* UPDATE: Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend (2015)
Now is the time to plan where you'll park your car for Marathon weekend. We're sure you don't want to see your car on the back of a flatbed like this Mini Cooper. And, be warned, the city does tow every car left in the way of the racers.
If you normally park on the streets along the route of the weekend's races, you may want to begin looking for spaces off the route. If you can do without your car for a few days, you might want to stash it in a safe spot before everyone else has the same idea.
And, if you'll need your car on Monday, you should make sure it is on the side of the Marathon route where you can reach it and get to your planned destination.
Sunday, April 19, 2009 - The B.A.A. 5K
Again this year, there is a major race on Sunday in addition to Monday's marathon.
More than 4,000 runners are expected to compete in a 5K (3.1 mile) race on day prior to 113th Boston Marathon. This race will start at 8 AM and cover a route through the Back Bay and Beacon Hill.
Runners will begin the on Boylston St. at Exeter St. and will travel down Tremont St., Park St., Beacon St., Arlington St., Commonwealth Ave., Berkeley St., a right down Boylston St., Clarendon St., left back on to Commonwealth Ave., Hereford St. and back on to Boylston St. to finish at the traditional Boston Marathon finish line.
Here's a link to a larger version of the course map on the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) site.
http://www.bostonmarathon.org/5k/Race-Course-5k.asp
Street Closures and Parking Restrictions for Marathon Monday
Parking restrictions for the Marathon began on Bolyston Street yesterday. From now, until the last runners are safely across the finish line, you'll see more and more "no parking/no stopping" signs pop up along the marathon route and and some adjacent streets.
Here's a link to a list of all the streets the city is planning to close.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/news/default.aspx?id=4165
Our full coverage of what is open and closed on Patriots' Day, including MBTA service changes is at this link.
http://www.bostonzest.com/2009/04/whats-open-on-patriotss-day-in-boston-april-20-2009.html
Here's a popular book about the marathon in the words of some of Boston's best known runners.
Click here for more Boston Marathon Books
