Boston Marathon bulletin
The Boston Athletic Association published bib numbers, start assignments and wave times for the 130th Boston Marathon and confirmed a major race modification for this year's event. Among the human stories: Jennifer Capone Haberek — who’s pregnant and battling cancer — is running the race this spring to support the Ellie Fund. (rock929rocks.com) (boston.com)
The B.A.A. posted its race update on March 16 and confirmed the 130th Boston Marathon will be run on Patriots’ Day, April 20, 2026, with athletes representing more than 130 countries and all 50 U.S. states. (baa.org) Organizers are switching from four start waves to six for 2026 while keeping the overall field at 30,000 participants. (baa.org) Wave sizes will vary from about 3,200 to 7,100 athletes, compared with roughly 7,500 athletes per wave in recent years, a change the B.A.A. says is designed to improve flow from bus loading through the course. (baa.org) The B.A.A. says seeding will be based on qualifying times and projected finish time, and that all athletes are expected to cross the starting line before 11:30 a.m., with the finish closing in Boston at 5:30 p.m. as in previous years. (baa.org) Corrals will have two different routes into the Hopkinton start area—corrals 1–4 will use Maple Street and Church Street, while corrals 5–8 will proceed down Grove Street and turn onto Main Street—details aimed at smoothing athlete movement on race morning. (baa.org) Runner profile: Jennifer Capone Haberek, 36 and from Newton, New Hampshire, was diagnosed with triple‑negative breast cancer in 2024 while eight months pregnant and underwent chemotherapy during pregnancy, and she is now cancer‑free and aiming to mark two years cancer‑free when she crosses the finish in April 2026. (boston.com) Haberek says she is running to give back to the Ellie Fund after the organization supported her family through treatment, and she is listed on the Ellie Fund’s 2026 Boston Marathon team page describing that support and her motivations. (boston.com)
