Marathon Monday

On the day of the Marathon, here’s how you can track my progress whether you’re standing along the course or thousands of miles away.

Real-Time Text Updates

Through AT&T Athlete Alert, you can get text updates around every six miles as I pass certain milestones (literally):

  • 10K (6.2mi)
  • Half-Marathon (13.2mi)
  • 30K (18.6mi)
  • Finish Line

It’s free, except the normal cost of text messages according to your plan. You can sign up online, or more easily follow these instructions:

  1. Text RUNNER to 345678
  2. When prompted, my bib number is 22380
  3. Let me know that you’ve signed up so I know who’s tracking me!

Online Updates

In addition to sending text updates to subscribed users, the Boston Athletic Association also posts time updates to their website, bostonmarathon.org. On race day, the website will transform and you will be able to search for a runner right from the home page.

When searching, my bib number is 22380. If you search by name, remember that my actual name is Timothy Schoen.

Watching in Boston

Dana-Farber Boston Marathon 2011 Singlet

The not-so-attractive but highly visible singlet I (and the other DF runners) will be wearing during the Marathon. Modifications courtesy of Sara Ferry.

It’s difficult for non-runners to get to the starting line in the morning, so I expect to be going solo there. I’m in the third wave, which begins at 10:40am. I won’t be in the start of the wave, so it will probably be a few minutes before I actually cross the starting line (that’s ok because my time is counted from when I cross).

For those of you volunteering at Mile 14, you should expect to see me between 12:40pm and 12:50pm. For a more accurate time, sign up for the real-time text updates (above). You’ll get a text as I cross 13.1 miles, and then you can expect me 7 minutes later.

If you’re not volunteering and still want to see me run by, there are lots of spots you can do so. Mile 17 passes right by the Woodland T stop (Green Line D to Riverside), and you can expect me to pass that between 1:25pm and 1:35pm. The Boston College, South St, and Chestnut Hill Ave stops (Green Line B to Boston College) all lie on the 21-22 mile stretch, an area I’ll probably be in around 1:45pm. Miles 22 through 25 perfectly follow the Green Line C to Cleveland Circle, so you can get off at any stop between Cleveland Circle and Kenmore Square for that final stretch, which will likely be between 1:55pm and 2:30pm. And of course, there’s the finish line at Copley Square – although this area is typically incredibly crowded from very early morning to late in the afternoon. If everything goes according to plan I’ll be crossing that between 2:30pm and 2:45pm.

All of these times are pretty rough estimates. Definitely take advantage of the text updates to get a better idea of where I’ll be when.

More resources:

Post-Marathon

You won’t be able to see me right after I cross the finish line, because they whisk me away to a runners-only area where they make sure I’m still alive. However, there is a designated waiting area for family and friends of Dana-Farber runners nearby. The rosters are posted there so you can see my (mostly) official time, and I can meet you there once they’re sure I’m fit to walk on my own. I’d love to meet up there with anyone who’s willing to do so, so ask me for the details if you’re interested. I’m not planning on going to the family/friends meeting area for non-Dana-Farber runners, so don’t wait for me there!

From what I hear, the next few hours will involve refueling and then crashing hard for a nap. However, I’d like to wake up a few hours later and celebrate Monday night. There’s a post-marathon party at the House of Blues that starts at 7:30pm. It’s free for runners and volunteers and $20 for everyone else – but unfortunately it’s only for 21+. It would be awesome of a bunch of people could join me for that, so let me know if you’re interested.

After the party I’ll probably be heading home and continuing to celebrate there. More details to follow.