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Event Information: Course Map

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CLICK HERE TO SEE LARGE BOSTON MARATHON MAP

  • The historic course starts on Main Street in the rural New England town of Hopkinton and follows Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, and Wellesley to where Route 16 joins Route 135
  • It continues on Route 16 through Newton Lower Falls to Commonwealth Avenue, turning right at the fire station onto Commonwealth which is Route 30
  • It continues on Commonwealth through the Newton Hills, bearing right at the reservoir onto Chestnut Hill Avenue to Cleveland Circle
  • The route then turns left onto Beacon Street continuing to Kenmore Square, and then follows Commonwealth Avenue inbound
  • The course turns right onto Hereford Street (NOTE: against normal traffic flow) then left onto Boylston Street, finishing near the John Hancock Tower in Copley Square.

 

ELEVATION PROFILE

Click the image below to see a full elevation profile of the Boston Marathon

CLICK HERE TO SEE LARGE ELEVATION MAP

B.A.A. Moment 3

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.