Boston Marathon 2018 Live Blog

The Marathon has returned, and we'll be tracking all the triumphs, and downpours, this day has to offer. Check back throughout Marathon Monday for updates, and don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Boston Marathon 2018

The elite female runners break from the starting line in a downpour during the 122nd running of the Boston Marathon in Hopkinton, Mass., Monday, April 16, 2018. Image via AP Photo/Mary Schwalm

With reporting by Lisa Weidenfeld, Spencer Buell, Hayley Glatter, Madeline Bilis, Tessa Yannone, Jacqueline Cain, Jessica Citronberg, Kalina Newman, and Antonia DeBianchi.

5:16 p.m.

Shalane Flanagan, who ran the first stretch of the Boston Marathon with eventual winner Desiree Linden, showed her support for her teammate on Instagram. The Marblehead native, who captured gold at the 2017 New York City Marathon, finished seventh among women with an unofficial time of 2:46:31.

THIS WOMAN!!!!! Congrats Des!!!!! Boston Marathon freakin champion!! We are so proud and love you. Thanks for being a true friend and teammate on the course and also for letting me goober all over your wreath and medal : @erinstrout

A post shared by Shalane Flanagan (@shalaneflanagan) on

4:43 p.m.

Hereford Street is littered with rain gear as runners shed their layers in the marathon’s final stretch.

The weather has made it a busy day for emergency responders along the race course, and medical stations have logged more than 1,000 visits today, according to Boston Emergency Medical Services.

3:16 p.m.

We had a feeling the rain wouldn’t keep many runners away. Of the 30,039 who registered to run,  27,362 registrants picked up bibs. Of those, 27,048 showed up at the starting line on Monday, race officials say, adding that the turnout is about on par with other years, when it isn’t a brutal rainstorm. Marathoners are no joke, people.

3:06 p.m.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency released stats showing the toll the weather conditions are taking on some runners. As of 2 p.m., 45 people had been transported by EMS, 153 were being treated in medical stations, and at least 875 had been seen at medical tents along the race route, excluding the finish line.

Officials have said hypothermia is a concern, as runners’ temperatures can drop quickly if they stop running. Warming centers have been opened along the route, MEMA announced.

2:43 p.m.

There were oh so many good (and soggy) dogs out there today, and we rounded up some of the best.

Spencer’s annual cheering of the boston marathon #bostonmarathon #boston

A post shared by Rich Powers (@thehenrystudio) on

2:20 p.m.

At the post-race press conference, Des Linden said she was still in disbelief about the outcome this year, which saw her become the fist American woman to win the marathon in 33 years. “This is storybook stuff,” she said.

She said she wasn’t feeling her best, and thought she would “drop out” before finishing.

“At 6 miles I thought, ‘No way, not my day.’ Then it was kind of hilarious how it worked out. Again, even when I got into the lead I was like this is going to go horribly wrong. I’m gonna blow up,” she said. “Then you break the tape and it’s like, ‘This is not what I was expecting today.’ But it is absolutely amazing. Running down Boylston was amazing.”

Meanwhile,  men’s champion Yuki Kawauchi, of Japan, apparently wasn’t kidding when he declared that the wind and chilly rain today were “the best conditions possible.” He said at the press conference that he thrives in the cold, including when he won the Marshfield Road Runner’s 37th New Year’s Day Marathon in Massachusetts earlier this year, when it was five degrees below zero.

He noted that the last time a Japanese man won the race was in 1987, the year he was born. “I can’t help but feel the hand of fate in this,” he said, through an interpreter.

2:08 p.m.

Runners and supporters are not letting the weather hold them back.

1:46 p.m.

No big deal, just Shalane Flanagan predicting the future back in November.

1:37 p.m.

Des Linden’s very supportive husband, Ryan, has earned the internet’s love for his thrilled reaction to his wife’s victory.

Plus, Meb Keflezighi says he’ll be running the New York marathon as well.

1:20 p.m.

Yes, the weather is still pretty miserable out there.

And if that wasn’t discouraging enough, check out this view:

12:50 p.m.

For real though…

12:44 p.m.

Shalane Flanagan

Photo by Madeline Bilis

Shalane Flanagan, who last year became the first American woman to win the New York City Marathon since 1977, finished sixth on Monday, with a time of 02:46:31.

She and eventual champion Des Linden shared a touching moment during the race, when Flanagan stopped for a break and Linden slowed to let her catch up. It’s already being hailed as a testament to sportsmanship and camaraderie.

12:25 p.m.

Yuki Kawauchi, of Japan, wins the 122nd Boston Marathon on Monday, April 16, 2018, in Boston. He is the first Japanese man to win the race since 1987. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Photo via AP/Elise Amendola

Yuki Kawauchi of Japan topped the elite men’s field at the 2018 Boston Marathon. He broke the tape with an unofficial time of 2:15:54.

He was, apparently, not fazed by the wind, the rain, and the cold.

Find the full list of winners here.

12:14 p.m.

Desiree Linden, of Washington, Mich., wins the women's division of the 122nd Boston Marathon on Monday, April 16, 2018, in Boston. She is the first American woman to win the race since 1985. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Photo via AP/Charles Krupa

And we have our first American winner in 33 years! California native Des Linden battled the elements to come out on top.

11:31 a.m.

Some local businesses say they’re seeing a drop in customers this year, no doubt because of the weather.

11:22 a.m.

And now Tatyana McFadden has become a five time champion, winning the women’s push rim wheelchair race.

11:10 a.m.

The first winner has crossed the finish line, with Marcel Hug winning the men’s push rim wheelchair race for the fourth consecutive year.

10:32 a.m.

Just how bad is it out there today? This bad:

10:06 a.m.

The elite men are on their way!

A little rain isn’t stopping the usual army of volunteers from showing up today to support the runners.

Good question.

9:47 a.m.

Things are going…NOT GREAT on the MBTA this Marathon Monday.

9:41 a.m.

And the elite women have started their run! Best of luck, all.

9:21 a.m.

As runners head out into what feels like a monsoon on race day, the less-than-ideal weather conditions are inspiring some spirited reactions online, from the sarcastic:

Good luck to all the participants in the #BostonMarathon today! #MarathonMonday pic.twitter.com/WMfUd5PUFG

— Bob Salley (@Bob_Salley) April 16, 2018

to the grumpy:

to the, um, inspiring:

By the way, this guy is very resourceful:

9 a.m. 

One familiar sight we won’t see this race day: throngs of Red Sox fans pouring out of Fenway Park at the conclusion of the ballgame to cheer on the runners. Because of the weather, the Sox contest against the Orioles has been postponed until May 17, marking the first time since 1984 that the team won’t suit up on Patriots’ Day.

Because of the rainout at Fenway, some restaurants are expecting smaller crowds on Marathon Monday.

8:45 a.m.

It may be wet and blustery as the first runners cross the marathon starting line, but the athletes certainly aren’t letting the weather get them down. Our health editor is in Hopkinton and says the mood is electric ahead of the 122nd Boston Marathon.

Meb Keflezighi, who won the 2014 Boston Marathon, also tweeted some encouragement ahead of the race.

7:00 a.m. 

Good morning! It’s finally here. The 2018 Boston Marathon is upon us. With an ominous forecast on the horizon, a crowd of hundreds of thousands is gearing up for a soggy day along the race route. Are we scared of a little rain? Didn’t think so!

For those heading into or around Boston this morning, here’s a helpful guide for navigating the MBTA on this busiest of days. Looking for something good to eat or drink on race day? We’ve got you covered, too. We also have the low-down on some Marathon-themed brews, and the elite athletes to watch this year. Keep an eye out for star paralympian Tatyana McFadden, who will be back at the starting line today after a battle with health issues.

Start times today are as follows:

Mobility Impaired 8:40 a.m.
Men’s Push-Rim Wheelchair 9:02 a.m.
Women’s Push-Rim Wheelchair 9:04 a.m.
Handcycles & Duos 9:25 a.m.
Elite Women 9:32 a.m.
Elite Men & Wave One 10:00 a.m.
Wave Two 10:25 a.m.
Wave Three 10:50 a.m.
Wave Four 11:15 a.m.

The awards ceremony begins at 5 p.m. at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.

We’ll be bringing you updates all day long. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

A previous version of this story said Shalane Flanagan finished sixth among elite women. She finished seventh among elite women and sixth in her division. 

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