😭🏃 Boston, prepare to ugly cry today ...

🚲 PSA: Blue Cross Blue Shield is offering $15 in free Bluebikes credits TODAY through April 26 (while supplies last!). Yes, it's good for both pedal and ebikes! Just use code BCBSEARTHWEEK26. 

🥳 And a big HBD to B-Side Members Lauren Zanders and Rachel! Name something cooler than rolling up to your party on a free Bluebike. We’ll wait …

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

It’s the most wonderful day of the yeeeeear … 30,000+ runners will make the 26.2-mile journey from Hopkinton to Boston today for the 130th Boston Marathon.

Here’s what to know:

🏆 Kenyans John Korir and Sharon Lokedi are back to defend their titles. Despite absolutely wiping out at the start, Korir ran 2:04:45 (~4:45/mile) last year, the fastest men’s time since 2011. Lokedi shattered the women’s course record by over two minutes with her time of 2:17:22 (~5:15/mile).

🧑‍🦽The wheelchair division could get spicy. Swiss racing legend Marcel Hug (a.k.a. “The Silver Bullet”) has all but locked up his ninth(!) Boston win on the men’s side. But the women’s field is WIDE OPEN. Reigning champ Susannah Scaroni is OOO having a baby, so keep an eye on past stars like Manuela Schär, Tatyana McFadden, and Eden Rainbow-Cooper to make a roll for it.

🇺🇸 The American field is STACKED. Favs include current North American record holder Emily Sisson and last year’s top American woman Jess McClain, who dominated the Newton Hills. Men’s favorite Conner Mantz had to pull out after an injury, so the door is open for last year’s second and third Americans, Clayton Young, and Ryan Ford.

🤩 But Boston’s celeb field is equally stacked. Keep your eyes peeled for Chelsea Clinton, Bruins legend Zdeno Chara, astronaut Sunita Williams, local “Love Island” star Bryan Arenales, “The Bachelor” star Matt James, and way, way more. 

🚇 The MBTA will also be running. But not quite at its usual capacity. Copley Station is OOO all day; South Street, Kent Street, and Saint Mary’s Street will shut down from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and basically any bus that runs along the route will be diverted thanks to the maze of road closures. Here are the deets.

👀 Spectating is its own kind of marathon. The pro men will start at 9:37 a.m., hit Wellesley around 10:38 a.m., Brookline by 11:26 a.m., and finish around 11:40 a.m. The women will start 10 minutes later, hit Wellesley at 10:35 a.m., Brookline at 11:48 a.m., and finish ~12:04 p.m. We’d consult the B.A.A.’s spectator guide and this list of the best places to watch the race IRL, depending on your vibe. 

📺 Don’t want to leave the house? WCVB will be broadcasting the race live, and you can always track your fav runners through the B.A.A. app! 

🤔 Any other questions? Here’s everything you need to know.

📱💼 Endless scrolling. 200 applications. One automated rejection email. Sound familiar? The Meet Boston Regional Career Fair is your chance to break the cycle. On April 28 (11 a.m.–3 p.m.) at The Westin Copley Place, you can meet 50+ employers hiring in tourism and hospitality and snag a free professional headshot (hair and makeup included) in the process. No ghosting, no “we’ll keep your resume on file.” Just real conversations and real opportunities. Register now.

😬 Nike got CANCELLED for its controversial Boston Marathon sign. And honestly, they deserved it. The sign on Newbury Street read, “Runners Welcome. Walkers Tolerated.” Unsurprisingly, the internet exploded with criticism from local runners and disability advocates. Nike confirmed the removal of the sign in a statement provided to GBH News: “We want more people to feel welcome in running — no matter their pace, experience or the distance … we’ll use this moment to do better and continue showing up for all runners.” Sigh.

🐶 People are turning to pet pantries to make ends meet. As the cost of living around Boston continues to climb, and with recent cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid, more people would be forced to give up their furbabies without this kind of assistance, according to the food pantries. For context, Boston’s MSPCA distributed 2.8 million pet meals across Massachusetts in 2024, which jumped to 3.5 million (!) in 2025. Whether it’s dog food or kitty litter, their goal is to help keep these families together.

⛴️ You could visit P-Town this summer … fo’ FREE. Enter: PtownONE, a new initiative designed to make Provincetown more accessible for young LGBTQ+ folks (read: a free two-night accommodation, roundtrip ferry/bus passes, and tickets to P-Town events!). The lottery program is available for LGBTQ+ visitors between 21-29 who have NEVER been to P-Town (specifically for Pride Weekend and TransWeek). The application deadline for Pride Weekend closes April 29, so get yours in here! 

🍻 Bartender! Another round of openings, please! Grab your favorite IPA and Patagonia vest, ‘cause Cisco Brewers Seaport is officially back for its ninth season. This outdoor venue really has everything: live music, craft beer, waterfront(ish) vibes. And this season, they’ve got a new Beach Shack program where you can rent out a private shack with friends. Also new this month: The Zebra Room, an underground downtown steakhouse that only has 10 tables, 1970s vibes, and very cold martinis. We’re there.

🌯 Carbo-load like a runner. Folks who show up to Chipotle after 3 p.m. wearing a hockey jersey can nab BOGO entrées today only! Tell your local marathon husband.

🥦 4/20 blaze glaze it. Paint your own bowls, pots, and, *ahem* water pipes at a special 4/20 pottery painting sesh at Made By Me. Hit up Herbwell Cannabis beforehand and save 20% on your pottery!

🤤 Chow down at h(appy) hour. Boston may not have happy hour, but Tasca’s $5 tapas every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. are a pretty good substitute.

📚 Stay booked and busy. Trendy supper club The Aperitivo Society is hosting a book swap and bookmark decorating party April 21. It’s BYOB (bring your own books)!

🎶 Be so bad, and feel so good. Demi Lovato is stopping by TD Garden on April 22 for her It’s Not That Deep Tour. Snag tickets under $75!

👻 Celebrate Half-o-ween. The Brighton Bazaar is partying like it’s Oct. 31 at the Speedway on April 23 and 24 with a mystical marketplace, tarot, cabaret performances, and more!

📀 Shop pop-up vinyl. Aeronaut Brewery is getting a vinyl takeover on April 24. Shop for a new record or two, sip a brew, and listen to DJ Sprino spin.

🌎 Show the Charles some love. PSA: There are still a few spots left for volunteers at the  27th Annual Charles River Cleanup on April 24. Grab them here!

🏃Skip the check-in line and fund cancer research. RACE Cancer's Boston 5K Summer Series’ Full Season Pass lets you pick your own bib number, get a free UPF 50+ shirt, and bypass check-in at all eight Thursday night races along the Charles River. B-Side Members save an additional $20. Purchase here by April 30 with the discount code.

This year’s marathon is a little extra special for Gia … because she’s running it! AH!

As most of you are reading this, I’ll probably be on a bus to Hopkinton getting ready to run Boston as a member of Team Hoyt. You’ve probably heard of father-son duo Dick and Rick Hoyt, who are Boston Marathon icons. 

The Hoyt Foundation is their family’s nonprofit to improve the quality of life of young people with disabilities. I chose Team Hoyt in honor of my Mom, who, like Rick, has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, and posture. 

My Mom’s CP symptoms took a turn for the worse in 2020, and watching her navigate her new normal has given me a huge appreciation for folks with CP and their loved ones, and for how empowering safe, accessible sports can be. 

Training for a marathon is hard. But as cheesy as it sounds, if folks like Dick, Rick, and my Mom can do what they do, I can get up Heartbreak Hill … even if my legs feel like cement blocks.

My bib number is 29208 if you want to track me on the course or just say hi! I’ll need all the good vibes I can get.

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

😅 Thanks for reading! And to all the B-Siders running today: WE GOT THIS!

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Meet Boston, for supporting local journalism and helping local employers and job seekers connect in a more authentic way. 

⚾ The results are in: The B-Siders have spoken (again) and they’re still not fans of Game On or Loretta’s Last Call. But FWIW, Loretta’s did get more of the vote.

💃 Keep up with us @BostonBSide on IG, TikTok, and Twitter. Send comments and suggestions to [email protected] or [email protected].