Portion of entry fees raised to support area nonprofits whose missions focus on health & wellness
BOSTON—The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced the inaugural Patriots’ Day Mile, which encourages everyone to get active while also raising funds for Boston-area nonprofits whose missions focus on health and wellness. The virtual event will be held on Monday, April 19—Patriots’ Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the traditional date of the Boston Marathon. Registration is now open in the B.A.A.’s online platform Athletes’ Village.
“The 2021 Patriots’ Day Mile starts a new April marathon weekend tradition that seeks to encourage people of all levels and abilities to come together to run a mile or more,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. President and C.E.O. “Whether new to the sport or an experienced runner, the Patriots’ Day Mile is for everyone to enjoy the benefits of being active on America’s most historic running date.”
The Mile is not a timed or scored event, however, participants can upload finish times to Athletes’ Village in recognition of their accomplishment and be considered official finishers. Participants in the inaugural event are also encouraged to run more than a mile. This year’s Patriots’ Day Mile will be the first of its kind as part of a new tradition, which will annually occur during the traditional April weekend of the Boston Marathon.
Entrants of the Patriots’ Day Mile will receive a limited-edition hat featuring a red, white, and blue B.A.A. unicorn from adidas, limited to the first 10,000 entrants. The entry fee is $35 USD for U.S. residents and $55 USD for international residents. Entrants may register multiple participants, including additional members of households, friends, or training partners at the point of registration. As part of the B.A.A.’s #RunTo125 initiative—recognizing the milestone 125th running of the Boston Marathon in October—a portion of all entry fees will be donated towards the B.A.A.’s goal of raising $125,000 to support nonprofits in the Greater Boston area whose missions focus on health and wellness.
On March 15 the B.A.A. announced the organization’s first-ever vision statement: Committed to a world where all people can access and benefit running and an active lifestyle. The Patriots’ Day Mile was created in support of the B.A.A.’s goal to provide broader access to the sport of running.
In addition to the Patriots’ Day Mile on Monday, April 19, the virtual B.A.A. 5K will be held April 16-18. Registration remains open within Athletes’ Village. Registration for the virtual 125th Boston Marathon, which will be open to the first 70,000 entrants, will begin on Tuesday, March 30. Registration for the in-person Boston Marathon will open to qualified entrants from April 20-23. More information can be found on the B.A.A.’s website.