You take your Dunks iced in the winter, know that “barrels” means trash day, and wisely avoid Comm. Ave. on Marathon Monday.
You’re from Massachusetts, and there’s a good chance you may be one of the thousands of spectators expected along the Boston Marathon course Oct. 11.
“From a spectator’s perspective, the Boston Marathon is a time when all of the cities along the course almost shut down completely,” said Dan Darcy, marketing director at Marathon Sports, which has running gear stores along the course in Wellesley, Brookline and Boston.
“You have people lining 26.2 miles of road out there, cheering for you all along the way from the very start, all the way to the finish,” Darcy said. “And you don't get that in every marathon that you're running.”
Want to watch this year'smarathon? Here’s what you need to know.
When does the Boston Marathonstart?
- Men’s wheelchair: 8:02 a.m.
- Women’s wheelchair: 8:05 a.m.
- Handcycles and duos: 8:30 a.m.
- Professional men: 8:37 a.m
- Professional women: 8:45 a.m.
- Para athletics: 8:50 a.m.
- Rolling starts: 9 a.m.
Runners will be assigned specific start timesbased on transportation to the start line, according to the Boston Athletic Association, the marathon’s organizer.
Spectators can use the B.A.A. Racing App to track individual runners live.
2021 Boston Marathon:The Boston Marathon is happening in October and during a pandemic. What you need to know.
Boston Marathon Route: Where should you watch?
When it comes to picking a spot to watch the Boston Marathon, there are no wrong choices.
“I don’t really think there’s a bad seat; it’s like Fenway — a good feeling the whole way,” said Dan Fitzgerald, co-founder of Heartbreak Hill Running Company and head coach of the sporting good stores' associated running team, the Heartbreakers. The company's Newton location sits right at Mile 20 on the eponymous hill.
Fitzgerald suggested the MassachusettsAvenue bridge over Commonwealth Avenue for an interesting vantage point, as spectators can watch runners from above and easily cross to the other side of the course.
Heartbreak Hill, which sends tired athletes up a challenging incline, makes an ideal place for cheering spectators, said Darcy.
“When you’re going up and down those hills, it’s a series and it lives up to its name,” he said. “So with people cheering for you all along that way, you’re a little bit more energized and more likely to make it through.”
Darcy said spectators can also find a “unique experience” at Wellesley College’s Scream Tunnel around the halfway mark. There, Wellesley students have been known to motivate runners with signs, cheers and even kisses (though the B.A.A. has asked runners and spectators to refrain from kissing strangers amid COVID-19).
Other popular viewing spots include the start line in Hopkinton and the finish line near Copley Square in Boston, Darcy’s personal favorite.
“That’s where you’re seeing people realizing that they’re accomplishing what can be a lifelong goal of finishing the Boston Marathon,” he said. “The emotions are at their highest on Boylston Street.”
The B.A.A. also offers a town-by-town breakdown of how to watch along the course.
How to get to the 2021 Boston Marathon on the MBTA
Most of the course is accessible via public transportation, with parts of the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line and the Green Line’s B, C and D branches within walking distance.
The Copley T stop will be closed for the entire day Oct. 11, though nearby Arlington(all Green Line branches), Prudential(Green Line E branch), Hynes Convention Center (Green Line B, C and D branches) and Back Bay (Orange Line) stations will be open. The above-ground Green Line stops at South Street (B branch), Kent Streetand St. Mary’s Street (C branch) will be closed from approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the MBTA.
The Red, Orange, Blue and Silver Lines will run on a regular weekday schedule, with additional service before and after the race. Buses will also run on their regular schedule, though some routes may be detoured around the marathon.
MBTA service starts around 5 a.m., and there will be a $15 commuter rail marathon pass available for unlimited all-day use.You can purchase a $12.75 unlimited one-day pass for use on buses and subway lines, available at station fare vending machines. Plan your trip with the MBTA’s online trip planner.
If driving, keep in mind some roads will be closed on Marathon Monday, and parking may be limited in certain locations. There will be limited parking for spectators at the 72 South St.parking lot in Hopkinton. On-street parking will be “extremely limited” near the finish line, according to the B.A.A. There are parking garages in the area, though some may be inaccessible on race day.
Daily parking rates at MBTA stations range from $2 – $15, and you can check real-time MBTA parking garage availability on Twitter @MBTA_Parking.
A bucket list made by locals:How many of these 50 Massachusetts ‘bucket list’ things have you experienced?
Boston Marathon road closures
- Hopkinton: 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Ashland: 6:15 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.
- Framingham: 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.
- Natick: 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
- Wellesley: 7:30 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.
- Newton: 7 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
- Brookline: 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
- Boston: Variable to 7 p.m.
Best practices for spectators
“First tip: Never tell them they’re almost there, unless you’re standing on Boylston Street,” Darcy said. “When you get somebody yelling, ‘You’re almost there’ at Mile 20, it’s very heartbreaking.”
Energetic cheers and funny signs make a difference, according to Fitzgerald.
Athletes “remember specific signs and they remember people who gave them a real, authentic boost,” he said. “So I think just give them what you’ve got — the runners appreciate it.”
If you’re heading to the finish line, Darcy advised packing light and double-checking compliance with B.A.A. security policies.
“You don’t want to have anything that’s going to keep you away from the finish line,” he said.
Red Sox yellow and blue uniforms:Red Sox uniforms honor Patriots' Day weekend and Boston Marathon
What to leave at home due to security restrictions
The B.A.A. discourages spectators from bringing various items to the course, including: drones, weapons, backpacks or bulky handbags, suitcases, coolers, glass containers, flammable liquids, fireworks and large blankets or sleeping bags.
Spectators may be asked to pass through security checkpoints at some B.A.A. event venues and viewing areas along the course. The B.A.A. suggests using a clear plastic bag for personal items to expedite the security screening process.
For more information on discouraged items and security checkpoints, visit baa.org/races/boston-marathon/watch/spectators.
COVID-19 restrictions and policies
While you can’t bring your drone or sleeping bag to the Boston Marathon, you may want to bring your face mask. The MBTA requires masks on public transportation, and some communities along the course — including Newton, Brookline and Boston — require masks indoors in public regardless of vaccination status.
Athletes won’t be required to wear masks while participating in the marathon, but the B.A.A. is asking spectators to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by getting testedbefore traveling to Boston, wearing a mask when social distancing isn’t possible and refraining from handing out food or beverages to athletes.
Where to go when you need to go
Porta-potties will be located at every aid station along the course — one Red Cross medical station per mile, as well as Poland Spring Water and Gatorade Endurance hydration stations at every mile beginning at Mile 2, the B.A.A. said in an email. Some of these bathrooms will be athlete-only, while others will be open to spectators.
Boston Marathon Route: Here are places to get food with a view
If you’re looking to do your spectating from a restaurant, there are many options along the course.Among them:
- TJ's Food and Spirits, 355 W. Union St., Ashland
- Morse Tavern, 85 East Central St., Natick
- Cityside Tavern, 1960 Beacon St., Brighton
- Atlantic Fish Co., 761 Boylston St., Boston(they're hosting amarathon watch party.)
Find more restaurants along the course here (but double check hours and availability):
Who to follow on social media
For live updates and marathon coverage, follow these Twitter accounts:
