Latest: Rita Jeptoo dominated the women’s race, winning it as the first sub 2:20:00 marathon for the women in Boston history:

Everything you need for the 2014 Boston Marathon:

• This is the full schedule of events, in case you were wondering.
• Here’s how you track your friends and favorite racers while they’re running.
• MBTA closures and important news for those traveling the city today.
• Wondering who will win? Here’s a profile of the elite contenders.
• And in case you’re thirsty, bars along the race route.

11:48 a.m. Rita Jeptoo is crushing it, and appears to be flying to victory in the women’s race.

Rita Jeptoo has 2k to go! Women’s course record is 2:20:43, #bostonmarathon, #bostonstrong

— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) April 21, 2014

Jeptoo even toasted an MBTA train:

11:31 a.m. Meb Keflezighi (an American) continues to lead the men’s race as they head into the hills:

And Shalane Flanagan, the leading American for the women’s race, has been dropped:

11:10 a.m. American Shalane Flanagan continues to lead the women’s race, as announcers talk about how she’s visited the Boston course every month to study it over the past year to gain an edge. Her rivals seem to be following her movements:

10:59 a.m. Americans Shalane Flanagan and Meb Keflezighi lead the men’s and women’s races after early markers (15k for the women, 10k for the men). No American has won either competition since 1985 (for the women) and 1983 (for the men).

Tatyana McFadden won the women’s wheelchair race, ensuring that at least one American emerges victorious today.

PHOTO: Women’s wheelchair winner Tatyana McFadden. #wbz #BostonMarathon #BostonStrong pic.twitter.com/RVyU9G2WO2

— Peter Wilson (@PetesWire) April 21, 2014

10:45 a.m. In the women’s race, American Shalane Flanagan is out to an early lead, as she tries to vanquish the 30-year drought of American winners in the race.

The men’s wheelchair division officially has a winner in Ernst van Dyk, with an unofficial time of 1:20:34.

PHOTO: @ErnstvanDyk captures his 10th #BostonMarathon title #wbz pic.twitter.com/zPMlnrrI2f

— Steven Bognar (@BogsWBZ) April 21, 2014

10:03 a.m. The elite men are now underway, with 2013 champion Lelisa Desisa in the field along with an array of world class runners. Stay tuned for updates as they make their way to the finish in (probably) dramatic circumstances. Also, the first major “wave” of 9,000 runners hit the road:

9:33 a.m. The 118th Boston Marathon is underway, and the racers are rapidly making their way through the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to the final straight on Boylston Street. Here’s what you need to know race-wise at a glance:

• At 8:50, the very first participants in the marathon got underway, as the mobility impaired racers began.
• Wheelchairs and handcycles began shortly afterward, including annual contender (and multiple-time winner) Ernst van Dyk:

9:30 a.m. The elite female runners shot out of the gate at 9:30, and announcers immediately noted how they were at a “very fast pace.”