8:15 am ET
Send us your race day pictures!
Katie Landeck
Runners, we want to see your pictures from the marathon. Take a photo at the starting line and take a photo at the end to show up how your race day went. Email the to [email protected] along with your name and where your from or use this form.
We will use the photos in galleries and on social media accounts within the USA Today Network.
8:13 am ET
Preparing for the 2025 Boston Marathon in Hopkington
Tom Benoit
Chase Hurley, 15, of Hopkinton, was playing music outside ARCOS Cucina + Bar on Main Street in Hopkinton more than an hour before the start of the Marathon. Hurley, who attends the Eagle Hill School in Hardwick, said he’s been playing music before the start of the Marathon for “a few years now.”
ARCOS is a newcomer to Main Street in Hopkinton, replacing the former Central Public House. It’s celebrating a “soft opening” this long weekend.
7:45 am ET
Where are the Boston Marathon bombers now?
Katie Landeck
This marathon marks the 12th since the Boston Marathon Bombing, when two brothers executed the largest terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11, according to the FBI, setting off two explosives near the finish line that killed three people and injured over 500.
Still today, “Boston Strong,” the motto the city adopted after the bombing, can be seen on signs and shirts of spectators, and runners will pass a “Boston Strong” sign across the bridge in the final mile.
Who were the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing?
Three people were killed in the bombings – Martin Richard, 8, Krystle Campbell, 29; and Lu Lingzi, 23, and more than 200 people were injured.
MIT police Officer Sean Collier, 27, was killed days later during the manhunt for the bombers. Boston police Officer Dennis Simmonds died one year after responding to the shootout with the bombers.
What happened to the Boston Marathon bombers?
Tamerlan Tsarnaev died after a gun battle with the police a few days after the bombing. According to the FBI, Dzhokhar ran over his brother with a carjacked vehicle, and Tamerlan died from injuries sustained at the scene.
Dzhokhar, who was then 19 years old, was taken in to custody and charged with the use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and conspiracy, as well as 29 other terrorism-related charges.
Dzhokhar was found guilty on all 30 counts and sentenced to death in 2015.
7:30 am ET
What celebrities are running the Boston Marathon in 2025?
Katie Landeck and Melina Khan
Matt James, star of The Bachelor franchise, is running the Boston Marathon this year for the second time.
He’ll be running as a “field correspondent” for ESPN and WCVB5 – “literally in the field,” he wrote on Instagram. He ran Boston for the first time in 2022.
Over the years, many celebrities have taken to the streets of Boston for the famous race, including actor Will Ferrell and former Boston Bruins player Zdeno Chára
.
What celebrities are running the 2025 Boston Marathon?
Celebrities who ran Boston Marathon: Can you name Hollywood actors who have run in the Boston Marathon? Here are four
Here are some celebrities and notable figures running the 2025 Boston Marathon this year:
- Matt James, The Bachelor tv star
- Scott Stallings, three-time PGA Tour winner
- Alice Cook, US Olympic figure skater
- Paula Radcliffe, retired professional runner who formerly held the world record holder in the Women’s marathon
7:11 am ET
Weather for the Boston Marathon 2025
Katie Landeck and Margie Cullen
The forecast is looking beautiful for the Boston Marathon today, though perhaps a smidge warm for runners.
The National Weather Service Boston is predicting a high of 59 degrees and a low of 44 with mostly sunny skies.
What’s the perfect weather for marathon running?
While 67 degrees and sunny (last year’s weather for the Boston Marathon) may seem like the perfect temperature, it’s actually a bit warm for racers.
Most runners and experts agree that perfect marathon running weather is around 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s because as the distances get longer, the more that even slightly warmer temperatures can affect runners by causing dehydration, fatigue and even heatstroke.
Runners also hope for overcast skies and a light tailwind.
History of Boston Marathon Weather Past races include extreme heat and snow
7:05 am ET
Runners starting to arrive at marathon
Tom Benoit
At a chilly start in Hopkinton, multiple public safety officers from the Mass. State Police, Hopkinton Police Department and other MetroWest agencies are beginning to set up for the Marathon.
Temperature in Hopkinton is 40 degrees at 7 a.m. Sunny, low wind.
The first event, Men’s Wheelchair, is scheduled to start in less than two hours.
6:45 am ET
What is qualifying time for the Boston Marathon?
Katie Landeck and Rin Velasco
The Boston Marathon is notoriously difficult to get in to with fast qualification times: 3 hours for men and 3 hours and 30 minutes for women in the youngest age group of 18-34. Even if you make the time, there’s often an additional cut off time set by the Boston Athletic Association if too many people time qualify. This year, the cut off time was a record 6 minutes and 51 seconds under the qualifying standard.
Age GroupMENWOMENNON-BINARY18-343hrs 00min3hrs 30min3hrs 30min35-393hrs 05min3hrs 35min3hrs 35min40-443hrs 10min3hrs 40min3hrs 40min45-493hrs 20min3hrs 50min3hrs 50min50-543hrs 25min3hrs 55min3hrs 55min55-593hrs 35min4hrs 05min4hrs 05min60-643hrs 50min4hrs 20min4hrs 20min65-694hrs 05min4hrs 35min4hrs 35min70-744hrs 20min4hrs 50min4hrs 50min75-794hrs 35min5hrs 05min5hrs 05min80 and over4hrs 50min5hrs 20min5hrs 20min
6:30 am ET
Where is the Boston Marathon start line? Finish line?
Katie Landeck
For the last 101 years, the Marathon has started in Hopkinton. When the Marathon was founded in 1897, runners started from Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland, but the starting line was moved to Hopkinton in 1924.
The final stretch of the Marathon is on Boylston Street, where the runners Mile 26, knowing they’re nearing the finish line.
The Boston Marathon finish line itself is at 655 Boylston St, Boston.
6:15 am ET
How long is the Boston Marathon?
Katie Landeck and Margie Cullen
Like all marathons, the Boston Marathon is 26.2 miles long, or 42.195 kilometers. The marathon traces its roots to ancient Greece. According to legend, Pheiidippides ran from the plains of Marathon to Athens to deliver the news that the Greek Army had won a crucial battle against the invading Persian Army.
“Rejoice, we are victorious,” he announced before falling dead.
While his run was only 24.8 miles, it became the story behind the modern Olympic Marathon. The marathon distance was lengthened to 26.2 miles to suit the wishes of the British royal family in the 1908 Olympic Games and this distance became the Olympic standard in 1924.
How long will the Boston Marathon take?
How long it will take you to complete the Boston Marathon depends on a myriad of factors, including your personal fitness and the weather.
The fastest ever Boston Marathon was run by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011 in a time of 2:03:02.
But most people won’t complete the marathon that quickly. According to the Marathon Handbook, the average Boston Marathon finish time from 2000 to 2022 is 3:52:40.
There are still many runners who finish after that time. The last runner in the 2024 Boston Marathon results finished in a time of 7:11:06.
6:00 am ET
How to get to the Boston Marathon via the MBTA Green Line
Katie Landeck
There are multiple spots people can safely watch from, depending on what time they get there and what part of the race they want to see, according to the Boston Marathon website.
The best and easiest places to observe the marathon are Newton and Brookline. Both are accessible via the MBTA; make sure to remember that Copley station is closed for Marathon Day. In addition to Copley station, above-ground Green Line stops at South Street (B branch), Kent Street (C branch), and St. Mary’s Street (C branch) will be closed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
To get to Newton on the MBTA, take the Green Line D line and get off at the Woodland stop, which is near the 17-mile mark on the south side of the racecourse. You’ll be able to see the 35-kilometer split from there and watch runners take on Heartbreak Hill.
To watch the race from Brookline, get on either the B, C, or D trains to the Cleveland Circle area. You’ll be able to watch the 38-kilometer split in the late morning.
From there, you can either try to keep up with the runners and join them at the finish line at Boylston Street in Boston or enjoy the fine amenities the city has to offer.
5:45 am ET
How to track a Boston Marathon runner
Katie Landeck
The BAA Racing App will also host the race’s leaderboards and unofficial results for runners as they cross the finish line.
The BAA website will offer the ability to search for athletes during the race and view leaderboards in real time.
5:30 am ET
Boston Marathon Start Times 2025
Katie Landeck
- Men’s Wheelchair – 9:06 a.m. EST
- Women’s Wheelchair – 9:09 a.m. EST
- Handcycles & Duos – 9:30 a.m. EST
- Professional Men – 9:37 a.m. EST
- Professional Women – 9:47 a.m. EST
- Para Athletics Division – 9:50 a.m. EST
- Wave 1 – 10 a.m. EST
- Wave 2 – 10:25 a.m. EST
- Wave 3 – 10:50 a.m. EST
- Wave 4 – 11:15 a.m. EST
There is also a military march occurring at 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and these start times are subject to change, the website said.
5:01 am ET
What are the Boston Marathon road closures?
Katie Landeck
A number of road closures will be in effect for the Boston Marathon. Here’s what to know.
Hopkinton
As the start of the race, Hopkinton starts closing roads immediately surrounding the start line and town common (Main Street, Ash Street, Park Street, and Hayden Rowe) at 6:30 a.m. Other roads leading to the downtown will close at 7 a.m.
They include:
- West Main Street at Lumber Street
- Wood Street at Elm Street
- Hayden Rowe Street at Chestnut
- Ash Street at Blueberry Lane
- Cedar Street at Legacy Farms North
- East Main Street at every intersection
Find maps of road closureshere and here.
Ashland
The Ashland Police Department said on Facebook that “Route 135 Eastbound and Westbound in Ashland will close at 7:15 am on Monday, April 21. No vehicular traffic will be allowed on Route 135 after 7:30. Cross traffic will be permitted until 8:30 am. After that time, the route will remain closed to all vehicular traffic until all the runners are through Ashland.”
Newton
According to the Newtown Police Department, “roads along the marathon route—including Washington Street (Route 16), and Commonwealth Ave (Route 30)—will be closed to vehicle traffic starting at approximately 08:00 am in the morning and will remain closed until approximately 06:00 pm.”
Brookline
In Brookline, road closures will start at 8 a.m.
“Beacon Street will be closed to all vehicle traffic from 8 am until 6 pm, so please to plan accordingly. Crossing Beacon Street is limited for most of the day,” the city said in a press release. “The designated cross-points for pedestrians are the following:
