After its very first race in October, the Boston Marathon will return to its traditional location on Patriots Day, the third Monday in April, and race organizers announced on Tuesday that it will also reopen the race at a larger field. of 30,000 participants.

How to qualify and enter the 2022 Boston Marathon

This number is much more in line with the race’s pre-pandemic field sizes, which have hovered around 30,000 for several years. Aside from the small field size of the October Race of 20,000, the smallest field Boston has seen in the past decade has been around 27,000 participants, which took place in 2011 and 2012. It will be good news for the riders who missed the last qualifying times. year, which has been 7.47am faster this year thanks to the lower participation cap.

In a statement posted on the organization’s website, the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) also stipulated that any runner wishing to participate in the 2022 event must be fully vaccinated in order to earn a spot on the start line.

“As we seek to return to the traditional Patriots’ Day date for the first time since 2019 and allow as many athletes to participate in the safest way possible, we know that a fully vaccinated field is the appropriate requirement to be implemented, “said Tom grilk, president and chief executive officer of the BAA, in a press release.

All participants must be able to provide proof of vaccination before race day, which is set for Monday April 18. Any registered athlete who cannot provide proof of vaccination will not be allowed to participate and will not receive any refund, transfer or postponement to a future event, according to BAA press release. All eligible runners who are medically exempt from the COVID-19 vaccine will have their status assessed on an individual basis.

Registration for the 2022 event opens November 8 at 10 a.m. ET and ends November 12 at 5 p.m. ET. Runners hoping to secure a berth at the start line of the 126th Boston Marathon have until entry close to complete a qualifying time in an official certified marathon.

Benson Kipruto and Diana Kipyogei win 125th Boston Marathon

Here are the time standards for official qualification. Your age is considered to be your age on race day.