The air crackles with anticipation as the historic streets of Boston prepare for the 128th running of the Boston Marathon. Mark your calendars for April 15th, 2024, because on this hallowed Patriots’ Day, the world’s elite runners will converge to tackle one of the most prestigious marathons on the planet.
This year’s race promises a captivating blend of familiar faces vying for repeat victories, a surge of American hopefuls, and ideal weather conditions that could lead to record-breaking times.
Dust off your yellow ribbons and get ready to cheer on a field overflowing with talent. Defending champions Evans Chebet of Kenya, aiming for a historic three-peat in the men’s race, and Hellen Obiri, also from Kenya and seeking a back-to-back win in the women’s race, will face fierce competition. But don’t count out the American contenders.
CJ Albertson, last year’s runner-up, hungers for the top spot, and Emma Bates, a rising star, dreams of breaking the Kenyan dominance and bringing glory back to the Stars and Stripes.
With slightly warmer temperatures predicted compared to the average Boston Marathon weather, the stage is set for a potentially record-breaking race. This exciting prospect adds extra fuel to the fire, pushing both seasoned veterans and rising stars to reach new heights.
Witness the dedication, the grit, and the sheer human spirit as these athletes push their bodies to the limit in pursuit of marathon glory.
Whether you’re a seasoned marathoner yourself or simply captivated by the spirit of human achievement, the 2024 Boston Marathon promises to be an unforgettable spectacle. Tune in, join the cheers, and be a part of this historic event!
Boston Marathon 2024 Venue & start time
The 2024 Boston Marathon always falls on Patriot’s Day, which is observed in Massachusetts on the third Monday of April.
The first start time for the 2024 Boston Marathon is at 9:02 a.m. ET, when the men’s Wheelchair Division kicks off race day.
Wave 1 (10:00 a.m. start time) features numbers 201-7,999;
Wave 2 (10:25 a.m. start time) features numbers 8,000-15,999;
Wave 3 (10:50 a.m. start time) features numbers 16,000-23,999;
Wave 4 (11:15 a.m. start time) features numbers 24,000-32,999
Full schedule for Monday’s events.
- 9:02 a.m. Wheelchair Division: Men’s Start
- 9:05 a.m. Wheelchair Division: Women’s Start
- 9:30 a.m. Handcycle & Duo Participants Start
- 9:37 a.m. Professional Men’s Start
- 9:45 a.m. Professional Women’s Start
- 9:50 a.m. Para Athletics Division Start
- 9:56 a.m. National Anthem
- 9:58 a.m. Flyover by two C-130s out of the Bradley Air National Guard Base
- 10 a.m. Wave 1 Start
- 10:03 a.m. Grand Marshals Arrival at Boylston Street finish line
- 10:23 a.m. Men’s Wheelchair Division approximate finish time
- 10:25 a.m. Wave 2 Start
- 10:37 a.m. Women’s Wheelchair Division approximate finish time
- 10:50 a.m. Wave 3 Start
- 11:15 a.m. Wave 4 Start
- 11:44 a.m. Professional Men’s approximate finish time
- 12:08 p.m. Professional Women’s approximate finish time
- 12:25 p.m. Para Athletics Divisions top finishers approximate time
Start Area in Hopkinton
Athlete’s Village
- Buses from Boston and Hopkinton parking areas will drop you off at Hopkinton High/Middle School, where you will enter the Athletes’ Village, a large staging area where you will have time to relax and stretch.
- Poland Spring Water, Gatorade, and portable toilets will be available.
- You must show your bib number upon entering.
- In order to exit the Village and enter the corrals in an efficient and orderly fashion, participants will leave the Athletes’ Village according to their assigned wave, bib number, and corral assignment, and will be directed down Grove Street to Main Street.
- Your starting corral is in a square box printed on your bib. It can also be found on your Number Pick-up Card.
- Only official runners with a B.A.A.-assigned bib number will be allowed to enter the start area.
CORRALS & CORRAL LOADING
In order to exit the Village and enter the corrals in an efficient and orderly fashion, runners will leave the Athletes’ Village according to their assigned wave, bib number, and corral assignment.
NOTE: Your starting corral is in a square box printed on your bib. Follow signs to your particular corral.
What to Know:
After exiting the Athletes’ Village, all athletes will be lined up by corral. The Start is a .7-mile walk from the Athletes’ Village.
- All runners are numbered according to qualifying times, facilitating a start and pace comparable to others with similar qualifying times. Runners should line up in the wave and corral they have been assigned.
- You may move from your assigned Wave and Corral to a later Wave or Corral. For example, if you are assigned to Wave 1, you may move back to Wave 2, Wave 3, or Wave 4 in any corral EXCEPT the first corral in any Wave. However, you may NOT move to an earlier Wave or Corral. Violators are subject to penalties and/or disqualification.
- Only official runners with a B.A.A.-assigned bib number may enter a corral.
- Participants who do not follow race guidelines are subject to disqualification
2024 Boston Marathon Prize Money & Awards
- Prize money at the Boston Marathon is equally distributed amongst men and women in the Open, Masters, and Wheelchair Division.
- The Boston Marathon was the first Abbott World Marathon Major event to offer equal $50,000 course record bonuses across open and wheelchair divisions, and the first event to provide a designated prize purse for athletes with upper limb, lower limb, and visual impairments.
| Place | Open Division | Wheelchair Division T53/54/34 | Wheelchair Division T51-52 | Masters Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $150,000 | $40,000 | $1,500 | $5,000 |
| 2nd | $75,000 | $25,000 | $750 | $2,500 |
| 3rd | $40,000 | $12,000 | $500 | $1,500 |
| 4th | $25,000 | $8,000 | ||
| 5th | $18,000 | $6,000 | ||
| 6th | $13,500 | $4,000 | ||
| 7th | $10,500 | $3,000 | ||
| 8th | $8,500 | $2,500 | ||
| 9th | $7,000 | $2,000 | ||
| 10th | $5,500 | $1,500 | ||
| Course Record Bonus | $50,000 | $50,000 | ||
| TOTAL | $806,000 | $308,000 | $5,500 | $18,000 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $1,137,500 |
PARA ATHLETICS DIVISIONS, MEN & WOMEN
| Place | T11/T12 | T13 | T45/T46 | T61/T63/T43 | T62/T64; T42/T44 | T35-T38 | T20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| 2nd | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 3rd | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Course Record Bonus | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
| TOTAL | $11,000 | $11,000 | $11,000 | $11,000 | $11,000 | $11,000 | $11,000 |
Information
- Only open, masters, wheelchair and Para athletes starting in the professional starts are eligible for prize money.
- Within the professional starts, prize money will be allocated based on gun-time for the open, masters and wheelchair races.
- Within the Para starts, prize money will be allocated based on gun-time if all athletes start together in their respective divisions OR by net time if any Para athlete in a division starts with the Pro open or Pro masters start as a result of a qualifying time.
- The B.A.A. has discretion to add athletes to the Professional fields based on an athlete’s past performances.
Boston Marathon 2024 TV channel
- Date: Monday, April 15
- TV channel: ESPN2 (national), WCVB (local), TSN/RDS (Canada)
- Live stream: Fubo
General: The Boston Marathon will air nationally on ESPN2 and locally on ABC affiliate WCVB. It will also be live-streamed on Fubo, which offers a free trial so you can try before you buy.
Canada: Canadian viewers can watch the race on TSN (English) or RDS (French).
If the Boston Marathon is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs provide a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
Preview of the 2024 Boston Marathon: Familiar Faces and Record-Breaking Weather
The 128th annual Boston Marathon is set to take place on Monday, April 15th, 2024, promising a thrilling race day with ideal weather conditions and exciting storylines.
Defending Champions Return:
- Men’s Race: Kenyans Evans Chebet will be aiming for an unprecedented three-peat victory. However, news suggests he’s been battling an Achilles issue during training. Can he overcome this hurdle and secure another Boston win?
- Women’s Race: Kenya’s Hellen Obiri will also be looking to defend her 2023 title. With a strong track record, she’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
American Contenders Seek Glory:
- Men’s Race: CJ Albertson, the runner-up in 2023, will be looking to dethrone Chebet and claim the prestigious Boston win for the US.
- Women’s Race: Emma Bates, a top American marathoner, will be aiming to break the Kenyan dominance and put the Stars and Stripes back on top of the podium.
Favorable Weather Conditions:
A slight temperature increase compared to the average is expected, potentially making for record-breaking times. This could lead to a faster race overall, with both men and women aiming to push the boundaries.
How to Watch:
- Broadcast: Watch live coverage on ESPN2 from 8:30 AM ET to 12:30 PM ET. You can also live stream the race with an ESPN+ subscription.
- Local Coverage: WCVB in Boston will provide live coverage throughout the day.
A Race Steeped in Tradition:
The Boston Marathon is one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, known for its challenging course and passionate crowds. This year promises to be another exciting edition, filled with drama, determination, and the potential for history to be made.
Who will break the tape first? Will the Kenyans maintain their dominance, or will the American contenders rise to the challenge? Tune in on April 15th to find out!
