FAQ

Contact Info:
Boston Office (Administration)
40 Trinity Place
4th floor
Boston MA 02116
phone: 617-236-1652
fax: 617-236-4505
e-mail: info@baa.org
Hopkinton Office (Registration)
“The Starting Line”/One Ash St.
Hopkinton MA 01748
phone: 508-435-6905
fax: 508-435-6590
e-mail: registration@baa.org

Frequently Asked Questions

Search FAQS: e.g. Running with headphones
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Q:

How can family members at home track me in the Boston Marathon?
A:

The B.A.A. will broadcast every five kilometer split to its website and family and friends can track your progress by logging in and entering your name or bib number. The "face" of the Boston Marathon website will change on race day and the process on how to enter the search will be clear. The AT&T Athlete Alert program allows messages to be automatically delivered to any US mobile phone, a pager, or any email address.

Alerts will be broadcast when your runner crosses the starting line, reaches the 10K, half marathon and 30K marks, and from the finish line. Runners or their family and friends can register in three ways:

  • Via text message or SMS, (after registering, you'll receive a text message confirming how to complete registration).
  • Visiting the AT&T Athlete Alert Sign-Up page at the race website, www.baa.org, and sign up there. (This will be posted in March, 2013).
  • Registering in person. Representatives will be available in the Bib Number Pick-up area at the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo, Friday, April 12, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday, April 13, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 14, from 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
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Q:

Will results of the Half Marathon be posted by official ("gun") time or by net time?
A:
Results will be posted by net time.
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Q:

Are headphones permitted in B.A.A. races?
A:
Although the B.A.A. discourages the use of iPods and headphones, they are allowed except for those athletes eligible for prize money.
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Q:

How can I sign up as a volunteer for B.A.A. events?
A:
To volunteer with the B.A.A., please visit our Volunteer Page.
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Q:

When will registration open for the 2013 B.A.A. 5K?
A:

Registration for the fifth annual B.A.A. 5K will open in January/February of 2013.

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Q:

What do I do if I cannot participate (injury or otherwise) in the Boston Marathon once I have registered?
A:

Numbers and entry fees are non-refundable, non-deferrable and non-transferable. You may NOT give your number to someone else.

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Q:

What time will be used as my seeding time for the 2014 Boston Marathon?
A:

Entrants in the 2014 Boston Marathon who have submitted a time that meets the qualifying standard for their age and gender will be seeded accordingly. Entrants without a qualifying time will be assigned a bib number accordingly.

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Q:

How do I get involved with the B.A.A. 10K?
A:

The B.A.A. 10K is on Sunday, June 23, 2013. 

For full details, click here.

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Q:

What are the benefits of having three waves of runners in the Boston Marathon?
A:

If you are in Wave 2 or Wave 3, you will spend less time waiting in the corrals, it won’t take as long to get to the start, and you will have more room to run when you cross the starting line than if you were toward the back of a single-wave race.

Because the fluid stations will have time to re-load after Wave 1 and Wave 2, you will have better access when you arrive at each station.

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Q:

What do I do if I don’t receive or if I lose my Boston Marathon Number Pick-up Card?
A:
Bring a photo I.D. and proof of payment (cancelled check or credit card statement) to the card replacement desk in the Number Pick-up area, and we will issue a new card. A Number Pick-up Card must be presented in order to receive your number.
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B.A.A. Moment 8

1996 - Centennial Boston Marathon

The historic centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 was monumental for many reasons. It was the not only the first time that the ChampionChip timing and scoring device was used in a major US Marathon, but it was the largest running event ever held at the time. 

The starting field of 38,708 stood for more than seven years as the largest in the history of the sport. Included among the finishers were 16 Boston champions.

View all B.A.A. Moments