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.
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)
125th Boston Marathon Volunteers put the finishing touches on the timing mat at the starting line of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Members of the State Police walk across starting line before the start of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Participants in the men's wheelchair division break from the starting line of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Participants in the women's wheelchair division break from the starting line of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, crosses the finish line to win the men's wheelchair division of the 125th Boston Marathon on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, breaks the finish line with his helmet to win the men's wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Manuela Schar, of Switzerland, smiles while breaking the finish line to win the women's wheelchair division at the Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Benson Kipruto, of Ethiopia, raises his arms at the finish line as he wins the Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Masks are discarded at the starting line as runners cross for the start of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Benson Kipruto, of Ethiopia, breaks the finish line tape to win the Boston Marathon in Boston, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) (Charles Krupa/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Women's wheelchair participant Manuela Char, right, of Switzerland, looks out from the starting line as Tatyana McFadden looks down before the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Elite women's runner Diana Kipyogei of Kenya, center, breaks from the start in the center of the pack in the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Elite women's runner Diana Kipyogei of Kenya, left, breaks from the start in the center of the pack in the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon A dog watches as a runner strides out from the starting line of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Marcel Hug, left, and Manuela Schar, both of Switzerland, celebrate after winning the wheelchair divisions of the 125th Boston Marathon Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Marcel Hug, left, and Manuela Schar, both of Switzerland, pose after winning the wheelchair divisions of the 125th Boston Marathon on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Elite women's runner Diana Kipyogei of Kenya, center, breaks from the start in the center of the pack in the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Manuela Schar of Switzerland smiles after winning the women's wheelchair division of the 125th Boston Marathon Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Manuela Schar, of Switzerland, approaches the tape to win the women's wheelchair division of the 125th Boston Marathon Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Manuela Schar, of Switzerland, breaks the tape to win the women's wheelchair division of the 125th Boston Marathon Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Runners including Shalane Flanagan, second from left, cross the starting line of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Benson Kipruto, of Kenya, approaches the tape to win the 125th Boston Marathon on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Spectators cheer for runners passing fall foliage just after crossing the starting line of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Marcel Hug, left, and Manuela Schar, both of Switzerland, celebrate after winning the wheelchair divisions of the 125th Boston Marathon on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Runners cross the starting line of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Marcel Hug, of Switzerland, celebrates with the trophy after winning the men's division of the 125th Boston Marathon on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Benson Kipruto, of Kenya, approaches the tape to win the 125th Boston Marathon on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) (Winslow Townson/AP)
125th Boston Marathon Runners head out from the starting line of the 125th Boston Marathon, Monday, Oct. 11, 2021, in Hopkinton, Mass. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) (Mary Schwalm/AP)