j_999_9

We're going to the BM to see my nephew run, and I have a few questions.

We're staying at the Clarion in Sudbury. What's the nearest, most convenient T stop to catch into the city?
How early should we get there for the race(plan to be near the finish line)?
Anyone stayed at the Clarion? Your review?
Any other tips you can provide?

cw

Sudbury is not near any T stop. It's about 20 miles from Boston. Your best bet may be to drive East on Rt. 20, take 95 South, get off at Grove St. for the Riverside T, or at Rt. 16 for the Woodland T stop.

This would be the Riverside Green Line, which would bring you directly into Copley Square, near the finish line.

Take a look at www.mbta.com. They have a route planner or you can go to the T stops and get written directions.

It will be very crowded so you may want to get there early and have lunch and walk around.

It would probably be good to figure out a meeting place in case you miss your nephew at the end of the race.

CW

Anonymous

The race starts at 10 AM this year, rather than the traditional noon, so do not plan on having lunch first.

Several thousand other people plan to be near the finish line, too, in addition to the official viewing stands, medical personnel, etc. etc. The race attracts an estimated half-million spectators, over 1000 members of the press, etc. in addition to over 20,000 runers. It's huge! Be sure to have a backup plan and meeting place and time arranged.

china_cat

Actually, I think your best bet is to take the commuter rail from Lincoln into North Station. check out the mbta.com website for maps and schedules, its on the Fitchburg line.

If you want to get to the T instead, go to Alewife to catch the Red line. The green line will be brutally crowded, and parking even more scarce.

Find out if the Clarion in Sudbury has a shuttle to the train station, or if you can get a taxi. then you won't have to worry about the parking lot filling up. In which case, your timing won't be all that important.

Also, how close to the finish line do you need to be? it does get really mobbed right there. but if you walk along Comm Ave towards Kenmore square, you should be able to find a spot where you can view the runners. but you might not be able to see the actual finish.

j_999_9

Thanks, all, for replies to far. I especially like the idea of checking to see if the hotel is running a shuttle. Will do.

One odd thing is that I checked the BAA website for info, and there was no mention (that I could find) of the different start time.

china_cat

it's here:

http://www.bostonmarathon.org/News.asp?NewsID=203

cw

I did forget to mention the earlier start time, but that means that the first runners will finish at about 12:15 ish. Thanks anonymous.

I don't know what your nephew's expected finish time is, but as time goes by, the crowds lessen, as many come to see the top runners.

I thought of recommending the train but it means you'll have to transfer to the subway anyway and I believe there are many fewer parking spaces at the train stations than at Woodland and Riverside combined.

It is a state holiday (many people still have to work) and school vacation week here, so the traffic will definitely be less than a normal Monday morning.

j_999_9

Thanks II.
No shuttle from the Clarion, so I'll probably think about driving to the Riverside T stop. (BTW, I know it's not "near" Sudbury -- was just asking what was the closest, and Riverside looks like it: 12 miles.)

Was considering this. Rather than trying to get into the city early, wait till about 10, go to Riverside, and get into the city about 11, well in time for nephew to cross the line. And, yes, we have a meeting plan with his parents.

The X factor is parking at Riverside. Will there be spaces there @ 10:30 on race day?

cw

Sorry. I just don't know if there will be spaces. I don't even know if it fills up completely (over 900 spaces) on a regular weekday. Maybe someone else can answer that question.

One think I have to correct, or take back, is that the other station I mentioned--Woodland--is actually on the route of the marathon. Rt. 16. So that won't work as an alternative if you're going in after 10:00.

I think you will be OK though.

John_T_Cuttino

Another "T" alternative would be to drive N on 128/I95 to Rt 2 East and park at Alewife T Station (big garage) and take the T in that way (Red line).

Anonymous

Nearest isn't always the most convenient. Riverside station is on the Green Line, which can get messed-up by the Marathon and by traffic in general, being a surface trolley. And Alewife has its drawbacks, too: the Red Line doesn't go to the Back Bay, so you'd have to transfer to another subway line (I recommend taking the Orange line to Back Bay station if you choose this route).

If I were you, I'd drive a few extra highway miles south on Route 95 to the Route 128 stop on the Commuter Rail, in Westwood. It has the only parking garage in the whole system that has virtually unlimited parking, since it is also the suburban Amtrak station. You can get a commuter rail train to Back Bay Station, which is just a few blocks from the finish line. The MBTA web site says there's a train at 10:30 AM on April 16 that arrives at Back Bay at 10:50. You wouldn't need to transfer to the subway system at all, just take the one 20-minute train ride, which IMHO makes the extra drive to the Route 128 station worth it.

china_cat

Riverside will be very crowded, plus as mentioned, taking the green line in on race day is a bad idea. its slow, the cars will get held up. It will take more than an hour from Riverside to Copley.

I agree that commuter rail is best, but many of the commuter rail stations do fill up. The suggestion of parking at rt 128 station is a good one. I think that is a FAR better idea than trying to take the Green line in.

And Alewife has a pretty big parking lot, although it does fill up with commuters too. Still, Red line to Orange line is not a bad route at all.

cw

The Riverside line will be slow but just to clarify--it does not run on streets so it is not backed up nor stopped because of the marathon and does not have to stop for runners.

The ride on the Riverside (D) line would be like any other day. The hour it will take to get to Copley will be the same travel time if you figure in the drive to Westwood to the commuter rail station.

Both are serviceable solutions but neither is going to be speedy.

j_999_9: you really won't have a problem getting into town whichever way you go, as long as you are not in a hurry.

Have fun. Good luck to your nephew.

LLindaC

As a former marathoner who had friends at Boston....do you really want to be at the finish line? A runner generally begins to "hit the wall" at 20 miles. If you chose a less busy locale along the route,near the finish, he will hear you cheering, you could hand him a water, then arrange to meet after the race. The finish will be a total zoo, and you might not hook up for 20-30 min after anyway! There will be a photograper to capture the finish picture. I always had my family stationed a mile from the end when I really needed encouragement. Just a thought! have fun, it's an absolut blast. if you get there early, try to get to some marathon events...such as seminars, pasta dinners, etc.

j_999_9

Thanks III.
Anon: I like the idea about the 128 station in Westwood. That looks like my best bet.
Linda: Really don't have much choice except the finish line. Family is meeting there and will be staking out a spot in the early a.m. for all of us to meet.
Nephew has run the Marathon (he's a triathlon participant in Hawaii) and finished handily, so we're fairly confident he'll make it.
Again, thanks to all.

Kealalani

I meant to post here. Glad you went with 128 Commuter Rail. It is in my opinion the least stress, easy commute in. Drops you where you need to be at Backbay station.

Have fun!

BarbK

The Red Sox are playing at Fenway Park that day too and have changed their start time to 10:05AM so the T and commuter rail are sure to be crowded with people going to the game too. It's always a really fun day to be in Boston though with all the excitement surrounding the day's events. Have fun and good luck to your nephew.

Kealalani

Watch the weather forecast while you're packing. It's still to early to tell in New England, but the marathon looks like it will be cool and wet, which for some may be fine, but for others miserably cold. Be prepared! And have fun!

Ackislander

I just checked the forecast for the Marathon: high 44, low 39, rain and wind at 23 mph -- probably a windchill down in the low 30's. I don't think you are going to want to stand around outside any longer than you have to. That is hypothermia weather. Hope the forecast gets better.

Kealalani

Forecast is still early but holding....be prepared with layers and rain gear!