First hours of pandemic marathon since kick-off – Boston 25 News

HOPKINTON, Mass. – Runners won’t face the harsh spring light for this year’s Boston Marathon, but the soft fall glow – as the 125th edition of the race kicks off Monday morning, six months behind schedule at cause of the pandemic.

With the qualifying field reduced to 10,000 runners, wide and staggered start times, and requirements that runners must be vaccinated or show proof of negative Covid tests, organizers hope to prevent the race from becoming a mainstream event. .

Scott and Brett Mumford both run the marathon and are both doctors. They believed organizers had taken enough precautions to prevent transmission – and they were eager to participate in good weather than the last time they raced in Boston when it was raining and cold.

“In 2018 we ran Boston together on that freezing cold day,” Scott said. “I had hypothermia and Brett helped me finish and it was terrible, actually.”

Brett said they were only three miles from the finish line when Scott fell.

“And I said, just stay on my right hip. Just focus, ”said Brett. “I’ll keep you there with me.” And let’s keep moving one foot in front of the other. Keep moving and we’ll get there.

The Mumfords, who practice medicine in Utah and Idaho, have since tried to return to Boston.

This is Moody Abdalla’s first Boston Marathon. He owns Royal Pizza, just up the street from the start line, and hopes Monday morning will mean a healthy dose of activity, especially since food trucks aren’t allowed this year.

“We hope to be good,” Abdalla said. “Because it’s been slow for everyone for a while. “

Abdalla, who created his business in the first spring of the pandemic, in 2020, plans to open Monday morning at 6:30 a.m.

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