could have potentially gone out the window with a full cancellation of the race.

Related StoriesThis alternative scenario, first reported by the on March 12, allows those who qualified and raised money to race in the event to still participate this year while also offsetting potential economic loss to the greater Boston community that would come with a complete cancellation.

A postponement of an event as large as the Boston Marathon certainly isn’t unprecedented as the coronavirus outbreak continues in the U.S. Just this week, the , and have temporarily suspended their seasons. The NCAA March Madness basketball tournaments for men and women are also canceled.

And around the globe—the and Rome Marathons, the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Poland, and Paris Half Marathon to name a few—have limited the number of participants or outright canceled the events to help stop the potential spread of the virus.

“The BAA’s mission of promoting health through sports, especially running, has guided our organization for more than a century. In collaboration with our many partners, we look forward to welcoming the world to Boston in September in celebration of the 124th Boston Marathon,” Grilk said in the statement.

Director of Content Operations, Runner’s World & BicyclingBrian has spent the last 10 years focused on creating compelling news, health, and fitness content—with a particular interest on enthusiast activities like running and cycling.This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.ioThis commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowMore From ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The B.A.A. Is Hosting the First-Ever Boston Marathon Fan Fest

The B.A.A. Is Hosting the First-Ever Boston Marathon Fan Fest

Sep 25 BOSTON - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today continued its notification to qualified applicants of their acceptance into the 2020 Boston Marathon®. In preparation for the 2020 Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. implemented the same registration process for qualified runners as used in recent years, allowing the fastest qualifiers to register first. The 124th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2020 and will mark the 35th consecutive year that John Hancock will serve as principal sponsor.

Qualifiers who were one minute, 39 seconds (1:39) or faster than the qualifying time for their age group and gender have been accepted into the 2020 Boston Marathon. A total of 24,127 qualified applicants have been accepted to date or are in the process of being accepted, pending verification of their qualifying performance. In total, 27,288 applications were received during the registration period for qualifiers.

In cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, the B.A.A. has also announced an increased field size of 1,500 official entrants for the 2020 Boston Marathon. The expanded field size will allow even more qualified and charity participants to take part in the Boston Marathon. Previously, the Boston Marathon featured a field size of 30,000 participants from 2015 through 2019.

Among those accepted into the 2020 Boston Marathon were athletes from 112 countries and all 50 U.S. states. This year the B.A.A. was unable to accept 3,161 qualifiers due to field size limitations.

More than 80% of the 2020 Boston Marathon field will be comprised of athletes who have met the qualifying standards. The balance will consist of invitational entrants, including runners participating as part of the Boston Marathon’s Official Charity Program and John Hancock’s Non-Profit Program, as well as invited elite athletes. Participants who ran on behalf of nearly 300 non-profit organizations raised a race-record $38.7 million for charity at the 2019 Boston Marathon.

“Each year, the Boston Marathon brings together participants from around the world in pursuit of athletic excellence,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Chief Executive Officer. “For many, earning a spot on the starting line in Hopkinton is the pinnacle of their running aspirations. We celebrate those who will be joining us next April, and also recognize and applaud the many runners who displayed interest in being part of the 2020 race. We thank the entire running community, and look forward to a memorable 124th running of the Boston Marathon.”

Since 1970, the Boston Marathon has featured qualifying standards as a means of entry. In September of 2018, the B.A.A. updated qualifying standards for the 2020 race; a breakdown of Boston Marathon qualifying standards can be found below.

Registration for runners who met the B.A.A.’s Qualifying Standards for the 2020 Boston Marathon began on Monday, September 9 using a “rolling admission” schedule and continued through Saturday, September 14. Registration re-opened on Monday, September 16 and application submissions were received through Wednesday, September 18. Registration for the Boston Marathon is not first-come, first-served, but rather allows for a more systematic and orderly application procedure with the fastest qualifiers of those who submitted entries accepted.

During the registration period, the breakdown of accepted Qualifiers was as follows:

Qualifying performances for the 2020 Boston Marathon must have been run between September 15, 2018 and September 18, 2019. Notices to those accepted will be issued by the B.A.A via e-mail.

For reference, qualifiers needed to be four minutes, 52 seconds or faster than their age group and gender for the 2019 Boston Marathon; three minutes, 23 seconds or faster for the 2018 Boston Marathon; two minutes, nine seconds or faster for the 2017 Boston Marathon; two minutes, 28 seconds or faster for the 2016 Boston Marathon; one minute, two seconds or faster for the 2015 Boston Marathon; and one minute, 38 seconds or faster for the 2014 Boston Marathon.

This year’s one minute, 39 second cut-off is the lowest cut-off time since 2015 (1:02). A history of Boston Marathon qualifying standards and cut-off times . Notices to those who submitted an application for entry but who were not accepted were also issued today.

2020 BOSTON MARATHON: Men’s Qualifying Standards and Accepted Times* AGE GROUPQUALIFYING STANDARDQUALIFICATION TIMES ACCEPTED (faster than and including)18-343hrs 00min 00sec2hrs 58min 21sec35-393hrs 05min 00sec3hrs 03min 21sec40-443hrs 10min 00sec3hrs 08min 21sec45-493hrs 20min 00sec3hrs 18min 21sec50-543hrs 25min 00sec3hrs 23min 21sec55-593hrs 35min 00sec3hrs 33min 21sec60-643hrs 50min 00sec3hrs 48min 21sec65-694hrs 05min 00sec4hrs 03min 21sec70-74 4hrs 20min 00sec4hrs 18min 21sec75-794hrs 35min 00sec4hrs 33min 21sec80 and over4hrs 50min 00sec4hrs 48min 21sec2020 BOSTON MARATHON: Women’s Qualifying Standards and Accepted Times* AGE GROUPQUALIFYING STANDARDQUALIFICATION TIMES ACCEPTED (faster than and including)18-343hrs 30min 00sec3hrs 28min 21sec35-393hrs 35min 00sec3hrs 33min 21sec40-443hrs 40min 00sec3hrs 38min 21sec45-493hrs 50min 00sec3hrs 48min 21sec50-543hrs 55min 00sec3hrs 53min 21sec55-594hrs 05min 00sec4hrs 03min 21sec60-644hrs 20min 00sec4hrs 18min 21sec65-694hrs 35min 00sec4hrs 33min 21sec70-74 4hrs 50min 00sec4hrs 48min 21sec75-795hrs 05min 00sec5hrs 03min 21sec80 and over5hrs 20min 00sec5hrs 18min 21sec* Qualified entrants for the 2020 Boston Marathon must have met the designated time standard that corresponds with their age group and gender in a certified marathon on or after September 15, 2018. Proof of qualification must accompany each athlete's application, and participants are required to be 18 years or older on Boston Marathon race day.

The qualifying window for the 2021 Boston Marathon began on Saturday, September 14, 2019, and will continue through the conclusion of 2021 Boston Marathon registration next fall. Registration dates for the 2021 Boston Marathon will be announced next year.

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