The Hopkinton Independent • October 6, 2021 • MARATHON EDITION • 3
Select Board proud of Hopkinton’s ties to BAA, Boston Marathon By Irfan Nasrullah Select Board chair
The Hopkinton Select Board, made up of (from left) Muriel Kramer, Amy Ritterbusch, Irfan Nasrullah, Brendan Tedstone and Mary Jo LaFreniere, recently celebrated the town’s ties to the race at an event Sept. 23.
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hen I meet new people and they ask where I live, I say Hopkinton, Massachusetts. “Where is that?’ they say. Well, exactly 26.2 miles from Boston. If they hadn’t guessed by now … every year, tens of thousands of people flock to Hopkinton … then they all run away. Well, if a little nudging doesn’t get them to understand, then I tell them it’s where the Boston Marathon starts. The marathon is part of our identity, and our values. We wouldn’t have our “identity” without the Boston Athletic Association and the marathon. On April 19, 1897, 10 years after the establishment of the BAA, the association held a 24.5-mile marathon to conclude its athletic competition, the BAA Games. The inaugural winner was John J. “JJ” McDermott, who ran the course in 2 hours, 55 minutes and 10 seconds, leading a field of 15. The event was scheduled for the recently established holiday of Patriots’ Day, with the race linking the Athenian and American struggles for liberty. The race, which became known as the Boston Marathon, has been held every year since then, even during the World War years and the Great Depression, making it the world’s oldest annual marathon. In 1924, the starting line was moved from Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland to Hopkinton Common as the course was lengthened to 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to the standard set by the 1908 Summer Olympics and codified in 1921. Hopkinton residents have played
PHOTO/TOWN OF HOPKINTON
a role in the Boston Marathon. George V. Brown and Walter Brown provided strong leadership in ensuring the longevity of the Boston Marathon. Over the years Hopkinton residents have been contributors on the BAA Board of Governors. In addition to George and Walter Brown, Paul Phipps, Tony Sicuso, Harold Rathburn and Tim Kilduff have served as governors, and Tom Brown, Walter’s brother, served as BAA president. (The local Post Office is dedicated in his name.) Hopkinton created the Hopkinton Marathon Committee in 1979. It is the only city or town through which the
marathon runs that has such a committee. The Hopkinton Marathon Committee is still functioning and supports the community’s efforts in hosting the start of this historic running competition. The Boston Marathon is part of our identity. This identity shows up throughout town, demonstrating Hopkinton’s respect and admiration of the BAA and its Boston Marathon. They include: — The Spirit of the Marathon sculpture located at Mile 1, honoring 1946 champion Stylianos Kyriakides (commissioned by New Balance); — The Team Hoyt sculpture (commissioned by John Hancock),
— The Starter sculpture, which recognizes George V. Brown (commissioned by the 26.2 Foundation); — The soon-to-be unveiled The Girl Who Ran sculpture recognizing Bobbi Gibb, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon (commissioned by the 26.2 Foundation). But it’s not just statues, Our newest school bears the name Marathon School. The street separating the Town Common from Main Street is Marathon Way, and our newest, and likely first, brewery is named Start Line. And let us not forget what I consider to be the crowning Select Board | 4
The Boston Athletic Association, organizer of the Boston Marathon®, thanks residents of the Town of Hopkinton for their patience and cooperation as we have worked with many partners to plan a a safe and successful 125th Boston Marathon. This year’s historic race will be the first fall Boston Marathon in history, and we look forward to welcoming many runners back to Hopkinton. For more race day information, please visit www.baa.org. 125TH BOSTON MARATHON® | OCTOBER 11, 2021 Nearly 20,000 entrants will participate in the 125th Boston Marathon, starting their 26.2-mile run on Main Street in Hopkinton and finishing on Boylston Street in Copley Square. Start Times 8:02 a.m.
Men’s Wheelchair Division
8:05 a.m.
Women’s Wheelchair Division
8:30 a.m.
Handcycles & Duo Participants
8:37 a.m.
Professional Men
8:45 a.m.
Professional Women
8:50 a.m.
Para Athletics Division
9:00 a.m.
Rolling Start Begins for All Participants
RACE DAY ROAD CLOSURES To ensure a safe and enjoyable race experience for all participants, race day road closures will be in effect on Monday, October 11. . Roads
within the Town of Hopkinton will close at 6:30 a.m. on-street parking will be allowed in Hopkinton. . Roads will re-open at 1:30 p.m. . No
Only official B.A.A. buses, official vehicles, and public safety vehicles will be permitted on roads in Hopkinton during that time.
To enhance social distancing and minimize participant wait time in Hopkinton, this year’s Boston Marathon will feature a rolling start for all participants. Entrants will be assigned a bus loading window that corresponds to their seeding and bib number. All bib numbers will be color-coded according to bus loading times, which corresponds to start windows in Hopkinton. There will not be an Athletes’ Village in Hopkinton this year.
PARTICIPANT SHUTTLE IN HOPKINTON Very limited parking is available for participants at the 52 South Street lot in Hopkinton. Participant shuttle buses will run throughout race morning. Please visit www.baa.org for a list of prohibited items that are not allowed near the start or on Hopkinton shuttle buses. Masks must be worn on all B.A.A. race transportation. SPECTATORS IN HOPKINTON Several viewing areas in Hopkinton will have heightened security rules. Spectators entering these areas will be required to pass through security checkpoints and all bags and items being carried will be subject to screening. Spectators are strongly encouraged to carry personal items in clear plastic bags. Unattended items may cause delays. For more information on spectator policies, please visit www.baa.org.
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