Its going to be eiltes only. Sorry Hobbyjoggers you don't get to run it this year. LMAO
Its going to be eiltes only. Sorry Hobbyjoggers you don't get to run it this year. LMAO
By fall of 2021, people living in Greater Trumpistan will have to apply for passports to visit the East Coast and provide evidence of vaccination. So, I guess it just depends on which side of the border you end up on after the Trump patriots take over most of rural America.
But seriously, I think a fall Boston Marathon would possibly be more of an issue logistically than people might anticipate. The Boston Marathon is on Patriots Day and the entire state is used to dealing with the marathon's interruptions on that Monday in April. The race would have to move to a Sunday, which would freak out the Catholics trying to get to mass and cause other problems. The worst part is that people watching the race would not be able to get liquored up the way they do on a Monday due to the state's blue laws.
I am actually cautiously optimistic that a mass participation marathon could happen this fall if the vaccine roll out dramatically accelerates under Biden and anyone who wants a vaccine can get one this Spring. So far, there is decent evidence that the vaccine will stop transmission and provide durable immunity. The UK variant only is effective against one of about a thousand of the different antibodies stimulated by the vaccine and is probably not hindered by the UK variant. It may be that the only issue by the fall is whether little kids can get vaccinated for school. Most adults should be able to get back to a cautious normal.
Democrats find ruling much easier with everyone locked in their basement, no life, no freedom, no aspect of "normal" life. I believe they will continue this approach forever if possible.
The B.A.A. should just announce it will be virtual the week of Patriot's Day this year. And start it back up in 2022.
I don't see how logistically they will be able to know they can hold the event in October anytime soon. From what I see we will have about 50% of the population vaccinated or had been infected by July/August. If we are there then, will that be enough to safely plan to hold the event in October?
Runners and their family or whoever else they travel to Boston will need to know pretty far in advance to plan their trips. Will everyone who travels to Boston somehow also to show they have been vaccinated or have antibodies?
Boston runners are an older bunch. That should be considered with any decision.
As a former Masshole with a strong BQ from this past March 1 in Napa, I really want it to happen this fall. It sure do seem like quite a stretch. I hope I get to put my qualifier to use sometime!
We'll see how the vaccine works out. The pandemic is raging now. Many people are still having a difficult time keeping themselves and others safe.
Me, I'm working with my kids to make sure they don't knock off my mother in law!
yet another Boston guy wrote:
NERunner53 wrote:
Idk what some of you want. I wouldn't vote for an elected official who supports 30k people getting together and traveling from all over the world at this current point in time. This isn't about COVID fear and virtue signaling. Social distance measures and protocols have saved lives and have prevented people from catching the virus. We still don't know the long term effects of the virus on endurance athletes. We can put our selfish pursuits on hold while things stabilize. Find smaller races with local fields and good safety plans.
By September the elderly will have had access to vaccines for almost 9 months, and vaccines will (hopefully) have been widely available to the general public for 3-6 months. We know the vaccines reduce infection dramatically, and reduce severity of illness for the ~5% that still get infected. After the natural summer drop in cases combined with widespread vaccine availability, community covid levels should be extremely low.
That seems more than safe enough for me.
I'm totally down with this, just less optimistic about how quickly the vaccine gets out to allow a 30k person event. Feels like there isn't a margin for error and that the roll-out needs to be flawless to have any chance at a Boston type race happening.
I would love an October/November Boston & some cooler than usual weather. I just don't think it's realistic.
An October/November Boston would be unbelievable. Typically a tailwind during that time of the year, and the the air cool and crisp.
The current plan for the race is a mix of virtual running and a smaller in-person event (less than 30,000 runners). The challenge for the BAA is going to be whether the state and various cities and towns (notably Hopkinton and Boston) will permit the runners to gather.
Hopkinton is a small town of ~17,000 people. The race completely takes it over. All of the schools are used, the entire downtown square is occupied. The town would be hard-pressed to welcome a large number of out-of-towners unless they are all vaccinated, with proof. And the town would probably want a lot of money as well. The town leaders face the serious risk of the area becoming a hotbed for COVID.
The same can be said for Boston. Mayor Marty Walsh, a big proponent of the marathon, is about to resign his post to become the Secretary of Labor. Kim Janey is set to become the interim mayor and the current populist call is for her to remain in that position until November elections, and not have a special run-off (which would normally happen this coming spring). I don't think anyone knows what Ms. Janey is thinking in terms of whether to have the marathon but I lean on the side of her avoiding a mass event because of the impact COVID has had on the minority population in Boston. The risk of things getting worse may be the reason she refuses to permit the race.
The other challenge the BAA faces is from the state. Overall, at least 500,000 people turn out for the marathon. Governor Baker will very much want this event to go forward because of the economic benefit. COVID has been a disaster for our local economy. But he will have to be willing to open other large scale events or face severe backlash from the community. I just do not know if the area will be ready for this by September - and that is probably why the BAA is also standing by and waiting to make a decision.
J&J's vaccine should be coming in February. AstraZeneca's vaccine in April. The expectation is that by July, anyone who wanted to receive the vaccine will have been able to. The question is - does that present enough time for the hospitals to treat and clear the patients - and also get some much needed rest and recovery.
Time will tell.
I think Boston and other Fall marathons have a good chance of happening. We don't need to have everyone vaccinated by then, just the over 60 and high risk folks. Then the hospitalization rates should fall dramatically and testing levels should drop way down. If younger people who are usually asymptomatic don't have to worry about about infecting the older population, there is no reason to even test them. Plus infectious rates should drop way down in the warmer weather this spring and summer.
Heard it from a friend in BAA, not happening..
more deets please. when are they announcing?
World herd immunity not likely to happen in 2021. Boston attracts runners from around the world. Be surprised if it happens this year.
wishful thinker wrote:
I hope all WMM are cancelled for 2 more years. This will eliminate the 35 plus year old pro marathoners from the game and allow a group of new fresh young faces. Our sport is stale and we need a fresh start. New heroes will become available without the same old stories.
In 2 years, "the 35 plus year old pro marathoners " will largely have been replaced anyway due to, uh, aging 2 years. On a thread full of dumb posts, yours is by far the dumbest.
Figured this information would help drive the discussion. While this is the MA's plan, it remains to be seen how successful the state is in implementation. If the plan is to be believed, I can see a fall marathon with safety precautions imposed.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/when-can-i-get-the-covid-19-vaccine
This could go either way. One thing is certain. The BAA doesn't have much room left on the calendar to keep kicking this can across on 2021 as race logistics for an October at the latest race start coming into play by mid spring.
Why October at the latest? Logistics for April 2022 come into play.
another casual observer wrote:
Hopkinton is a small town of ~17,000 people. The race completely takes it over. All of the schools are used, the entire downtown square is occupied. The town would be hard-pressed to welcome a large number of out-of-towners unless they are all vaccinated, with proof. And the town would probably want a lot of money as well. The town leaders face the serious risk of the area becoming a hotbed for COVID.
Simple solution. If residents of Hopkinton do not want to be at risk, they can just stay inside for a few hours on marathon morning. Once everyone is on their way toward Boston, they can come back out. I don't understand why this is a problem. People have been screaming to lock things down for the past ten months. Any spreading will occur between runners and after the race, they will take the virus with them. Hopkinton is safe.
been postponed already wrote:
Simple solution. If residents of Hopkinton do not want to be at risk, they can just stay inside for a few hours on marathon morning. Once everyone is on their way toward Boston, they can come back out. I don't understand why this is a problem. People have been screaming to lock things down for the past ten months. Any spreading will occur between runners and after the race, they will take the virus with them. Hopkinton is safe.
Yep, because all those people running Boston just magically teleport to the start line on race day and then disappear. No one ever stays overnight, eats out at cafes, travels on public transport, they are purely in the area only for the time they are running the race.
Not really like it seems wrote:
been postponed already wrote:
Simple solution. If residents of Hopkinton do not want to be at risk, they can just stay inside for a few hours on marathon morning. Once everyone is on their way toward Boston, they can come back out. I don't understand why this is a problem. People have been screaming to lock things down for the past ten months. Any spreading will occur between runners and after the race, they will take the virus with them. Hopkinton is safe.
Yep, because all those people running Boston just magically teleport to the start line on race day and then disappear. No one ever stays overnight, eats out at cafes, travels on public transport, they are purely in the area only for the time they are running the race.
Yes, tons of hotels and cafes in Hopkinton aka Newbury Street West. Lots of public transport in town too.
Precious Roy wrote:
But seriously, I think a fall Boston Marathon would possibly be more of an issue logistically than people might anticipate. The Boston Marathon is on Patriots Day and the entire state is used to dealing with the marathon's interruptions on that Monday in April. The race would have to move to a Sunday, which would freak out the Catholics trying to get to mass and cause other problems. The worst part is that people watching the race would not be able to get liquored up the way they do on a Monday due to the state's blue laws.
Prior to it being canceled outright, the Massachusetts legislature was going to "create" a new holiday in September to accommodate the rescheduled 2020 date of the Boston Marathon.
AlmostBQ wrote:
Precious Roy wrote:
But seriously, I think a fall Boston Marathon would possibly be more of an issue logistically than people might anticipate. The Boston Marathon is on Patriots Day and the entire state is used to dealing with the marathon's interruptions on that Monday in April. The race would have to move to a Sunday, which would freak out the Catholics trying to get to mass and cause other problems. The worst part is that people watching the race would not be able to get liquored up the way they do on a Monday due to the state's blue laws.
Prior to it being canceled outright, the Massachusetts legislature was going to "create" a new holiday in September to accommodate the rescheduled 2020 date of the Boston Marathon.
The economic benefit to the state, cities, and towns, is so massive that the state will agree to close whatever necessary roads and create a statewide holiday for this event. Governor Baker last year wanted this weekend to spark visits to restaurants and businesses in order to give them a much needed boost.
The problem right now is with vaccinations. The country as a whole is vaccinating 900,000 people a day. But Massachusetts is among the lowest daily vaccination states in the country. There are plans to ramp this up significantly over the next 3-4 weeks, so there's hope. But for a September race, you'd like to see a majority of the state (6.5 million residents) or the country (328 million) vaccinated by August 1 - which is 6 months from now.