Boston Marathon 2004:
Final Instructions

Friday, April 9th - There are a few changes for 2004 that I have included below. Be sure to look over the instructions before race day. -- Justin

Racewalkers,

Congratulations and welcome to the 108th Boston Marathon! By now you've received your confirmaton with your bib number, along with some marathon details and merchandise information. Please follow the official instructions you received with the BAA materials. Here are a few additional race day details.

Before the race

Wear you bib number and "ChampionChip". Plan on taking the bus from Boston out to Hopkinton on race morning. The buses will whisk competitors with bib numbers from Boston to the high school in Hopkinton in approximately 50 minutes. Use the "T" (MBTA), to get to the buses. Buses will begin loading at 6:30 A.M. and continue until 8:30 A.M. Each bus will leave as soon as it is full. The BAA suggests the bus loading time is according to bib number, with the bib numbers 12,001 and greater loading by 7:00 a.m. In reality, you can board any bus from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

If you're driving to the start, note that all streets in Hopkinton, will close at 8:30 A.M; the roads between the start and the high school close before 6:00 A.M. Shuttle buses will be available for runners dropped off at either the Industrial Park on South Street (just off of Route 495) , or the Hopkinton Start Park.

Baggage that you want at the finish line, may be placed in the baggage buses which will be set up at the high school.

Most of the competitors will wait, before for the race, at the Athletes' Village at the high school, anxiously sipping cups of coffee. The high school has been reserved from volunteers and officials. I have arranged additional accommodations that I hope you can take advantage of.

You are welcome to meet the rest of the racewalkers and friends, prepare your feet, use the W.C., keep warm, and relax at the home of Doug, Carol and Eric Pratt. You may arrive as early as necessary.

The Pratt's home is located a less than 1 kilometer from the high school, and one-half kilometer from Hayden Rowe Street. Their address is 5 Kerry Lane, Hopkinton, MA 01748-1800 (phone 508-497-8884). For those of you who race walked the Boston Marathon last year, the Pratt's home is directly across the street from the Braga's.

Here are directions from the Hopkinton High School to the Pratt's home:

The high school is at the intersection of Grove Street and Hayden Rowe Street. There is a GULF gas station on Hayden Rowe Steet. Walk down Hayden Rowe Street and take the first right onto Robbern Road. Stay on Robbern Road, walk past the first intersection, and continue to the end of Robbern. Then, take a right onto Eastview, walk approximately 50 meters, and take a left onto Kerry Lane. The Pratt's home is the third house down on the left. It's a tan ranch with a colorful mailbox.

I've included a computer generated map with this notice. E-mail users may double-click on the attachment or open the map with a web browser. I also posted the map at the New England Walkers's web site:

map to the braga's and pratt's homes

During the race

During the race, your family and friends can follow all the excitement and action as these you perambulate the 2004 Boston Marathon. Your split times at the 5K points will be e-mailed while the race is in progress. From those times, your family will know when to expect you at the finish.

To follow all the action from the convenience of their computer terminal or cell phone, subscribe to the 2004bostonmarathon mailing list by visiting:

http://usatfne.org/mailman/2004bostonmarathon_usatfne.org

Add your e-mail address at the prompt.

That's all there is to do. I will delete the mailing list after the Marathon.

After the race

After the race, you can meet the baggage buses on Boylston Street. Although the finish line will remain "officially" open until 6:00 P.M., you should plan on picking up your baggage before that time. Baggage not picked up by that time may be locked in the BAA office and will not be available until the following morning.

Changing areas will be available. Be sure to remove the "ChampionChip" from your shoe and return it to the appropriate person. (Consider this before you lace the chip onto your shoe.) Volunteers will assist you if necessary. Family members can meet you at the finish at the area at the Family Meeting Area located on St. James Avenue and Stuart Street from Berkeley Street to Clarendon Street beyon the finish area exit. Look for the alphabetically lettered and posted signs that match the the first letter of your last name.

Those with enough energy may proceed to the official Boston Marathon post race party which includes dancing and entertainment. Light refreshments will be served. It's open to official runners and guests. Tickets are required. (Tremont House Hotel/Empire Ballroom, The Roxy and Matrix.) Free, continuous shuttles will be provided to and from the post-race party from the Westin Hotel, Marriott Copley Place, Back Bay Hilton, Park Plaza Hotel, The Radisson, Mariott Long Wharf, and Swissotel.

Please call me if you have any questions or concerns on the Marathon, housing, transportation, etc.

Here's the list of friends competing in the 2004 Boston Marathon.

Bib # Competitor Group City ST Finish
17891 Rebecca Browning F46 San Antonio TX  
18321 Heidi Duskey W51 Medford MA  
18324 Dennis J. Buckley M56 Marlborough MA  
18325 Maureen L. Danahy F47 Brookline MA  
18388 Doug Pratt M48 Hopkinton MA  
18397 Ole R. Holsti M70 Chapel Hill NC  
18803 Jennifer Marlborough W31 Brooklyn NY  
18859 Keith Rowlett M58 Waterford VT

 

18904 Jeanne Bocci W61 Grosse Point Pk MI  
18905 Gerald Bocci M66 Grosse Point Pk MI  
18928 Erik S. Litt M35 Philadelphia PA  
19061 Jaye Shyken F49 St. Louis, MO  
21137 Gary Morgan M44 Clarkston MI  
21383 Yevgeny Kuo M19 Brookline MA  
unofficial Bob H. Keating M56 Nashua NH  

As always, I wish all of you the best! -- Justin Kuo

Contacts

You can reach me at home at 617-731-9889, or weekend evenings at work at 781-774-5410, or by FAX at 617-731-9082. My address is 39 Oakland Road, Brookline, MA 02445. In the event of an emergency, you may call New England Walkers member Priscilla Frappier (781-891-0519.)

Links

Other Boston Marathon Sites


New England Walkers
kuo@world.std.com
39 Oakland Road
Brookline, MA 02445-6700
United States


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This page was last updated Friday, April 9, 2004.
Corrections? Contact
Justin Kuo (617-731-9889)