Boston Marathon 2018: What Time Does It Start, Weather, How Fast

BOSTON, MA — Marathon Monday is fast approaching and there's plenty to know about how to watch your favorite athletes as they cruise along the 26.2 miles with thousands of folks cheering them on. Even if you don't know anyone personally running the race, it's hard not to get swept into the day's excitement. There's nothing quite like standing along the route that Monday and watching as runners push mental and physical limits.

The Marathon goes back to 1897 when it was called "The American Marathon," and for folks here in town, it's still the marathon. The 122nd running is happening Monday, April 16.

Here's what you need to know about the route, when the race starts and what to bring. We'll keep adding to this. So check back. Got a question we haven't answered yet? Shoot us an email at Jenna.Fisher@Patch.com and we'll get to it!

26.2 Miles. What's the route?

It was 24.5 miles until 1924 when it changed to line up with the Olympic standard. Boston’s course begins in Hopkinton and winds through eight municipalties until it ends on Boylston Street.

How many people are running?

About 30,000. Since 2015, the marathon has had a cap of about 30,000 runners except for two cases: In 1996, for the century anniversary of the running, the race took about 38,000 entrants. In 2014, the year after bombings at the finish line, the BAA expanded the field to include 36,000, in part to accommodate anyone who wasn't able to finish the race the year before on account of the bombing.

Whats this talk of an Expo?

It's like Times Square for runners. Here's how to get there.

What time does the race start?

Different athletes start at different times. The first batch head off at 8:40 a.m., and the final wave starts at 11:15 a.m.

• 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 and Duos: 9:25 a.m.
• Elite Women: 9:32 a.m.
• Elite Men and Wave One: 10 a.m.
• Wave Two: 10:25 a.m.
• Wave Three: 10:50 a.m.
• Wave Four: 11:15 a.m.

How Do you track a runner?

There are three options that aren't creepy. Here's How To Track A Runner

What's the weather going to be like?

Right now the weather forecast looks like it will be cloudy, with a 60 percent of scattered showers with a high of about 53 degrees. That could change, of course, as the day nears.

The average start temperature is typically high 40’s to low 50’s, but there have been several extremes. In 2012, the start temperature was 77 degrees, rising to 84, sending many into the medical tents to treat heat exhaustion. In 2015, runners had to deal with a steady cold rain sending many to medical tents to warm up and to treat symptoms of hypothermia.

American Winners

The last time an American man won the race was 2014 the year after the bombings. Meb Keflezighi was the first American to claim first place since 1983.

The last American woman to win was Lisa Larsen Weidenbach in 1985.

How fast do people run the marathon?

Some people run this race fast. In order to qualify to run the Boston Marathon without having to raise money for a charity men between the ages of 18 and 34 have to prove they've run a 26.2 mile marathon course recognized by the folks at the BAA in 3 hours and five minutes or less. For women in that age group they must run it in three hours and 35 minutes or less.

Of the race’s 30,000, some 80 percent are time qualifiers and roughly 20 percent sign up to run with a charity.

Those who run/ walk the race to raise money for charity will often take a bit longer. A couple years ago a man with a disability and his support team started the race Monday morning with everyone else, but didn't finish until everyone had gone home, well after midnight.

Security: What To Bring?

So far officials say they've been working security for the past SIX months. So far no credible reports of threats on the five year anniversary. But there are a few things not to bring. Click the above link for more on that.

Where can I grab a bite to eat?

Here are a dozen spots to Eat In Brookline On Marathon Monday if you need some inspiration.

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• File Photo By Jenna Fisher/Patch