Boston and London Marathons Postponed Until Fall

After resisting calls to cancel the race for weeks, the Boston Athletic Association announced Friday that the Boston Marathon would be postponed until September because of mounting concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Shortly after that announcement, another major race, the London Marathon, was postponed. It had been scheduled for April 26, six days after the Boston Marathon. For some British runners the London race would have served as a qualifier for the Summer Olympics in Tokyo in late July, another event that could be canceled or postponed because of the pandemic, though organizers have insisted the Olympics will take place as planned.

The Boston Marathon will be held Sept. 14. The London Marathon will take place on Oct. 4.

The announcements injected new turmoil into the spring long-distance running season, both for elite runners, who often plan on participating in one marathon in the fall and one in the spring, and weekend warriors.

“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, chief executive of the B.A.A. “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.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/13/sports/boston-marathon-london-marathon-postponed-coronavirus.html