Welcome to the Boston Marathon Pre-Race Circus
This article originally appeared on Outside
It used to be that runners who were running the Boston Marathon needed to be careful not to expend too much energy at the race expo so they could rest up for Marathon Monday.
If you're running Boston on April 17, the expo will be the least of your worries this year.
In recent years, the Boston Marathon weekend has become a four-day festival of non-stop running brand activations, race strategy seminars, group shakeout runs, competitive races, and a variety of athlete events. Runners still have to pick up their bibs at the race expo, but they can meet their favorite social media stars or elite athletes like Desi Linden and Eliud Kipchoge.
How and why did this running circus come to town? It started about 10 years ago when running brands started nixing the official Boston Marathon Expo and spending their money on other marketing activations around town to draw more targeted attention to their shoes and gear. Some of the earliest included Newton Running branding numerous Boston bike taxis in a neon green color motif with its red and yellow logo emblazoned over the top, New Balance hosting a late-night run to celebrate Paul Revere's Midnight Ride with glow-in-the-dark jackets and Saucony hosting a party at Dillon's to celebrate the legacy of the Greater Boston Track Club.
But this year, it's out of control, with several dozen events to capture your attention. It's enough to leave running geeks and hobby joggers foaming at the mouth.
No matter if you're in Boston to run the race, support your friends or family members or just hang around the scene as a fan or spectator, there's so much to do, you might not even make it to Fenway Park to see a Red Sox game or the North End for some of the best Italian food you'll ever have. On one level, the pre-race spectacle of activities can be engaging, inspiring and fun but, if you're not careful, they can easily become a sensory overload that can lead to physical and mental exhaustion and a slower-than-expected journey from Hopkinton to Boston on Monday.
There are numerous shakeout runs that can be joined every morning leading up to race day and pop-up stores on Newbury Street that can be visited for post-run breakfasts, product launches, swag giveaways, running influencer meetups, happy hours and the chance to meet Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion who will be at several events tied to the promotion of her new book, "Choosing to Run."
There's also events at breweries and restaurants, the chance to do an unsanctioned 10K race, and the opportunity to interact with social media personalities Laura Green, Emily Abbate and Tommie Runz, as well asus authors Kara Goucher, Kristine Yu and Alison Mariella Desir.
Speaking of the expo, the official Boston Marathon Expo is livelier than ever with a huge adidas store, a wide range of exhibitor booths and panel discussions and the chance to meet Olympic marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson and longtime race director Dave McGillivray at the Hynes Convention Center.
There's also the multi-faceted Boston Marathon Fan Fest at Copley Square Park (a half block east of the finish line) that includes a Q&A with Eliud Kipchoge Hosted by ESPN's John Anderson, interviews with Linden and Edna Kiplagat hosted by Boston media personality Barbara Huebner and dozens of other elite athlete engagements.
There will also be an interview with 2014 Boston Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi as well as an inspiring program called Indigenous Running Traditions Past, Present, and Future with Patti Dillon, Jordan Marie Whetstone, Larry Spotted Crow Man and Sam Burgess.
There's also a new marathon-themed video projection show from 8-10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night that will light up the iconic facade of the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel with marathon highlights aimed to get everyone stoked for race day.
We've compiled some of the most notable weekend events within a stone's throw of the Boston Marathon finish line--but definitely not all of the events because there are simply too many to list here. But word to the wise: If you're running the Boston Marathon, take it easy, pick up your bib at the end, mind your nutrition, rest your legs and ignore the pre-race hysteria.
However, if you're not running the race, be prepared to invigorate your inner runner geek with the busiest weekend of the year and get ready to run a marathon's worth of miles in group shakeout runs.
RELATED: How to Watch the 2023 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon Weekend Events
(All addresses are in Boston, unless otherwise noted.)
Friday, April 14
8-9:30 a.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Bandit/Hoka Grand Opening Breakfast Run
8-10a, Bandit Pop-Up Store, 220 Newbury Street
2023 Boston Marathon Expo + Race Bib Pick-Up
11 a.m.-6 p.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
Tips for Mastering Monday's Race with Joan Benoit Samuelson
Noon to 1 p.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
Interview with Boston Marathon Course Director Dave McGillivray
1-2 p.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
Ali on the Run Live Podcast with pro runner mothers Sara Hall, Aliphine Tuliamuk, and Sara Vaughn
2-3 p.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
Noon to 8 p.m., Copley Square Park, 560 Boylston Street
2:30-4 p.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Slow AF Run Club Meet-Up with Martinus Evans
5 p.m. Heartbreak Run, 652 Tremont Street
Puma Athlete Panel Discussion with Jonathan Levitt for the Long Run Podcast
6-8 p.m., Harpoon Brewery, 306 Northern Avenue
The Kenya Effect with Patrick Sang and Sarah Gearhart
6:30 p.m., Heartbreak Run, 638 Commonwealth, Newton
Westin Cheer Supplies and Posters
Daily through the weekend, the Westin Hotel at Copley Place is going big on supporting the supporters and the racers alike with a poster-designing station to create celebratory signage. They will have on hand branded pom poms and cowbells alongside curated Boston itineraries to make the most of the weekend.
Saturday, April 15
2023 B.A.A. 5K (Sold Out)
8 a.m., Boston Common, 115 Boylston Street
2023 Boston Marathon Expo + Race Bib Pick-Up
9 a.m.-6 p.m, Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
Kaptagat to Boston Immersive Museum
9 a.m., 638 Commonwealth, Newton
New Balance/Believe in the Run Shakeout Run with Featherstone Nutrition
8-10am, New Balance Store, 124 Newbury Street
Des Linden Shakeout Run presented by Brooks Run Club
8-9:30 a.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Des Linden Pre-Sale Book Signing (Only available to pre-sale book purchasers)
8:30-9:30 a.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Bandit BAA 5K Medal Portraits and Polaroids
9 a.m.-noon, Bandit Pop-Up Store, 220 Newbury Street
9:15am, Tracksmith House, 285 Newbury Street
10 a.m.-8 p.m., Copley Square Park, 560 Boylston Street
10:30-11:30 a.m., Boston Marathon Finish Line, 671 Boylston Street
The Power of the Brooks Run Community Panel Discussion
10:30-11:30a, Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Meaning Thru Movement: Running While Black with Alison Mariella Desir (SOLD OUT)
1-2 p.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Puma Forever Faster Shakeout Run with Laura Green
2-4 p.m., Arthur Fiedler Statue on the Charles River Esplanade
One Boston Day Remembrance Event
2:30-3 p.m., Boston Marathon Finish Line, 671 Boylston Street
3 p.m., Boylston Street between Dartmouth and Clarendon Streets
Citius Mag Boston Marathon Pre-Race Show
3:30-4:30 p.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
4 p.m., 625 Tremont Street
Oiselle Volee with Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman (SOLD OUT)
4-6 p.m. Lamplighter Brewing Co. 110 N. First Street, Cambridge
4-9 p.m., Bandit Pop-Up Store, 220 Newbury Street
CitiusMag Boston Marathon Trivia Hour
4:45-5:45 p.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Where are the Women Coaches? Closing the Gender Gap in Women's Running!
5-6 p.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
5-6:30 p.m., Dillon's, 955 Boylston Street
6-7 p.m., Tracksmith House, 285 Newbury Street
Salomon Take the Bridge 10K Race
7-11 p.m., Ciele pop-up store, 174 Newbury Street
Sunday, April 16
ASICS/Believe in the Run Shakeout Run with Featherstone Nutrition
8:30 a.m., ASICS brand store, 299 Newbury Street
9 a.m., Bandit Pop-Up Store, 229 Newbury Street
Prolyfyck Run Crew Shakeout Run
8-9:30 a.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
2023 Boston Marathon Expo + Race Bib Pick-Up
9 a.m.-6 p.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
Lululemon Lift Run Perform Shakeout Run
9-10 a.m., Lululemon Brand Store, 208 Newbury Street
9-10 a.m., Tracksmith House, 285 Newbury Street
Puma Running and Marathon Sports Community Run,
9 a.m., Marathon Sports, 671 Boylston Street
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Copley Square Park, 560 Boylston Street
Voice in Sport x Calming Race Day Nerves
10-11 a.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
10-11 a.m., Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
11 a.m.-Noon, Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street
Boston Marathon Course Preview
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Monday, April 17
9 a.m.-1p.m., Tracksmith House, 285 Newbury Street
9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Marathon Sports – Wellesley, 255 Washington Street, Wellesley
Spindrift Heartbreak Hill Cheer Zone
9:30 a.m. – Mile 20 of the course. Free Spindrift soda water and signs for supporters
Heartbreak Run Mile 20 Cheer Zone
10 a.m., 638 Commonwealth, Newton
Bandit Boston Marathon Medal Portraits
Noon to 6 p.m., Bandit Pop-Up Store, 220 Newbury Street
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
12-6 p.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Noon to 7 p.m., Tracksmith House, 285 Newbury Street
Noon to 6 p.m., Harpoon Brewery, 306 Northern Avenue
Boston Marathon Mile 27 Post-Race Party presented by Samuel Adams
6:30 p.m., Fenway Park, 4 Jersey Street
Westin Welcomes Six Star Finishers: Post-Race
Runners who show their Six Star Finisher bib while staying at Westin during race weekend will be gifted with a complimentary Hyperice Hypersphere Mini and Bala resistance bands (available on a first-come, first-serve basis)
Tuesday, April 18
9 a.m.-1 p.m., Brooks Hyperion House, 137 Newbury Street
Bandit Boston Marathon Medal Portraits
Noon to 6 p.m., Bandit Pop-Up Store, 220 Newbury Street
Des Linden Book Signing + 26.2 Brew on Tap
1-3p.m., Samuel Adams Downtown Boston Taproom, 60 State Street
RELATED: Outside’s Runners Guide to Boston
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