From Hopkinton to Boston, Marathon Absence is Seen and Felt

HOPKINTON, Mass. (AP) — From the starting line in Hopkinton to the finish on Boylston Street, residents and runners are preparing for a spring without the Boston Marathon for the first time in 124 years. The marathon was originally scheduled for Monday. But organizers and authorities have postponed the race until Sept. 14 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision has stripped the streets of brightly colored singlets and opened a gap in the sporting schedule for runners from all over the world. The absence is being felt all along the 26.2-mile course.