Boston Marathon Guide
— It’s Go Time! —
Your Guide to the Best Boston Marathon Ever
Our unofficial, irreverent, and completely idiosyncratic guide to the city’s biggest day.
Armed with stencils and spray cans, and assisted by his two daughters and friends, Ashland resident Jack LeDuc has painted the Boston Marathon starting line for more than 30 years. He’s also run the race 15 times. / Photograph by Scott. M. Lacey
In 2013, Boston vowed to finish the race. On Marathon Monday, starting in the wee hours, runners, families, Sox fans, and college kids will take to the streets to celebrate the one event that ties Greater Boston together in a single, unbroken line. Hundreds of thousands will come to cheer on friends and strangers. Thousands more will come to celebrate Boston’s strength and diversity. And so, for the uninitiated and the seasoned spectators alike, we present our unofficial, irreverent, and completely idiosyncratic guide to Boston’s biggest day.
Here's Where to Eat All Along the Boston Marathon Route
From Hopkinton to Heartbreak Hill, our picks for refueling on race day.
What the Marathon Bombings Taught Us
One, don’t mess with Boston. Two, think fast. Three, direct generosity quickly. Ten years later, local leaders reflect on the lasting lessons of 2013.
“It’s Unimaginable Pain”: The Everyday Affects of the Marathon Bombings, Ten Years Later
They lost someone dear. He raced toward a shootout. She held an injured seven-year-old at the second blast site. Five stories of life in a tragedy’s aftermath—and the wounds that never heal.
How I Learned There's Heroism in Preparedness
Former Boston Marathon executive director Tom Grilk reflects on the lasting lessons of the 2013 bombings.
Explore the Marathon Route
Check out dozens of notable sights from Hopkinton to Boylston Street.
Once Upon a Time, We Never Needed the Words “Boston Strong”
The saying helped unite a broken-hearted city when we needed it most. WBZ-TV’s Jon Keller wonders: what does phrase mean 10 years later?
“We Will Finish the Race”: The Making of Boston’s Iconic Marathon Shoes Cover
Moments after the bombings rocked Boylston Street, Boston magazine’s staff knew they needed to create a new cover image for its May issue. The rest is literally history. Here’s how they did it.
Your Guide to a Marathon Day of Dining and Drinking
From pregaming breakfast, to replenishing dinner.
Boston Marathon Mile Guide
No matter where you’re watching, follow these game plans to have the best experience ever.
Are You Faster Than a (Minor) Celebrity?
Here’s how long it took your favorite B-listers in recent years.
Q&A: Meb Keflezighi
The first American to win running’s Triple Crown talks his historic Boston victory, and his impending retirement.
How the Marathon Began
The first race in 1897 was a mere afterthought—15 men signed up, and only 10 managed to go the distance.
Q&A: Roberta 'Bobbi' Gibb
She was the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon in 1966. She still runs an hour or two a day.
Kathrine Switzer Remembers Her Dramatic Run
In 1967, she became the first woman to run the race as a numbered entry.
Joey McIntrye Is Running the Marathon Again
And he’d like some chocolate milk at the finish line, please.