FAQ

At the finish, volunteers will direct you to: the medical tent (if necessary), refreshment areas, and Finishers' medals for official participants who finish 2 hours, 30 minutes after the start.

The B.A.A. is not responsible for event-related injuries, and athletes are responsible for individual expenses incurred. Only runners needing medical attention will be allowed to enter the medical tent.

You will pick up your t-shirt after the race.

Locations along the course that are close to MBTA subway stations are:

• Kenmore Square (Green lines B,C, and D): One-mile-to-go marker
• Woodland (Green line D): Mile 16.8 of the Marathon course
• Boston College (Green line B): Mile 21.4 of the Marathon course
• Cleveland Circle (Green line C): mile 22.4 of the Marathon course

The MBTA's Commuter Rail Line (Framingham/Worcester) also makes stops along the Route in Framingham, West Natick, Natick, Wellesley Square and Wellesley Hills. For more information on watching the race, pick up a Spectator's Guide at local hotels or the Marathon Information Kiosk in Copley Square Park on race weekend.

No, please do not run if you have not been officially entered in the race. Race amenities along the course and at the finish, such as fluids, medical care, and traffic safety, are provided based on the number of official entrants. Any addition to this by way of unofficial participants, adversely affects our ability to ensure a safe race for everyone.

Parking in Hopkinton is extremely limited, and no on-street parking will be allowed in Hopkinton. Roads into Hopkinton close at 7:30 a.m. Limited parking is available at the South Street Industrial Park lot and at the Hopkinton State Park on Route 85. Once these lots are full, drop-off only will be allowed at the entrance of the Hopkinton State Park. No drop-off will be allowed near the entrance of the South Street lot at the base of the Exit 21A off of Route 495. Expect delays! Follow police directions and do not park illegally!

For application into the Boston Marathon, applicants must provide the name and date of the Marathon at which they qualified, and their official finishing time. The B.A.A. will verify all qualifying times before granting acceptance into the race.

The race director or race management can tell you if a course is certified. For a complete list of certified courses in the U.S.A. check USA Track & Field. In Canada check Athletics Canada. Internationally, an extensive calendar of races is listed at the Association of International Marathon and Road Races website, with indication of courses that are not certified.

After you submit your application, you'll receive an e-mail confirming that we've received your application. Verification of your qualified time can then take up to five weeks as the results from your qualifying race are verified.

Once we verify your time, you'll receive a second e-mail that confirms your entrance into the Boston Marathon.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 (RACE DAY)

6:30 - 8:15 AM Pre-race activities, baggage check near White Stadium in Boston's Franklin Park.

8:30 AM START

10:30 AM Awards Ceremony

11:00 AM Course closes

12:00 PM Finish area and facilities close

For your convenience, an ample number of port-a-johns will be placed on Franklin Park for use before and after the race. Please use these facilities. Participants are requested to respect the surrounding private and public property by using the port-o-johns provided. Also, port-o-johns will be placed near each fluid replacement station on the course (at every other mile, beginning at mile 2). See the course map here.

Yes, the event will engage the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USASA), in accordance with the international Standards of Doping Control, to test selected athletes who earn prize money. Athletes who participate in the B.A.A. Half Marathon may be subject to drug testing in accordance with the USADA Protocol for Olympic Movement Testing (USADA Protocol). USADA will be responsible for conducting comprehensive drug testing, as well as the adjudication of positive findings. Athletes with positive drug test results will have their cases adjudicated according to the USADA Protocol and will be penalized, if appropriate, according to applicable IAAF or World Anti Doping Agency rules. Such penalties may include, but not be limited to, a period of ineligibility from competition, as well as disqualification from past competitions and cancellation of awards and prizes previously awarded. Any substance taken by an athlete is at his/her own risk and may result in a positive sample. BEWARE: some nutritional supplements, prescription, cold medicines and over-the-counter medications contain prohibited substances. Information regarding specific drugs and substances may be obtained by calling the USADA Drug Reference Line at 1-800-233-0393, or by visiting www.usantidoping.org or www.888athlete.org.