As many across the country slept, thousands of runners got up before the crack of dawn to get ready for the first Boston Marathon in 30 months.

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Runners gathered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, Monday braving light rain and temperatures in the 50s for the 125th Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest and most prestigious run, The Associated Press reported.

The race, which stretches 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston’s Copley Square, had been canceled in 2020 and delayed from its traditional April run due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It started with race director Dave McGillivray sending members of the Massachusetts National Guard out at 6 a.m.

Not only was the date of the race different from years past, but the procedures for this year’s marathon were also different as runners were bused to Hopkinton from Boston at staggered intervals and were told to run when they got to the starting line instead of being held in packed corrals, the AP reported.

Each runner also had to submit proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, Boston 25 News reported.

The number of runners has also been cut, with 18,000 logging miles in person instead of the normal 30,000. But that doesn’t mean the marathon faithful are skipping this year’s race as nearly 30,000 are running in the virtual Boston Marathon, the AP reported.

Athletes in the men’s wheelchair division started at 8:02 a.m., and the women’s wheelchair division started at 8:05 a.m. The men’s race started at 8:37 a.m. and the women at 8:45 a.m., Boston 25 News reported.

Benson Kipruto from Kenya won the men’s division with a time of 2:09:51, the AP reported.

Diani Chemtai Kipyogei won the women’s division with an unofficial time of 2:24:50.

Marcel Hug won the men’s wheelchair competition at 1:18:11. At one point he took a wrong turn in the final mile, AP reported.

“The car went straight and I followed the car,” Hug said. “But it’s my fault. I should go right, but I followed the car.”

Manuela Schär won the women’s wheelchair race at 1:35:21.

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125th Boston Marathon Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray, left, talks to member of the Massachusetts National Guard before the start the 125th running of the Boston Marathon in Hopkinton, Mass., early Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Jennifer McDermott) (Jennifer McDermott/AP)

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