Boston Marathon: 2024's No-Shows Mirror Last Year's Trends

The Boston Marathon's recent event saw a familiar pattern of no-shows. This year's event had a similar number of runners who did not start the race as the previous year. This outcome challenges the idea that political tensions would deter international participants. The marathon had 31, 778 registered runners, but only 28, 928 took part. This left around 2, 850 who did not cross the starting line in Hopkinton. This figure is less than 9% of the total entrants. In the previous year, the number of no-shows was almost the same, with 2, 838 runners not starting the race. To qualify for the Boston Marathon, most runners need to complete a qualifying time in another marathon. Despite this, no-shows happen for various reasons. These can range from injuries to unexpected events like the 2010 Icelandic volcano eruption. That event stopped flights and kept many European runners from traveling to the U. S. The Boston Marathon is a big deal, with entries from 128 countries. However, there were worries that some foreign runners might skip the event due to political reasons or fears about border checks. International visits to the U. S. have dropped. Canadians, for example, have been avoiding U. S. travel because of President Donald Trump's tariff talk and threats of annexing the country as a 51st state. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu addressed these concerns last week. She emphasized that everyone is welcome in Boston. Wu stated, "Regardless of what's happening at other levels, and particularly now at the federal level, in Boston we welcome everyone. We seek to be a home for everyone. " This message was clear during a public safety media briefing near the finish line. The Boston Marathon is more than just a race. It is a symbol of inclusivity and resilience. The event shows that despite political tensions and travel challenges, the spirit of the marathon endures. The high participation rate this year reflects the marathon's global appeal and the city's welcoming attitude.