😮‍💨🏃‍♀️ A non-runner’s guide to Marathon Monday

🦢 Another sign of Boston spring is upon us. The iconic swan boats are returning to the Public Garden this Saturday at 10 a.m. through September, marking their 147th year on the pond. Tickets are $4.50 (check out the schedule here).

👀 What’s on tap today:

Up first…

T-Minus three days until Marathon Monday! Today’s edition of B-Side is all about the Boston Marathon, covering everything from the best spectator spots, to celeb sightings, to One Boston Day, and more.

First up, here’s everything you need to know heading into race day: 

🏅 The Boston Marathon is the textbook definition of iconic. It’s the oldest annual marathon in the world, one of the most difficult to qualify for, (Emily and Gia’s marathon PBs wouldn’t make the cutoff unless they were 70 years old), and has some of the trickiest terrain of all six world major marathons, with the Newton hills known to break even the world’s best runners.

🏆 And there won’t be any lack of competition. Of the 30,000+ runners making the schlep from Hopkinton to Boston, here are the pros to watch: 

🏃🏿‍♀️ For the women … Hellen Obiri is back to defend her 2023 Boston title, although she’s (somehow) not the flat-out fastest of the group with her PB of 2:21:38, or 5:24 minutes/mile. As for USA runners, keep an eye on Emma Bates, who came in fifth last year.

🏃🏿‍♂️ For the men … Evans Chebet will be the one to watch, gunning for his third straight Boston win (he won last year in 2:05:54, 4:48 minutes/mile). And don’t sleep on USA runner CJ Albertson, who splashed onto the scene to lead 2021’s race for nearly 20 miles.

🧑‍🦽 In the wheelchair division … Men’s champ Marcel Hug a.k.a. “The Silver Bullet” will be back and has all but earned his seventh Boston title already. And for women, Manuela Schär is the one to beat after defending winner Susannah Scaroni withdrew from the race.

⭐ And there will be a fair share of celebs, too. Like legendary Bruins defender Zdeno Chára; Peloton instructor Matt Wilpers; Shane Sager, Sting’s harmonica player; as well as Meb Keflezighi and Des Linden, the most recent two Americans to win the Boston Marathon, and more! Make sure to download the B.A.A. racing map to track your favorite runners.

👀 There are 26.2 miles of places to watch. For high energy and big crowds, try Wellesley, between Heartbreak Hill and BC, Cleveland Circle, Coolidge Corner, Kenmore, or the obvious finish line on Boylston Street. Just make sure to stake out your spot early (here are the times runners are expected to roll through different course areas). If you’d rather have your marathon with a side of fries, here are some great spots to eat along the course. Or, you can livestream it here.

🚇 Much like the marathoners, the MBTA will also be running a lot. There will be increased T service before and after the race; all buses will operate on a Saturday schedule (with some detours and suspensions); and the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line will have additional inbound and outbound trains. Green Liners, note: Copley Station will be closed the entire day, and South Street, Kent Street, and St. Mary’s Street stations will be closed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For info on how to get around, check out the MBTA’s official guide. And word of advice: Don’t bother driving, there will be tons of road closures. 

📣 Any questions? The B.A.A.’s spectator guide can answer them all.

🏃 Boston Marathon weekend is just around the corner, and whether you're lacing up or cheering from the sidelines (hey, we can’t all be super humans), don't miss the OOFOS pop-up at 799 Boylston. Experience the power of cutting-edge recovery footwear technology that will have you looking and feeling your best both pre- and post-marathon. Plus, save the date for the pop-up’s Project Pink: Recover with Purpose panel event on April 13 at 4 p.m. — featuring inspiring stories from speakers like Ali Feller, host of the Ali on the Run Podcast, Anne Keane, and Dr. Nancy Lin that will inspire you just in time for the race on Monday. 

🫶 While you’re celebrating, don’t forget to spread the love. One Boston Day is held on April 15 (Marathon Monday proper) to remember the way the city and world rallied together after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. The goal is to spread kindness among your fellow Bostonians, and in that spirit, the city is promoting several volunteer events like local park cleanups and make your own marathon sign parties. If you can’t make those, you can still celebrate using this official One Boston acts of kindness checklist.

🏅 This year’s medals are causing quite a stir. It’s Bank of America’s first year sponsoring the marathon, and they’ve wasted no time making changes. Namely, the prominent placement of their logo on this year’s medals (check them out here). While the practice isn’t uncommon on other marathon medals, Boston has never followed suit until now, and some runners aren’t too happy about it (see: the comments section on the announcement), saying that the addition of the branding cheapens not only the medal itself, but the entire race’s history.  

🧱 You might notice a few more barricades this year. And by that, we mean four additional miles of barricades to keep spectators off the course. That includes the scene of a fraught incident last year in Newton, where police formed a human barricade to keep spectating members of BIPOC run groups Pioneers Run Crew and TrailblazHers Run Co. from running with their teammates. The B.A.A. has responded to the incident, and has apparently changed their response protocol for police calls based on meetings with the groups. 

🏃🏿 … And BTW, Boston ain’t the only marathon in town this weekend. The 26.True Marathon on Saturday, created and managed by the Pioneers Run Crew, takes place almost entirely in the city of Boston, crossing through over 12 different neighborhoods (fun fact: only around two miles of the OG Boston Marathon course actually goes through Boston). 26.True aims to include Boston communities and runners who are traditionally excluded from the marquee event with a more inclusive map, lower fees to enter, and no athletic requirements to participate.

🏅 Even if you’re not running, grab all the freebies you can! Fan Fest at City Hall Plaza and the Marathon Expo at Hynes Convention Center this weekend are loaded with activations, freebies, merch, and panel discussions with iconic runners that’ll leave you feeling inspired. 

🪧 Cheer on runners with a DIY sign. Boston Public Market is hosting sign-making all day where you can craft a message to tell all 30,000 runners how awesome they are. Need sign inspo? These ones are hilarious. 

🍻 Party hard post-race at Sam Adams Brewery. The downtown taproom is hosting a marathon afterparty on Monday where you can raise a pint of their 26.2 brew to all the runners. 

🌮 Grab a front-row seat at Mile 23. The Paint Burro in Brookline is right on the course and hosting a midday fiesta during Marathon Monday featuring nachos, tacos, and live music to keep the vibes going.

🍝 Carbo-load at Bow Market. Dubbing their event as the unofficial carbo-load pre-party of the Boston Marathon, Bow Market is the place to fuel those glycogen stores with pizza, bread bowls, and more.

This year, runners will see a new pup carrying a “Boston Strong” flag in Ashland. 

Jimmy and Jade are the golden retriever puppies who will be taking over the duties of Spencer, the official dog of the Boston Marathon, and his sister Penny, who passed away within days of each other last year. The two became fixtures along the route, with Spencer becoming particularly famous for holding a “Boston Strong” flag in his mouth (no matter the conditions). He was recently memorialized with a statue along the route.

As for Jimmy and Jade, who were adopted last spring by the same family who owned Spencer, they seem to have taken to their new duties splendidly, with Jimmy in particular seeming to excel at holding flags in his mouth. Look out for them on the course! 

— Written by Gia Orsino and Emily Schario

⭐ Thanks for reading! To any B-Siders running Boston on Monday: GOOD LUCK! And remember, just getting to the starting line is a major reason to celebrate, no matter what happens on the course. 

💜 Special shoutout to today's sponsor, OOFOS, for supporting local journalism and powering your marathon recovery journey. 

✈️ The results are in: The B-Siders have spoken: Jetblue and Delta are your fave domestic carriers out of Logan, taking up 45% and 40% of the vote, respectively. One reader said: “Old Fashioneds on a flight? Gimme...”

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