Editing Boston Marathon (section)

===2020: Cancellation===
{{anchor|2020 Boston Marathon}}
Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Boston|COVID-19 pandemic]], the 2020 Boston Marathon was initially rescheduled from April 20 to September 14.<ref>{{cite news |last=Logan |first=Tim |title=Boston Marathon postponed to September due to coronavirus |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/13/nation/boston-marathon-2020-coronavirus/ |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |url-access=limited |date=March 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313152832/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/03/13/nation/boston-marathon-2020-coronavirus/ |archive-date=March 13, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> It was the first postponement in the more than 100 year uninterrupted history of the event.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2020/03/13/2020-boston-marathon-postponed |title=2020 Boston Marathon postponed to Monday, Sept. 14 |first=Nicole |last=Yang |website=[[Boston.com]] |date=March 13, 2020 |access-date=March 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314164858/https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2020/03/13/2020-boston-marathon-postponed |archive-date=March 14, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On May 28, 2020, it was announced that the rescheduled marathon set for September 14 was canceled.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Waller |first1=John |title=The 2020 Boston Marathon has been canceled |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon-2/2020/05/28/2020-boston-marathon-canceled |website=Boston.com |access-date=28 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608124821/https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon-2/2020/05/28/2020-boston-marathon-canceled |archive-date=June 8, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Boston Mayor [[Marty Walsh]] said of the decision to cancel the race, "There's no way to hold this usual race format without bringing large numbers of people into close proximity. While our goal and our hope was to make progress in containing the virus and recovering our economy, this kind of event would not be responsible or realistic on September 14 or any time this year."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boston Marathon canceled for 1st time in 124-year history|url=https://apnews.com/c79eb6364911d9bb2b3b05835dcc7af3|last=Golen|first=Jimmy|date=May 28, 2020|website=[[The Associated Press]]|access-date=May 28, 2020|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530005953/https://apnews.com/c79eb6364911d9bb2b3b05835dcc7af3|url-status=live}}</ref>

Runners were issued full refunds of entry fees.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.baa.org/124th-boston-marathon-be-held-virtually |title=124th Boston Marathon to be Held Virtually |publisher=[[Boston Athletic Association]] |website=BAA.org |date=May 28, 2020 |access-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009160031/https://www.baa.org/124th-boston-marathon-be-held-virtually |url-status=live }}</ref> Organizers later staged a "virtual alternative" in September 2020 as the 124th running of the marathon.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.baa.org/124th-boston-marathon-virtual-experience-features-more-15900-finishers |title=124th Boston Marathon Virtual Experience Features More Than 15,900 Finishers |publisher=[[Boston Athletic Association]] |website=BAA.org |date=September 25, 2020 |access-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009160032/https://www.baa.org/124th-boston-marathon-virtual-experience-features-more-15900-finishers |url-status=live }}</ref> This was the second time that the format of the marathon was modified, the first having been in 1918, when the race was changed from a marathon to a military relay race ([[ekiden]]) because of {{nowrap|World War I}}.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.concordmonitor.com/Boston-Marathon-relay-to-commemorate-World-War-I-race-16236373 |title=Boston Marathon relay to commemorate World War I race |first=Jimmy |last=Golen |website=[[Concord Monitor]] |location=[[Concord, New Hampshire]] |url-access=limited |date=March 15, 2018 |access-date=October 10, 2021 |archive-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011022215/https://www.concordmonitor.com/Boston-Marathon-relay-to-commemorate-World-War-I-race-16236373 |url-status=live }}</ref>