It’s just two days until the 2014 Boston Marathon. People are increasingly packing the streets of Boston in droves, whether they be actual Marathon participants, race volunteers, spectators, tourists or people with no connection whatsoever but decided to trek to The Hub as a show of support.

To help you plan your Marathon Monday accordingly, we’ve already laid our comprehensive guide to the Boston Marathon on you – full of logistical information, security details and fun facts. Now, we give you the comprehensive guide to the Boston Marathon part II, including updated parking and transportation information, where to grab food and drink throughout the Boston portion of the race and plenty more.

Click the links to jump to each section:

 

Weather

The weather conditions for this year’s Marathon are poised to perfectly reflect the emotions of the day. We’re looking at a steady mix of clouds and sun, with temperatures reaching the mid-50s.

This should bode especially well for runners. A scientific study by Jeff City Road Runners found that the longer distance an athlete performs, the cooler they prefer the temperature.

As you can see, Marathon Mondays typically post temperatures in the mid-50s but there have been plenty of exceptions where the sun was burning scorching hot, like in 2004 and 2012 when Boston temperatures reached close to 90 degrees.

 

Parking

Attempting to park in Boston for the Marathon is a daunting task. In fact, we’d recommend you stick to public transportation. Plenty of people will be vying for the city’s limited parking spaces and setting your car down in a garage can put a strain on your wallet.

But if you’re willing to risk it, here are some things you should keep in mind:

  • 5 a.m. Streets in the vicinity of the Boston Common will close
  • 6 a.m. Boylston Street, Hereford Street to Arlington Street will close
  • 8 a.m. All streets east of Massachusetts Avenue (as well as Massachusetts Turnpike Exit 22) will close
  • 8 a.m. All streets west of Massachusetts Avenue in the Kenmore Square Audubon Circle area will close
  • 8:30 a.m. All streets in the Brighton area leading into the route will close

You can view the entire list of Boston parking restrictions and street closures right here.

 

MBTA

Subway station closures:

  • Copley and Arlington Stations will be closed all day
  • South St., Kent St. and St. Mary’s St. Stations will be closed from approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
  • B section of Hynes Convention Center will be exit only
  • Silver Line Tremont St. will be closed from 5 a.m. to about 10:30 a.m.
  • SL5 service will end at Avenue De Lafayette
  • No service will run to Temple Place or Tremont St. between Park St. and Boylston St..

All other service along all Green Line branches, Red, Blue and Orange Lines will run as scheduled, with rush-hour level service in place before and after the race.

No bus service to:

  • Cleveland Circle Station
  • Reservoir Station
  • Kenmore Square
  • Brookline Avenue
  • Boylston St.
  • Copley Square
  • No outbound service St. James to Mass. Ave

For a list of all citywide bus closures and route alterations, check out the MBTA’s detailed list right here.

Commuter Rail Lines, Boat and RIDE services will operate regular weekday service during the Boston Marathon.

 

Food Along the Route Within Boston

Heartbreak Hill (Mile 20):

It ain’t called Heartbreak for nothing. Reaching this famous Boston Marathon hill, located near Boston College, means the runners are finally in the home stretch (though six miles isn’t exactly a “home stretch” by my standards).

Cleveland Circle (Mile 22):

If you’re looking for a fun place to watch the race, I recommend grabbing a beer at Cityside. Plus, they have a patio and porch, so you can see all of the action.

Washington Square (Mile 23):

If you make your way to Washington Square, you’ll see quite a few Marathon spectators basking in the sun on one of the many patios. Grab a seat at Fairsted Kitchen or Barcelona for some tasty bites while you’re at it.

Coolidge Corner (Mile 24):

Another popular spot to watch the marathon is the 24-mile mark at Coolidge Corner. Pull up a chair at Hops N Scotch or grab some froyo at 16 Handles and cheer on the runners before they enter the Boston city limits.

Kenmore Square (Mile 25):

With a little over a mile left to run, the Marathon runners are truly in the home stretch. Once you see that Citgo sign, you know you’ve made it (almost). As usual, the Red Sox game will start at 11:05 a.m., so you’re sure to see hoards of fans leaving the stadium during the afternoon.

Boylston Street:

And if you’re looking to see the runners cross the finish line, there’s no other place to be than Boylston Street. After last year’s horrible tragedy, you can be sure that finishing this race will be a bittersweet feeling for these trained and inspiring athletes.

 

Live Coverage

Media coverage of the Marathon will be available using the following outlets:

What Not To Do

As we’ve already mentioned, security personnel will be in higher volume and measures will be stricter than ever. Local collegiate deans have already urged their students to behave respectfully and safely and to take it easy on the sauce (no public displays of drunkenness).

Security checkpoints will riddle the race, especially as it nears the finish line due to the influx of spectators. That means, please, NO BAGS. If you absolutely have to bring something to carry your effects, please make sure its clear plastic so authorities are able to see what you’re carrying.

Take a look at the following inforgraphic which summarizes some of what you can and cannot do this year.

You can read more stories on Boston startups, technology and innovation at https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/inno