The B.A.A & Boston Marathoners History of Finding Solutions
• Patriots Day, 1918 – B.A.A. organizes marathon relay honoring our troops during the World War and Spanish Influenza Pandemic
• Patriots Day, 1946 – Stylianos Kyriakides wins Boston Marathon while raising money for his countrymen back in Greece. Later embracing the charity running, the Boston Marathon has since raised over $250 million in charitable donations
• Patriots Day, 1966 – Bobbi Gibb unhappy with the race being men only hides in the bushes and jumps in
• Patriots Day, 1967 – Katherine Switzer stealthily registers with her initials to be the first female with a race number
• Patriots Day, 1975 – Boston Marathon becomes first major to sanction wheel chair racers
• Patriots Day, 1980 – Rosie Ruiz confuses the T with her running shoes. Sometimes that creativity isn’t used in the best manner…
• Patriots Day, 2013 – Boston Marathon halted early due to terrorist attack. Community responds with love #BostonStrong
• Patriots Day, 2020 – mass participation not prudent due to COVID-19 pandemic. This will be only the second time in it’s 124 year history that the global climate necessitates an adaptation of plans.
• September 2020 – Boston Marathon to host first para athlete division
The Boston Marathon is many things to many people. Its’ status as one of the worlds most important sporting events (and to many THE most important) is due in large part to its long unbroken history and tradition. The Boston Marathon has been held annually on Patriots’ Day since its inception. Only one other time in its 124 year history has the global climate required adaptations to the standard celebratory race: during the World War and Spanish Influenza. This does not have to be the year that Boston surrenders the longest running annual marathon title to Košice. Hopefully that day will never come!
Since the 2020 race cannot go on in its standard fashion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s time to get creative once again! A symbolic running of the course on Patriots Day will give the community something to cheer for, while supporting both physical and emotional health for everyone. And it will once again show the world Bostons resilience!