Boston Marathon Mile Guide
Runners and spectators, follow these game plans to have the best Boston Marathon experience ever.
FEVER PITCH: The Red Sox, the runners, the screaming throngs—that’s why Kenmore Square is the best place to be on the best day of the year in Boston. / Photo by Steven Wolfe
MILE 25
Game Plan: Kenmore Square
Expect ebullient Sox fans to pour out of Fenway just as the mid-pack of runners swarms Kenmore Square. —Melissa Malamut
What to Pack
Earplugs—the crowds can be even rowdier here than at the finish line. Aspirin will also come in handy, especially if you plan on throwing back a few early-morning bloody marys.
How to Get There
Take the Green Line to Kenmore. Yes, meters are free because of the holiday, but driving to (and through) Kenmore Square is hard enough on a game day, never mind when there are an extra 100,000 people in the neighborhood—and major road closures.
When to Arrive
Really early. The Cask ‘n Flagon, on Brookline Avenue, has a line of 150 to 200 people as early as 8 a.m., according to owner Dana Van Fleet.
Where to Sit/Stand
Your best bet is to try to snag a spot along Beacon Street before reaching the square. If you do end up on Commonwealth Avenue, keep in mind that the only sure-fire way to cross the street on Marathon Monday is through the T tunnel.
Where to Eat
Eastern Standard offers top-notch fare and prime spectating perches—if you’re lucky enough to snag a table, that is. Locals in the know arrive after the Red Sox game starts, between 11 and 11:30 a.m.
Where to Drink
Party with industry folks at Cornwall’s, an English pub just off the route, after they’ve clocked out for the night. The Hawthorne offers a low-key space for sipping craft cocktails with your crew.
Bathroom Break
Head to Bertucci’s. “We won’t turn you away,” says shift manager Kara Canole, “even if you don’t order anything.” The restaurant is also a popular (and relatively quiet) place for runners and their families to refuel after the race.
Must-Have Item
A Sox cap, even if you’re not going to the game.
Runners’ Poll:
We asked 78 past and present Boston Marathon participants for the inside track on their race experiences.
Q:
What’s the funniest thing you’ve seen along the marathon course?
“A guy with a cigarette hanging from his mouth and holding a beer yelling at me, saying I was going too slow.” —John D., 41, Stoneham
Catch a Glimpse of Your Favorite Marathoners in Action at Mile 25
• Wheelchair Division Men: 10:39 a.m.
• Wheelchair Division Women: 10:57 a.m.
• Elite Women: 11:51 a.m.
• Elite Men: 12:04 p.m.
• Your Friend (assuming a 9:30 pace): 2:48 p.m.
(Calculations based on 2014 starting times and the pace of 2013’s top finishers.)
NEXT: Mile 26.2, The Finish Line »
Back to full mile guide.
Check out more from our Boston Marathon guide.