Whether you are running on Monday or not, we want to share with you our highlights of marathon weekend – the race expo, a running film festival, some talks, & our cheering section on race day! (Hint: Free stuff at our tent!). We tried to cut through some of the noise and compile events that we think you’ll enjoy. Something we need to add? Let us know – comment below or email us! We’ll update throughout the week.
THURSDAY – April 11th
GUERILLA FORM CLINICS w/ Newton Running
“The good folks at Newton Running start their neon-clad assault on your eyeballs and running form.” You had me at neon, Marathon Sports. Get your form examined by experts on Thursday, April 11th from 8am-9am at the corner of Memorial Drive & Mass Ave in Cambridge. These continue on Friday and Saturday, April 12th and 13th. Newton has sponsored a number of Pedicabs for Marathon Weekend, too – so make sure to take advantage. Stop by one morning and say thanks for the load off!
When: 8-9AM Thursday / 8-9AM Friday / 8-9AM Saturday
Where: the corner of Memorial Drive and Mass Ave in Cambridge
Cost: Free!
Link: Marathon Sports Blog
FRIDAY – April 12th
John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo
If you will already be in town, consider heading to the Expo on Friday. It is a lot easier to pick up your bib number, buy a jacket and scope out the whole scene by beating the rush on Saturday and Sunday. It’ll let you see where everything is & make a plan to head back to check out the presentations. The Expo returns to the Hynes this year after a year at the Seaport WTC.
When: 2-7PM Friday
Where: Hynes Convention Center – 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Cost: Free!
Link: General Info / Expo Map
Boston Running Film Festival – Friday Showtimes
Run Against Cancer Events (RACE), producers of charitable running events in the Greater Boston area, will host the inaugural Boston Running Film Festival at the Hynes Convention Center from Friday April 12th through Sunday April 14th. The festival will feature 19 full length and short films about running, selected from submissions by filmmakers as nearby as Jamaica Plain, MA and as far away as New Zealand.
Block C: “New York, NY” – Friday 3PM
The Spirit of A Runner
Run For Your Life
Block A: “Spirit of the Marathon” – Friday 5:30PM
Spirit of the Marathon
Spirit of the Marathon II trailer & Extended Scene
Block B: “Women in Running” – Friday 8PM
There Is No Finish Line
We Grew Wings
When: Friday 3-5PM, Friday 5:30-7:30PM, Friday 8-10PM
Where: Hynes Convention Center – Room 312 – 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Cost: single $9 / Festival pass $29 / VIP pass $49
Link: General Info / Complete list of films / Full Schedule / Tickets / Volunteer for a free ticket
2nd Annual CharityTeams.org Boston TEAm Party Marathon Event
Celebrate the accomplishments of all the 2013 Boston Marathon charity runners who put in countless miles while raising funds for a great cause! Light hors d’Oeuvres, Pasta, Treats, and Cash Bar. First 100 to register will receive a t-shirt!
When: 7PM Friday
Where: Kings Back Bay – 50 Dalton Street Boston, MA 02115
Cost: $45
Link: Sign up here
Level Renner Race Weekend Coverage
Level Renner plans to have race day coverage & live updates of both the BAA 5k and the marathon, including race preview coverage featuring interviews with some of the best locals racing. The guys will be in studio guests on The Boston Sports Stamp (AM 1510) on Friday morning to talk about the marathon. Look for them around the expo all weekend long, and make sure to say hello – grab a couple LVL stickers and spread the Level Legion love.
SATURDAY – April 13th
The expo kicks into high gear on Saturday, but there are great events all over the town. We’ve got some highlights for you to consider.
John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo
Remember: the Expo returns to the Hynes this year after a year at the Seaport WTC.
When: 9AM-6PM Saturday
Where: Hynes Convention Center – 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Cost: Free!
Link: General Info / Expo Map
Boston Running Film Festival – Saturday Showtimes
Run Against Cancer Events (RACE), producers of charitable running events in the Greater Boston area, will host the inaugural Boston Running Film Festival at the Hynes Convention Center from Friday April 12th through Sunday April 14th. The festival will feature 19 full length and short films about running, selected from submissions by filmmakers as nearby as Jamaica Plain, MA and as far away as New Zealand.
Block G: “Hood To Coast” – Saturday 11AM
Horses & Fire
Hood To Coast
Block E: “Mountain / Trail / Ultra” – Saturday 2PM
In The High Country Trailer
Set Free: A Trail Running Story
Hesekiels Run: Run the Planet
100 Reasons: The North Face 100
The Mountain Runners
Block D: “New England Roots” – Saturday 5PM
Long Distance Runner
A Rare Commitment: Genzyme’s Running Team Goes the Distance for Patients with Rare Diseases
Alongside Team With A Vision
6AM Serenity
Street Dreams
Running The Rockpile
Racing the Rez
Block A: “Spirit of the Marathon” – Saturday 8PM
Spirit of the Marathon
Spirit of the Marathon II trailer & Extended Scene
When: Saturday 11-1PM, Saturday 2-4PM, Saturday 5-7PM, Saturday 8-10PM
Where: Hynes Convention Center – Room 312 – 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Cost: single $9 / Festival pass $29 / VIP pass $49
Link: General Info / Complete list of films / Full Schedule / Tickets / Volunteer for a free ticket
Every hour on the hour on Saturday, Runner’s World is presenting seminars at the Expo!
When: 10AM-4PM on the hour
Where: Hynes Convention Center, Room 200
A can’t miss – 2PM Yes You Can! Inspiration with Team Hoyt
Link: Check out the full list here
New Balance’s Late-Night Fun Run
Join our friends at New Balance for a fun 4 mile run on Saturday night! Meet in front of the New Balance Boston store at 11p and from there, you’ll light up the streets of Boston. Grab your friends and let’s make excellent happen together!
When: 11PM
Where: New Balance Boston, 583 Boylston St. (1 block past finish line)
Cost: Free!
Link: New Balance Boston Facebook Page
SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY! – April 14th
- Photo by Scott Mason
BAA 5K & Invitational Mile
When: 8AM & 9:30AM Sunday
Where: Back Bay, Boston
Cost: Registration is closed…but free to watch!
Come cheer on runners as they compete in the BAA 5K, starting at 8am in Copley Square. After that, grab something to eat and head to the final corner at Exeter St & Boylston St to watch the Invitational Mile (nice sunny spot, and you get to see runners making the closing kick through the last two turns)!
Janji and Perfect Fuel Chocolate Pop-Up Shop
Running apparel for a cause, Chocolate with purpose. What could be better? Join two mission-driven startups, Janji and Perfect Fuel Chocolate, for an athletic product showcasing, refreshments, raffles, samples, and capturing the fun with a photo booth! Stop in at any point on Sunday or Monday, or catch one of two events:
Sunday 11:00AM – 3 mile run along the esplanade from the shop
Sunday 4:00PM – Launch Party! Refreshments, Perfect Fuel Chocolate and a Janji fashion show.
When: Shop open 10AM until 8PM Sunday and 10AM to 5:30PM Monday; 2 events Sunday
Where: 355 Newbury St, Boston (short walk from Hynes)
Cost: Free!
Links: RSVP on Facebook / Boston Herald Article
John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo
Remember: the Expo returns to the Hynes this year after a year at the Seaport WTC.
When: 9AM-6PM Sunday
Where: Hynes Convention Center – 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Cost: Free!
Link: General Info / Expo Map
Boston Running Film Festival – Sunday Showtimes
Run Against Cancer Events (RACE), producers of charitable running events in the Greater Boston area, will host the inaugural Boston Running Film Festival at the Hynes Convention Center from Friday April 12th through Sunday April 14th. The festival will feature 19 full length and short films about running, selected from submissions by filmmakers as nearby as Jamaica Plain, MA and as far away as New Zealand.
Block TBA – Sunday 11AM
Block C: “New York, NY” – Sunday 2PM
The Spirit of A Runner
Run For Your Life
Block D: “New England Roots” – Saturday 5PM
Long Distance Runner
A Rare Commitment: Genzyme’s Running Team Goes the Distance for Patients with Rare Diseases
Alongside Team With A Vision
6AM Serenity
Street Dreams
Running The Rockpile
Racing the Rez
Block F: “Inspiration” – Sunday 8PM
Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story
The Last Mile
(The Last Mile is debuting on Sunday evening. The last scene is being shot in Florida on SATURDAY, and the filmmaker is jumping on a plane to hand deliver it to Boston. Badass. Check out the awesome trailer.)
When: Sunday 11-1PM, Sunday 2-4PM, Sunday 5-7PM, Sunday 8-10PM
Where: Hynes Convention Center – Room 312 – 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Cost: single $9 / Festival pass $29 / VIP pass $49
Link: General Info / Complete list of films / Full Schedule / Tickets / Volunteer for a free ticket
Runner’s Seminar Series
Every hour on the hour again on Sunday, Runner’s World is presenting seminars.
When: 10AM-4PM on the hour
Where: Hynes Convention Center, Room 200
A can’t miss – 12PM – Marathon Legends Panel: Greg Meyer, Jack Fultz, Kathrine Switzer, Dave McGillivray, Amby Burfoot, Kim Jones and Bill Rogers
Link: Check out the full list here
Dean Karnazes Talk and Q&A: “Going the Distance: Steps to Improve Your Endurance”
“His most recent endeavor was running 50 marathons, in all 50 US states, in 50 consecutive days, finishing with the NYC Marathon, which he ran in three hours flat.” Yup, we think he’s qualified to dish advice on endurance. If you can’t make his session, check out his schedule – he’ll be making appearances at the Poster Signing Booth & Runner’s World Booth throughout the weekend.
When: 1-2PM Sunday
Where: Hynes Convention Center – Seminar Room 200 – 900 Boylston St, Boston, MA
Cost: Free!
Link: Ultramarathon Man schedule
Boston Midnight Marathon Bike Ride (#MidnightMarathon)
Very limited space! If you aren’t running the marathon but want to cover the route in a spectacular way, the Boston Midnight Marathon Bike Ride is for you. Over 700 cyclists covered the route last year, which will be set up and ready to go for the runners the next morning! Due to increased train ridership from the Red Sox game, the only way to get your bike on an evening train is with a Midnight Marathon ticket.
When: You’ll need to be at the station BEFORE 9PM. At 9pm we will start dividing people into groups, verifying tickets, and loading the train. The train will pull out of the station at 10pm. This will sell out in advance.
Where: South Station ticket window
Cost: Train tickets ($15) only available at South Station ticket window; ask for the ‘Midnight Marathon ticket’. 700 tickets go on sale 4/8.
Link: BostonSOS (Society of Shenanigans)
UPDATE 4/9: Train sold out on the FIRST DAY. You can still join the ride – just can’t take the train. Follow along for updates on the link above to the BostonSOS Facebook event.
MONDAY, PATRIOTS’ DAY, RACE DAY, LET’S DO THIS! – April 15th
Where to watch
Join us to motivate runners up Heartbreak Hill; RaceMenu will return and set up shop to ease broken hearts on the way up the most popular hill in running. It was a hot one last year, and we created a human car wash with sponges. Check out the video below – maybe you’ll see someone you know!
Join us at the RaceMenu tent!
Where: Heartbreak Hill, between mile 20 and 21
When: We’ll set up around 9AM
Cost: Free! In fact we’ll give YOU stuff for coming.
If you can’t join us, check out BAA’s Spectator Guide.
After you watch…
Make sure to pour one out for Crossroads Pub. April 15th is the last day of operation for this institution of the local running scene.
Where: 495 Beacon St (Corner of Beacon / Mass Ave, close to Hynes MBTA)
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