Race day is Monday, April 20. Here’s your complete briefing — from packet pick-up to the finish on Boylston Street.

🗓 Race date – Mon, Apr 20
🏃🏻‍♀️ Runners – ~30,000
⏱️ Course closes – 5:30 PM

Why Boston is different

First held in 1897 — inspired by the marathon debut at the 1896 Olympics — Boston is the world’s oldest continuously run marathon and one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors. The 26.2-mile route runs point-to-point from Hopkinton into downtown Boston, finishing on the iconic Boylston Street. What sets it apart isn’t just history: nearly all 30,000 starters have earned their place through a qualifying time, and the entire city shows up to cheer them on.

Packet pick-up & expo

Head to the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, 900 Boylston St — about 600m from the finish line. Every runner must collect their own bib in person; bring a government-issued ID and your digital pick-up pass (from your email or the race app).

Fri Apr 17: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Sat Apr 18: 9:00am – 7:00pm
Sun Apr 19: 9:00am – 6:00pm

Your bib colour indicates your wave; the number (1–9) is your start corral. You’ll also receive a souvenir t-shirt, sponsor nutrition, a gear check bag, and a start area bag. Race merch — including the popular Boston jacket — is also available at Dick’s Sporting Goods nearby and at Fan Fest in City Hall Plaza, if you want to skip the expo crowds.

Your two bags

You’ll get two bags at pick-up. The large gear check bag — labelled with your bib number — goes on a yellow school bus before the race and waits for you at the finish. Pack a change of clothes, warm layers, post-race snacks, and anything you want at the end. The small start area bag travels with you on the bus to Hopkinton; everything in it either runs the course with you or gets discarded (donated clothing is collected). Pack breakfast, race nutrition, sunscreen, anti-chafe, water, and something to sit on while you wait.

Getting to the start

On race morning, drop your gear check bag at the finish area, then make the 10–15 minute walk to the bus loading zone (follow the crowd — you can’t miss it). The bus ride to Hopkinton takes about an hour; there are no toilets on board, so go before you board.

Once at Hopkinton High School you’ll enter the Athletes’ Village — mostly open grass, so dress for the weather. You may wait 90 minutes or more before corral loading begins. From the village it’s a 0.7-mile walk to the start line, with plenty of toilets and water along the way. Wear throwaway clothes; all discarded items are collected and donated.

On course

Mile markers every mile, 5K markers every 5km. No official pacers — trust your watch (GPS is reliable throughout). Water stations start at mile 2 and appear every mile after that, always on both sides of the road. Lemon-lime Gatorade is available at every water station. Maurten Hydrogel (regular and caffeine) is offered at miles 11.8, 17, and 21.5. There are 26 medical stations along the route; if you need to drop out, do so at one of them.

The course in brief

The route drops steeply in the first four miles — resist the temptation to bank time early; the elevation changes throughout and your legs will pay for it later. Crowd support is relentless the whole way, with the famous Wellesley Scream Tunnel providing a huge boost just after halfway.

Miles 16–21 bring the Newton Hills — four significant climbs culminating in Heartbreak Hill. They’re not especially steep, but they arrive precisely when fatigue sets in. Crest Heartbreak Hill and you have five mostly flat or downhill miles left. The CITGO sign signals your approach to the city; a right on Hereford and left on Boylston puts the finish line 600m ahead. Soak it in.

After the finish

Collect your medal, then work through the finisher chute picking up water, snacks, and a foil blanket. Medical support is available throughout. After a couple of blocks you’ll reach gear check — find your numbered bus, collect your bag, and rejoin the world. The Family Meeting Area is on Stuart St to the south; Newbury St and Boston Common are to the north and east.

Qualifying times for 2026

Most entrants must run a qualifying time — and typically a few minutes faster than the official standard to secure a place. Age is calculated on race day.