BOSTON MARATHON FINALLY BACK AFTER 30 MONTHS

‘There’s an excitement in the air … It’s a thrill to be back’

The Boston Marathon is finally back in-person for the first time in more than 900 days, as thousands of amped-up runners brought a palpable energy to the city ahead of today’s race.

The Back Bay was buzzing in excitement on Sunday, with blue and yellow jackets dotting Newbury and Boylston streets as marathoners enjoyed brunch outside.

The marathon finish line was flooded with that same blue and yellow marathon color, as family and friends took photos of their loved ones at the line they’ll joyfully cross on Monday.

“It’s great to get everyone back together and do it inperson,” said Mark Coalmer, 51, of Cypress, Texas. “There’s an excitement in the air.”

The 2020 in-person Boston Marathon was canceled at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Boston Athletic Association organized a virtual run last fall.

Then this year’s in-person race was postponed from the traditional April date to October. It has been 30 months since the last inperson Boston Marathon. This year is the first time the Boston Marathon is taking place in the fall.

“It’s a thrill to be back,” Coalmer said. “I’m really excited to take part in this extra special year.”

Regina Goolsby, 50, was supposed to run Boston in 2020. She ended up participating in the virtual run.

The Floridian called Monday’s race a “long time coming.”

“I’m just so happy to be here,” said Goolsby, of Loxahatchee,

Fla. “I’m so excited they finally got it together, and I really think this is going to be my year.”

A group of runners from Mexico crowded around the finish line as they snapped photos. Maria Centeno, 45, of Mexico, said she was “blessed to be here.”

“Everyone has been very welcoming, a very supportive environment,” said Centeno, of San Diego de Alejandria. “I’m very excited.”

The Boston Athletic Association is requiring participants to either be ful

ly vaccinated or test negative for COVID-19 ahead of the race. There also won’t be the usual Athletes’ Village at Hopkinton, and the race will have a rolling start.

“We all need to accept the fact that some changes need to occur because of the world’s situation,” Coalmer said.

Some people who were running the virtual Boston Marathon this weekend ran the course from Hopkinton to Copley Square.

It was 57-year-old Sean Fallon’s first-ever marathon on Sunday, as he accomplished his life goal to run Boston.

“This is like the Holy Grail to run this,” said Fallon, of West Simsbury, Conn. “To physically run on the course, it was awesome.

“I guess I can die now,” he added. “This is an amazing feeling.”

Audra Francisco, 41, of West Roxbury, was beaming as she crossed the finish line during the virtual race.

“This race is everything,” she said. “Nothing beats this right now. The spirit of Boston lives no matter what.”

HYPED HOPS: Mark Coalmer, of Cypress, Texas, says he’s known for his leaping at the end of the race so he shows it to the group he was with. He will be running in his third Boston Marathon today.

‘AMAZING FEELING’ Sean Fallon of Simsbury, Conn., ran the virtual Boston Marathon on the race course, a long-time dream of his, on Sunday.

AT THE FINISH LINE: People walk around the Boston Marathon finish line on Boylston Street on Sunday.

JIM MICHAuD pHOTOS / bOSTOn HerAlD READY TO RUN: A rather giddy Regina Goolsby of Loxahatchee, Fla., poses at the finish line. She will be running today.