It's easy to think of Boston as a sports team town: the Celtics are smokin', the Sox are starting off nicely, and even the Bruins have somehow avoided hibernation (til now). But don't forget about individual athletic feats at this time of year. In just two weeks, Boston will host one of the most revered traditions in sports, the Boston Marathon (in its 112th running), and we're here to help you make your 2008 Boston Marathon experience as enjoyable as possible. (At least there's no pesky torch involved.) Whether it's how it started, where to watch, or just where to avoid if you're uninterested, Bostonist is here to help.
It won't be too hard to beat last year, as Boston 2007 was a monsoon. Heavy downpours led race officials to contemplate canceling the race and saw unprepared runners decked out in rain-repelling garbage bags for warmup and racing. It's too soon to tell whether 2008 will bring us another muddy marathon, but thankfully we don't need meteorology to tell us everything about the race.
Known as one of the tougher marathon courses due to its hilly second portion, the Boston marathon course starts in Hopkinton and progresses through Ashland, Natick, Wellesley (the halfway point and site of collegiate cheer), Newton (home to those heartbreaking hills), and into Boston to finish at Copley Square. A few good overviews of the race offer some more basic information on the race. Both course records are held by Kenyans, with the men's record of 2:07:14 set by Robert K. Cheruiyot in 2006 and the women's 2:20:43 set by Margaret Okayo in 2002. Cheruiyot won Boston in 2007 as well, but his time was slowed in part by the wet weather. Maybe this year he'll see 2:06?
Boston and surrounding areas will be crowded with perhaps more spectators than runners during the race, which starts mid-morning on Monday, April 21, Patriot's Day. The finish line obviously tends to be more crowded than other areas of the race, so consider heading to points suburban if you'd like a less stressful view of the marathon. If you're dead set on seeing the race through to the end, we list a couple of potential perches after the jump.
2007 Boston Marathon images from flickr users Paul Keleher and Go Boston Card
Watching the start of the race in Hopkinton is a tall order; if you're dead set on it, arrive super early to secure your spot. A better bet is a mile or so down the route, near Frankland Road, where spectators will thin out a little. You can also find space around Ashland State Park a few miles out. Framingham and Natick will have some crowds, but the former is a little less busy and the latter is a great place if you arrive with ample time. Wellesley, site of the infamous scream tunnel, will be crowded, but Hunnewell Park and Washington Street are recommended locations. Newton will have plenty of spectators, but this is a crucial point in the race when runners need support--especially with the advent of those heartbreaking hills.
Breaking into Boston, the BC area has lots of kids but lots of space to watch as well. Cleveland Circle, Coolidge Corner, and Kenmore Square are crowded but quintessentially Boston places to watch the runners. The finish on Boylston is a sight to behold, but you'll have to get there early-early (like before the race even starts) to snag an appropriate vantage point.
Experienced marathoners (or marathon attenders), got any input to add?
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit