Tens of Thousands Prepare for the 129th Boston Marathon

BOSTON, Mass. — On Monday, April 21, the 129th Boston Marathon will take place, gathering tens of thousands of athletes at the starting line in Hopkinton to race the 26.2-mile course to Boston’s Copley Square. This historic event, renowned as the world’s oldest marathon, is expected to draw over a million spectators lining the route.

The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) reports that this year’s race will feature participants from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and territories, along with athletes from 118 countries. Defending champions Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia and Hellen Obiri of Kenya aim to retain their titles, competing alongside elite American runners Emma Bates of Medford and Colin Bennie from Princeton.

Numerous festivities will precede the marathon itself, aligning with Patriot’s Day, which marks the 250th anniversary of the first battles of the Revolutionary War. To assist participants, the BAA encourages runners to utilize official buses scheduled to depart at 6:45 a.m. from Charles Street near the Public Garden and Boston Common.

Participants are reminded that they must present their bib numbers to board the buses, with the final bus leaving Boston Common at 9:30 a.m. Accessible transportation for runners and guides can be found at the Sheraton Boston Hotel starting at 5 a.m.

Runners will begin at Main Street in Hopkinton, proceeding along Route 135 through towns such as Ashland, Framingham, and Natick, before heading into Wellesley and Newton. The course features the iconic Newton hills, culminating in the infamous Heartbreak Hill.

The BAA has scheduled various race start times, with men’s wheelchair racers starting at 9:06 a.m. and women’s wheelchair racers following at 9:09 a.m. Professional men will begin at 9:37 a.m., with professional women starting at 9:47 a.m. The race will then progress with staggered waves starting every 25 minutes until Wave 4 departs at 11:15 a.m. The finish line will close at 5:30 p.m.

For those wanting to cheer for runners on race day, the Family Meeting Area is located on Stuart Street between Berkeley and Clarendon Streets, featuring signs to help attendees locate their loved ones.

The marathon Expo will be open from April 18-20 at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, allowing participants to collect bib numbers, race packets, and t-shirts. This event is free to the public and includes sponsor exhibits and panels.

In addition to the marathon, City Hall Plaza will host various events, including live music and activities during the three-day period leading up to the race. An after-party at the plaza will also take place on April 21.

Local broadcasts of the marathon can be seen on WCVB Channel 5, beginning at 4 a.m. on race day, with professional race coverage starting at 9 a.m. The event can also be streamed live via the WCVB app and website.

When it comes to a marathon as iconic as Boston’s, the collective spirit of participants, spectators, and the community makes it a unique celebration of resilience, athleticism, and camaraderie across the 26.2 miles.