I am running Boston next monday. My wife and 3 smaller kids want to cheer me on. Any recommendations on how they can drive me close to Hopkinton (or Hopkinton park), how early we need to leave and where they can drive to see me run by???
For runners, how does the gear bag thing work? I see photos of people wearing a ton of clothing as they board the bus for the rideout to Hopkinton. What do they do with their stuff, and how do they collect it at the end?
Where would a sensible place be to park near the finish?
I’ll let another Boston local agree or disagree with me, but here’s what I did last year and it seemed to work (although I have no small kids to lug around.)
You should have info from the organizers and will get more info when you pick up your race kit covering these questions as well.
DROP OFF - There will be directions and times indicated of where to get dropped off. There will be buses at the drop off in Hopkinton to take you the rest of the way since cars are not allowed near Hopkinton the morning of the race. If you’re getting dropped off, I think you have to be there around 9 or so.
RACE BAGS - There will be bags for you to put your layers and misc in. You’ll then pick up them up in alpha marked sections at the finish. Pretty convenient.
PARKING - I’m not sure how wise it would be to try to park near the finish although I’m sure you could get good info when you pick up your race packet if you decided to try. I would recommend parking near a T stop or commuter rail along the course. That way they could watch an earlier part of the race and then take the train into the finish area. Then at the end, you can train it back to your car.
The race info packet should have all the information as far as drop-offs, bags etc. The drop-off area is at an office park just off I-495 at Rt 85 (you’ll see state police directing all the traffic in there as the roads into Hopkinton will be closed). As far as parking near the finish, I agree with Sam that your wife would be better off parking at a T or commuter rail station and taking the train in since parking in the Back Bay is going to be tight to begin with due to the race and the Sox game that day as well.
for a point to point race, Boston has the logistics worked out extremely well for the runners - spectators that is a different thing. when you get your number on Saturday (go early) or Sunday (I wouldn’t go on this day) they give you numbers and a bag. on the way to the start line they have buses lined up where you simply hand them your bag based on your number. at the end of the race you walk right by the buses parked on Boyleston Street. very quick and efficient.
as for your wife and kids, the only way to get around is the public transportation - T and trains. they can take the T to Boston College and walk up the final of the three hills of Heartbreak (mile 22 I believe) or they can take a train from South Station or Backbay to West Newton and walk about a mile to the firestation (mile 17). driving in and around boston on Patriots day is seriously the dumbest thing anyone can do.
As for transportation to Hopkington, try to meet other runners that are staying near you and get 3 or 4 (not up-tight) runners and splurge for a car service to get to Hopkinton. the buses leave at an un-godly hour if you have a higher number like I have had in the past. the shut off the access, but i have been able to get within a mile of the ‘athlete’s village’ each time I ran Boston.
Hope this helps a little, good luck to everyone running, stay in control and light on your feet for the first 12 miles, basically all on a slight downhill or you will pay.
First of all, enjoy it! Boston is an incredible event. The fan support is unparalleled in the world of age grouper sports.
Second, as folks have said, it’s tricky to get around in a car as a spectator. If they want to tackle the adventure of public transportation, the Green Line of the T is what they want. As the T heads out of boston, the Riverside branch will take them to Newton. The Woodland stop is right on the marathon route, at what I believe is roughly mile 16. Get a map of the T off the internet and this all may make more sense.
They could also try driving to Newton, parking on a side street, and trying to catch a glimpse of you as you go up the Newton hills. Coming toward Boston on the turnpike, they could get off at the West Newton exit (might be Exit 16?) and go west on Washington Street until they hit the marathon. This point is known as “the firehouse,” and is a very popular spot. As you go up the hill the crowd thins out. They could also take the Newton Corner exit (the one after West Newton), take a right up center street, and park somewhere so they see you run up Comm Ave. I’ve never tried the parking thing myself, but it might be a bit of a hike from the parking space to the marathon route, assuming the police allow people to park in the vicinity.
Having a car downtown can be pretty hairy. Boston is not known for either its gracious drivers or its clearly marked streets. The advice to park elsewhere and take a cab or the T to the finish is right on. I believe the best T stop is Copley.
I cannot emphasize this enough … do not attempt to drive into the city and have any expectation of seeing the finish line. use the green line, as others have said, to get around. i have lived in boston 10 years … 5 years of which was 2 blocks from the finish line … i assure anyone you thinks they will drive, park, and see the race will be sorely disappointed.
if you use the T and get to the last 2 miles early, the north side of commonwealth (the side closer to the river) is typically less crowded from kenmore square to the finish and has better viewing (2-3 deep rather than 5-6 deep); you will however, due to road closures be cut off from boylston, e.g., the actual finish line, bars, etc. from the north side, you’ll have to walk around arlington/ the common, to get back to those things (about 1/2 hour walk at least). if that stuff is important, put up with the larger crowds.
Hi,
When my wife ran it, I dropped her off at the exit off of Rte. 495. I think it is about a mile to the start from there. I don’t remember there being much of a backup on the highway. I woud say that anywhere in Newton is pretty good to watch the race. A good option would be to go to Newtonville (The corner of Washington St. and Walnut St.), find parking on one of the side streets off Walnut St., and then walk down Walnut st. to the race. It would be pretty hard with 3 kids to get to the finish before you from there though.
Another option would be to park at Alewife T Station and take the Red line down to Park st. This is right on Boston Commons so they could go monkey around there for a while and see Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack and ride the Swan boats and stuff while they are waiting.
If they stopped somewhere around Natick (~10 miles) they would stil lhave time to watch you go by and then do the Alewife thing and be there at the finish.