10 Tips for the Boston Marathon start in Hopkinton.

10 Tips for the Boston Marathon start in Hopkinton.

If you’re taking the bus out from Boston I can’t give any advice on that.  I’ve never done it.  But the official handouts from the race should have lots of details on how that works.

I drive to the start in Hopkinton.  More specifically I get a ride to the start.  Sometimes it’s from an obliging teammate sometimes from my wife.

I’ve been doing it for almost two decades now and it’s changed a lot.  What can you expect on Patriot’s Day?

Contrary to popular belief, you can get dropped in Hopkinton.  If you go to exit 21B north/west off of 495 and take the first left on South Street (less than ¼ mile) there’s an office building there where they run shuttle buses out to athlete’s village and also to downtown Hopkinton.   There’s no place to park, but it’s very easy to get dropped off.

You have to consider your start wave. If you’re in one of the later waves you probably don’t need to get there super early.  I’ve never seen the line for the buses be more than one bus long.

Another interesting thing you can do is take the spectator bus to Hopkinton center.  If you’ve got time on your hands you can walk around the starting corrals and take a picture at the iconic ‘Welcome to Hopkinton’ sign.  There are also a few hundred porta johns here that no one will be using until the corrals start to fill up.

Athletes Village is the grass playing fields behind the Hopkinton High School.  They throw up some party tents, but unless you’re super early there won’t be any room in the tents.  There is an announcer keeping up a delightful patois with a Boston accent and loud music playing.

The fence along the exit side of the field is where all the charities stake out their claims.  If you’re running with a charity, that’s where they’ll be.  The television news is typically over there too if you want to be on TV.

Usually there is water, Gatorade and various promotional PowerBar items on the field for you to take free of charge.  But, if that sort of thing is important to you check with the BAA to be sure what’s planned for this year.

There are hundreds of portajohns around the field.  As you might imagine everyone needs to use them. The lines tend to be 15-20 minutes long, especially as the day progresses.  Budget accordingly.  Don’t try to ‘go’ off the reservation.  They will pull your number and disqualify you.  (if they can catch you)

When the race time comes, they load the corals by wave.  It’s probably less than a ½ mile walk to your starting coral on Main Street.  They have the timing down and there is no reason to rush.  The race starts when you cross the mat.  Don’t waste your energy trying to jostle your way ahead of the 1,000 other runners trying to get to the same coral.

There is more water and the aforementioned parking lot full of porta johns on your left just before the corals for any last-minute needs as you approach the start.

What are some things to remember?

1. We used to have bag drop buses, but they don’t do that anymore. You have to bring whatever you’re going to need for the race.  Anything you don’t carry with you you’ll have to discard.  Once you’re in Athlete’s Village you’re going to have to live off of what you’ve carried in.  If you need something before the race go out and buy some single-serve version of it so you don’t have to carry or throw away a whole bottle.
2. You can only bring the see-through gear bag that they pass out at the expo. No backpacks or gear bags.  They have to be able to see what you’ve got.
3. You are going to be screened by security before you get on the bus in Hopkinton and before you enter the Village. They will make you dump out anything not in the clear bag.
4. Check the weather. Early and often.  It can be sunny, rainy, cold, and anything in between.  The forecast can change overnight.
5. Be prepared to bring throw-away sweat shirts and sweat pants to keep warm.
6. Be prepared to bring a throw-away rain covering of some sort – trash bags work.
7. Bring something to sit on. I typically bring a used space blanket from a prior race. The grass is damp.
8. Wear a throw-away pair of old shoes. Put your race shoes in a clear plastic bag with a fresh pair of socks.  Even if it’s not raining the grass can still be wet.  There been years when I haven’t changed into my race shoes until the corrals.
9. Don’t’ forget your sunscreen. Sunglasses are trickier because you never really know if you’re going to need them.  I usually bring them and just perch them on top of my head if I’m not wearing them.
10. Don’t forget your lube & bring your pre-race nutrition. A nice banana with a bottle of water is usually enough.

It’s really a nice time to just sit and soak up the atmosphere.  I see people reading newspapers and napping.  Try to relax.  Talk to people.  Enjoy yourself.  It’s Boston.  There will be plenty of time to suffer, no need to start early.

It’s not New York or Disney.  If you’re getting dropped off, you don’t need to be there 5 hours early.  A couple hours is plenty of cushion.

See you out there.