The Providence Journal
Editor s note: The age of Connor Rockett, the first-place men s finisher, was incorrect in an earlier version of this article. He is 24.
PROVIDENCE The iconic Boston Marathon is typically the biggest event in running, casting a shadow over other marathons in other large cities.
Even the rescheduling of the storied race, from Patriots Day to Oct. 11, is unlikely to change that this year.
But the schedule change contributed to the unusual backdrop for the 2021 Providence Marathon, which drew almost 1,700 runners to downtown Providence on Sunday morning.
The gathering of runners competing in a marathon, a half-marathon and a 5-kilometer run amounted to one of the biggest local events yet on the back stretch of the pandemic.
Maine ends COVID-19 visitor testing and quarantine needs
By The Associated Press - | May 2, 2021
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Effective Saturday, all states will be exempt from Maine’s COVID-19 travel requirements.
The state is exempting all states from testing and quarantine requirements but that could change based on the spread of variants, said Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The policy change is based on a successful travel season last summer where there was little transmission of COVID-19 from visitors to Maine. The introduction of vaccines also played a role in the decision, he said.
Maine ends COVID-19 visitor testing and quarantine needs apnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from apnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
It will have a pulse start, according to Rancourt, with runners six feet apart and small groups starting every 10 seconds. Runners will also be required to wear masks for the first mile, and at the finish line.
Spectators are discouraged from attending and won t be allowed at the start, although the Providence Marathon website identifies several spots along both the half and full marathon courses that are good for viewing. The course is a nice mix of historic urban and rural neighborhoods as the race starts in Downtown Providence and heads south towards the East Bay and Barrington, the marathon s website says. The tree lined East Bay Bike path provides plenty of shade and scenic views of the Providence river and skyline.