Racing Into Marathon Monday Like... 🏃

Also: The Boston Marathon start times; what's open and what's closed this Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( October 11, 2021 Good Morning Boston, ☁️ [Mostly cloudy]( with a high near 68. Today is a pretty big day. First, it's [Rupa Shenoy]( first day behind the mic as your official host of WBUR's Morning Edition. It's also the Boston Marathon, which is back for the first time since April 2019. Here's what you should know about Marathon Monday: - Today's race has been a long time coming. Last year, the race was postponed – and eventually canceled for the first time ever – because of the pandemic. It was rescheduled again in the spring for today, Indigenous Peoples' Day, which was [criticized]( by some. The BAA apologized and said it's [making efforts]( to recognize the day. - The time of year isn't the only thing different about today's marathon. The field size is smaller than usual – 20,000 runners instead of 31,000. Those runners also must comply with COVID-19 protocols by showing either proof of vaccination or a negative test before they head to Hopkinton's start line. Those same requirements apply to the thousands of volunteers who make race day possible. - As usual, there's a pretty competitive international field of athletes in this year's race, but they had a tough choice to make ahead of today. Due to COVID-19 postponements, five major marathons are all taking place within 42 days of each other – and Chicago and Boston were just 24 hours apart. That's too fast a turnaround for even elite runners. (But there are some athletes in today's race who are trying both. More on that below.) - If you're watching the race today, race and health officials really want spectators to wear a mask on the sidelines. It will be difficult to distance in the crowds. - Wherever you're watching, you'll want to know the planned start times for each division: 🏅Men's wheelchair: 8:02 a.m. 🏅Women's wheelchair: 8:05 a.m. 🏅Handcycles and duos: 8:30 a.m. 🏅Professional men: 8:37 a.m. 🏅Professional women: 8:45 a.m. 🏅Para-athletics division: 8:50 a.m. 🏅Rolling start for the rest of the runners: 9:00 a.m. - PSA: If you're taking the T or commuter rail today, it's on a regular weekday schedule. But there will be some closures on the Green Line. Copley Square will be closed all day, and the South Street, Kent Street and Saint Mary's Street Green Line stations will be closed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – More on this year's Indigenous Peoples' Day: It marks the first time a U.S. president has officially recognized the day to honor Native Americans. While it still shares its observance with Columbus Day, the move shifts the focus away. Locally, many cities across Massachusetts, including Boston, Brookline, Somerville and Cambridge, have already renamed the day. This story from NPR about what this acknowledgment means to Native Americans is an [important read.]( highly recommend it. P.S.– Keep a tab open for [this Boston Marathon post](. We'll be updating it all day with photos and results from the race. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[After a long wait, Boston's long race is back. Here's what's different this Marathon Monday]( "While the 26.2 mile course from Hopkinton to Boston remains the same — the streets are the same — pretty much everything else this year is different," says Boston Athletic Association CEO Tom Grilk. [Read more.]( - More: [Runners and attendees prepare for a different Marathon Monday](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Indigenous Peoples' Day/Columbus Day 2021: What's open and what's closed]( Though the day is still recognized as Columbus Day at the state and federal level, there have been several campaigns calling for the day to be observed as Indigenous Peoples' Day instead. [Read more.]( - Related: [Indigenous Peoples' Day Newton Committee sees 'huge symbolism' in rescheduled Boston Marathon]( 3. [Boston mayoral candidates make Dorchester campaign stops ahead of 1st head-to-head debate]( Dorchester is a key neighborhood for both candidates — acting Mayor Kim Janey was the top vote-getter in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan's majority-minority precincts in the preliminary election, according to a WBUR analysis. [Read more.]( 4. [Boston youth homelessness organization gets record $2.5 million grant]( The five-year grant to Bridge Over Troubled Waters from the Liberty Mutual Foundation announced this week will help the nonprofit address some pre-existing infrastructure needs; expand housing that allows young people an opportunity to live independently as they build the financial resources to find an apartment; and boost outreach. [Read more.]( 5. [Massachusetts 'got pretty lucky' with no EEE cases so far in 2021]( Also, the numbers for a more common mosquito illness, West Nile Virus, have been similar to other years.[Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - No elite runners for today's marathon ran Chicago yesterday, but [several wheelchair racers are going back to back.]( Here's how they're doing it. - ICYMI: You should [listen to this essay]( from Tatyana McFadden. She's a 20-time Paralympic medalist and a 23-time major marathon winner. Ans she's the only elite female athlete attempting to podium in five major marathons this fall, including Boston. "I'm so happy to be doing marathons again," she says. - Check out [these amazing drone photo award winners](. The world looks pretty cool from their view. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [About 1,000 Afghans will resettle in Mass. A family now in Worcester is among the first]( [Listen]( FALL ARTS GUIDE 2021 [Fall will fly by with these 10 reads from New England authors]( 15 Art Exhibits Worth Exploring This Fall. [Read more.]( 17 Fall Film Festivals To Check Out In (And Around) Greater Boston. [Read more.]( 7 Albums To Listen To This Fall. [Read more.]( Love our arts and culture coverage? Then you'll definitely love our weekly newsletter, The ARTery. [Sign up.]( What We're Reading - Candidate for ‘Mayah’ Proudly Leans Into Her Boston Sound ([The New York Times]( - A new model for modest, middle-class journalism ([The Week]( - Raising Baby Sharks from the Dead ([Hakai Magazine]( Tell Me Something Good [New York Comic Con returns live, though a little more subdued than before]( Nerd fandoms, rejoice! New York Comic Con was held in-person again after a pandemic-forced hiatus. Even though the event was reserved in comparison to past conventions, attendees still dressed the part and celebrated their favorites from comics, anime and pop culture. Before you go: Logan Airport's [Soup of the Day.]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Want to change how you receive these emails? [Stop getting this newsletter by updating your preferences.]( I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. [Unsubscribe from all editorial newsletters.]( Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2021 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved. You signed up for this newsletter at wbur.org. Our mailing address is: WBUR-FM 890 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215-1205 [Add us to your address book](