Boston Marathon - Two Ways to Enjoy It

On the third Monday of every April, the Boston Marathon brings together the top runners from all over the world to compete in this famous 26 mile, 385 yard race across the rolling suburban countryside outside of Boston and finally through the city's streets. If you're planning to be in Boston when this exciting event takes place, you have two different options for enjoying it.


The first option is easy: join the other hundreds of thousands of Boston visitors and Bostonians who line the race course to watch it. Although the Marathon begins southwest of the city in Hopkinton and continues east through several suburban towns, all of which provide excellent viewpoints, the easiest observation points are those near subway (called the "T" in Boston) stations.

In Newton, where the runners follow a course along Commonwealth Avenue (including the infamous Heartbreak Hill between Miles 20 and 21), you'll find a stretch near Boston College and the Chestnut Hill Reservoir that's usually not too crowded and offers a lovely spot for a picnic as a bonus. The "B" branch of the T's Green Line has 3 stations in this area: Boston College, South Street, and Chestnut Hill Ave. Take the T to any of these stations, and you'll find plenty of curbside spots with an easy view of the racers.

As the runners continue on Commonwealth Avenue toward the city, the crowds get thicker, especially around Boston University where groups of students compete to see who can cheer the loudest. The Boston Red Sox traditionally play a home game in Fenway Park on Marathon Day each year, starting at 11:05 and ending in time for the crowds to pour out into Kenmore Square to cheer on the runners as they enter the final mile.



The most crowded and perhaps the most exciting place to watch the Boston Marathon is near the finish line in Copley Square across from the Boston Public Library. If you choose this spot to watch, be warned: the crowds are huge! The Marathon is New England's most widely viewed sport.

If the weather is good, as many as half a million spectators come out to watch the race - and you'll swear that they're all in Copley Square. However, if you don't mind large and loud crowds, there's no more exciting place to be. The fastest runners usually cross the finish line not long after noon, but the remainder continue to arrive throughout the afternoon.

The other option for enjoying the Marathon is harder - quite a bit harder, in fact - and takes more preparation: you can run in the Marathon yourself, along with 24,999 other participants.


But first, you have to qualify.

The Boston Marathon is the only U.S. Marathon with qualifying time standards, which is why it's so prestigious. You must achieve the qualifying time for your age/gender group on a U.S.A Track and Field certified course (or international equivalent) within approximately 19 months before the date of the Marathon in which you want to run. Can you do it? You won't know unless you try - so off your running shoes and start training now!