The 2024 Boston Marathon training runs are scheduled for these Saturdays: March 2, March 9, March 16, and March 23.
The runs are offered the four Saturdays leading to the Boston taper. Week 1 (March 2th) starts in Wellesley and is about 12ish miles (but you can add miles if you need to), Week 2 (March 9th) starts at Wellesley College (18ish miles). Week 3 and 4 (March 16 th and 23th) start in Hopkinton usually (21ish miles), however in 2022, the B.A.A asked that all large groups not be on the course week 4, to try and give some of the local first responders and volunteers a break before the big day. With that in mind we
will play week 4 by ear on if we will be on the course or not, but no need to fear! We already have a whole route planned out from the boat house in Lowell just in case! All runs on the actual course turn around or end at the top of Heartbreak Hill. I will send out run plans each week before each run. If you attend all four weeks, that’s 4 times you should get to learn the hills of Newton.
If you plan to run or volunteer, you must sign up ahead of time – please do NOT just show up! See more below.
If you have any questions, you can send an email to bostontrainingruns@glrr.net.
**** COVID PROTOCOLS****
We want everyone to stay healthy and happy before the big day. This means, that if
you are driving in the car with others, you will likely be in close contact with for
longer than 15 minutes. We recommend sticking to the CDC guidelines and wearing
your mask throughout the duration of the car ride. Health and Safety are MOST
IMPORANT as everyone is working hard to prepare for the race.
Also, if you are feeling sick in ANY WAY, SHAPE or FORM, it is best for you to STAY HOME. We understand missing a training run or volunteer commitment can be difficult, but it’s best for all to stay healthy by you resting up and getting better.
Don’t forget about signing up for Boston Marathon Bus and Amendities on race day, Monday, April 15, 2024.)
Below is a summary of where we first meet, the course details week-to-week, runners’ info and registration link, volunteers’ info and registration link, and then finally maps of the training runs and Boston Marathon route.
Where we meet:
The first week we run from Wellesley Community Center (directions – we park in the lot between the center and the church) near the 15-mile mark (of the course) to Boston College (at the top of Heart Break Hill which as at about the 21.5-mile mark) and then back to the start. The turnaround is at Mt Alvernia Rd. The total planned distance is about 12.5 miles, which you can adjust by adding distance (we recommend adding by going past the Community Center on the way back) or shorten by tuning around before BC. There is a course map below. We provide 2 water stops on this course at about 4 miles and 8.3 miles.
The second week we start from Wellesley College at about the 12-mile mark (of the course) and again run to Boston College and then back again. The planned distance of this run is 20.2 miles. Again, you can adjust by turning around before BC or adding on at the end. As for all the runs the turnaround is Mt Alvernia Rd. There is a course map below. We provide 4 water stops on this run at about 3.5, 7.5, 12 and 16 miles. As you might be aware, the start area for this run is pretty empty. We meet and park behind Ken’s Flower Cafe at 158 E Central – we park out back (note: we try not to use private business lots – they have enough headaches from the Boston Marathon).
On the third and fourth weeks we start in Hopkinton from the race starting line and run all or part of the way to Boston College, which is 21.5 miles away. Our volunteers set up waters stops at about every 4 miles. Volunteers monitor the course to make sure you are doing OK. You run as much or as little of the distance as you feel able to. We will have cars waiting for you in the area of Mt Alvernia Rd. Below is a course map of the entire Boston Course.
Runner’s
Please bring whatever you need for your run (except for water and gator-aide). Basically, this is your chance to practice your marathon. You want to bring whatever you need that is not offered on the Boston Course. You want to wear what you might on race day, although for the training I ask that you wear GLRR green or Baystate green, so we can keep tabs on you.
Try anything new on these runs (never try anything new on race day… NEVER). Try gels, or shot blocks, or whatever you may need.
Register to run at this link: HERE
Volunteers
We will need cars for water stops. We can set up pairs of volunteers, so people have some company to hang out with, unless you have a request for a friend to hang out with. If you can drive runners, please let us know how many runners you can take in your car. Each water stop will be fully supplied. Water, Gator-aide, cups, instructions, runner checklist, tissues, GLRR sign, etc…
Week 1, we need 3 sets of volunteers for water stops. This week runners can drive themselves, but we encourage carpooling to ease parking in Wellesley, so buddy up.
Weeks 2, we need 4 sets of volunteers for water stops. Again, we encourage carpooling.
Weeks 3 and 4, we need enough volunteers to drive all the runners (because these are point-to-point to runs), and we need 7 sets of volunteers for the waters stops.
Register to volunteer at this link: HERE
Maps
Here are maps of the courses we are using: