Marathon Monday: Runner transportation to Start Line
Updated: 10:50 AM EDT Apr 11, 2025
WITH A VERY IMPRESSIVE SYSTEM. SO WITH ALL THESE BUSSES, HE’S THE GUY WHO GETS THE RUNNERS FROM BOSTON TO HOPKINTON. WE HAVE ONE MINI COACH. YOU GOT FOUR TRANSIT BUSSES BEFORE THEY RUN FROM HOPKINTON TO BOSTON, MASS. STATE POLICE AND THESE HERE ARE THE TRANSIT POLICE. THAT’S THEIR SCHEDULE. SO MULTIPLE THINGS ARE GOING AT THE SAME TIME FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS. SOMERVILLE LARRY MURPHY HAS BEEN THE GUY PLANNING THE COMPLEX TRANSPORTATION PIECE OF THE BOSTON MARATHON WITH A SYSTEM ONE MOTORCYCLE, FIVE TRANSIT BUSSES, TWO GENTLE GIANT TRUCKS THAT IS FULL OF SPREADSHEETS AND NUMBERS AND ACRONYMS. WHEN YOU’RE EXPLAINING THIS TO PEOPLE, CAN YOU SEE THEIR HEAD SPINNING THROUGH THIS OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND MEETING WITH THEM? YEAH, PEOPLE ARE, BUT THAT’S WHY I GIVE IT TO THEM IN PRINT. FROM MANAGING 30 BUSSES YEARS AGO TO NEARLY 600 TODAY, BOSTON MARATHON RACE DIRECTOR ONCE JOKING THEY NEED AN INTERPRETER TO TRANSLATE MURPHY’S SIGNATURE STYLE OF COMMUNICATION. WHY DOES HE SAY THAT? WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS TALKING TO YOU, THE HANDS WERE GOING ALL THE TIME. AND THAT’S HOW THAT WHOLE THING CAME OUT. AND I TALK A LITTLE FAST. THEY SAY SOMETIMES BECAUSE THERE’S SO MANY THINGS MOVING AND GOING, SO MANY LOGISTICS. BUT MURPHY KEEPS IT MOVING AND GOING WITH A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS HANDPICKED FROM HIS OWN FAMILY. THEY CAME IN ON RACE DAY AND JUST TURN AROUND AND GO THROUGH. THEY KNOW THE SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING ELSE. ALL THE NIECES AND NEPHEWS AND COUSINS AND HOW MUCH YOU’RE GOING. WE NEED HELP. GET UP HERE. AND AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, MURPHY SAYS HE CAN ONLY RECALL ONE TIME WHEN A RUNNER WAS MISTAKENLY LEFT BEHIND AND THE SITUATION WAS REMEDIED IMMEDIATELY. AND YOU CAN BE SURE THAT WITH HIS SYSTEM, IT WON’T HAPPEN AGAIN. DO YOU RECITE IT IN YOUR SLEEP? NO, BUT I STAY UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. OH, GOD. I GOT TO GO BACK. I GOT TO GET UP AND GO TO THE COMPUTER AND GO. MY WIFE USED TO KILL ME. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SHE SAYS, CAN YOU GET OUT OF THIS THING? SHE SAYS, THIS YEAR, LARRY IS GIVING UP HIS REINS ON THE TRANSPORTATION PART OF THE MARATHON. BUT AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION, THE BAR IS HAVING HIM START THE RUNNERS THIS YEAR FOR WAVE
Marathon Monday: Runner transportation to Start Line
Updated: 10:50 AM EDT Apr 11, 2025
The recommended way to get to the start in Hopkinton on race morning is by using the official B.A.A. buses. Bus loading will take place on Charles Street between the Public Garden and Boston Common. In order to load all the buses efficiently, avoid delays, and get to the start on time, we strongly recommend the following bus loading schedule.Reminder: All participants must show their bib number to board buses. The B.A.A. strongly encourages you to take the B.A.A. provided transportation to the start line. If you need to be dropped off in Hopkinton on race day, you can be dropped off at 52 South St. in Hopkinton, and will then board a B.A.A. shuttle to get to the Athletes’ Village area before the start.THE FINAL BUS TO THE START LINE WILL DEPART BOSTON COMMON AT 9:30AMBUS LOADING INSTRUCTIONS:In order to load all the buses efficiently, avoid delays, and get to the start on time, we strongly recommend you load the buses at your designated time. Transportation to the start is for official participants only. We are not able to provide transportation to the start from Boston for family and friends. Each participant must show his/her bib number and wristband prior to boarding the buses.Athletes registered in a Para Athletes Division or Program should refer to Para Athletes Race Weekend for information related to accessible transportation to the start.Participants who wish to check gear on race morning must do so PRIOR to boarding the buses in Boston.For more information on Gear Check, click below: GEAR CHECK PARKING IN BOSTON:On-street parking in Boston’s Back Bay is extremely limited during race week. There are a number of parking garages in the area. Public transportation is strongly encouraged. Please note that certain parking garages within Boston are inaccessible on race day. The entrance to the Boston Common Garage will close at approximately 2 a.m. on race day and will not re-open until 11 a.m. on race morning. RETURN BUS SERVICE TO HOPKINTON:Beginning at 1 p.m. on race day, return bus service to Hopkinton will commence. Buses will line up on Columbus Ave between Clarendon Street and Cahners Place.Return bus service is for official entrants only. You must show your bib to board buses to Hopkinton.Buses will go to the South Street parking lot.Return bus service to Hopkinton will conclude at 7 p.m. on race day.PARTICIPANT SHUTTLE IN HOPKINTONLimited parking for participants is available at the 52 and 80 South St. lots in Hopkinton. This parking is for participants only, and a bib is required to access the participant shuttle system. Participant shuttle buses will run throughout race morning to Athletes’ Village.HOPKINTON SPECTATOR PARKINGLimited parking for spectators is available at Hopkinton State Park on race morning.HOPKINTON VOLUNTEER PARKINGIn Hopkinton, volunteer parking is available at 176 South St., with shuttles running to Athletes’ Village and back.
The recommended way to get to the start in Hopkinton on race morning is by using the official B.A.A. buses. Bus loading will take place on Charles Street between the Public Garden and Boston Common. In order to load all the buses efficiently, avoid delays, and get to the start on time, we strongly recommend the following bus loading schedule.
Reminder: All participants must show their bib number to board buses.
The B.A.A. strongly encourages you to take the B.A.A. provided transportation to the start line. If you need to be dropped off in Hopkinton on race day, you can be dropped off at 52 South St. in Hopkinton, and will then board a B.A.A. shuttle to get to the Athletes’ Village area before the start.
THE FINAL BUS TO THE START LINE WILL DEPART BOSTON COMMON AT 9:30AM
BUS LOADING INSTRUCTIONS:
- In order to load all the buses efficiently, avoid delays, and get to the start on time, we strongly recommend you load the buses at your designated time.
- Transportation to the start is for official participants only.
- We are not able to provide transportation to the start from Boston for family and friends.
- Each participant must show his/her bib number and wristband prior to boarding the buses.
- Athletes registered in a Para Athletes Division or Program should refer to Para Athletes Race Weekend for information related to accessible transportation to the start.
- Participants who wish to check gear on race morning must do so PRIOR to boarding the buses in Boston.
- For more information on Gear Check, click below:
PARKING IN BOSTON:
- On-street parking in Boston’s Back Bay is extremely limited during race week.
- There are a number of parking garages in the area.
- Public transportation is strongly encouraged.
- Please note that certain parking garages within Boston are inaccessible on race day.
- The entrance to the Boston Common Garage will close at approximately 2 a.m. on race day and will not re-open until 11 a.m. on race morning.
RETURN BUS SERVICE TO HOPKINTON:
- Beginning at 1 p.m. on race day, return bus service to Hopkinton will commence.
- Buses will line up on Columbus Ave between Clarendon Street and Cahners Place.
- Return bus service is for official entrants only. You must show your bib to board buses to Hopkinton.
- Buses will go to the South Street parking lot.
- Return bus service to Hopkinton will conclude at 7 p.m. on race day.
PARTICIPANT SHUTTLE IN HOPKINTON
- Limited parking for participants is available at the 52 and 80 South St. lots in Hopkinton. This parking is for participants only, and a bib is required to access the participant shuttle system. Participant shuttle buses will run throughout race morning to Athletes’ Village.
HOPKINTON SPECTATOR PARKING
- Limited parking for spectators is available at Hopkinton State Park on race morning.
HOPKINTON VOLUNTEER PARKING
- In Hopkinton, volunteer parking is available at 176 South St., with shuttles running to Athletes’ Village and back.
