Tthe main field of the Boston Marathon will begin at 10:00 a.m. For the fifth year, the Elite Women will start earlier, at 9:35 a.m.

The starting times for the competitors will be as follows:

Race Day Responsibilities:

Please note that for the 2009 Boston Marathon only the 5M, 10M, 15M, 20M and 25M checkpoints are requested to call in the information below. All 5K and Half Marathon data will be collected through the timing mats.

Read attached instructions and:

When arriving at the checkpoint location, the team captain should call one of the above numbers to test that the cell location is working, and to report any difficulties and/or irregularities at the location. You will also be receiving a test call from the pressroom prior to the race start. Note: If it absolutely impossible to get through on any of the above lines because of busy signals, please call the information in to (617) 375-9850. Dick Morrison (Oval Room) and Shelby Thompson (Oval Room Captain) can assist you in the event of a problem.

Note: Original recording sheets should be returned to the office as soon as possible after the race in the FED EX package provided for you. If necessary, the BAA may contact the team captain on race day and ask the paperwork to be faxed to the BAA at this fax number (617) 236-4505.

We appreciate you sharing your enthusiasm and time again with us this year. Your help and expertise at these checkpoints is vitally important. On behalf of the Boston Athletic Association, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

One person "calls" out bib numbers, the second person writes them down. Numbers must be written down in the order the runners pass your checkpoint. Note: Please be sure to write down "F" in front of women's numbers. This year the women's elite division numbers are F1 through F60, and the elite women masters' numbers are F101 through F130. This year, some of the elite men and elite women will have their name on their front bib (yellow background), and numbered bib on their back. Names on bib numbers are used at track championships. On a road event, it the athletes are in a pack, the names will make it a bit more difficult to quickly record the competitors. You may have to record the first two or three letters of each name. On the plus side, alpha characters are more unique than numbers, which should increase the accuracy of identifying an athlete.

Study the color coded card that may be used to identify the clothing and bib numbers of the elite men and women runners as well a a list of thier names and bib numbers.

Click to print the men's color coded card and here click here for the women's color coded card.

Bib number background is white for all elite men and women. Some of the elite men and women have their name on their fron bib (yellow background), and a numbered bib on their back.

Number background is light blue for all numbers 1,000-13,999 and yellow for numbers 14,000 and up.

A white background number (or bib with a name on it) allows an athlete to start in the elite corral.

There are numbers with a gold V dod which are worn by runners as port of the VIP Runners Program.

After recording the top 15 numbers, hand the sheet to your team captain and continue recording through the 100th runner. For wheelchairs record top five men and five women only, then give to your team captain. Note: should several of the top 15 athletes be running in a pack (a close group with three or more runners beside and/or behind each other, sometimes obscuring each others number), record them as accurately in order as you can, and note that they are "in a pack". Do not leave out any numbers if possible.

Justin's note: We will still record the time even if you cannot read the runners's bib number / name. Write as much as you could see and include a question mark.

After recording the top 15 times, hand the sheet to your team captain and start recording "select times", i.e., write down the number of a runner coming up to your checkpoint, then add the time when he passes the checkpoint (again, one person calls, the second person writes). Record as many as possible, every fifth or sixth number would be great. For wheelchairs record top five men and five women only, then give to your team captain.

Justin's note: We have three printer stopwatches and several other non-printing stopwatches. All races can be timed with a printing stopwatch. After the race, do not stop or clear the stopwatch.

In order to quickly get the data to the press room, the men's and women's running races should use the printer stopwatches. After the first 15 runners go by, the timing operator should advance the paper tape, cut the tape and transpose the times to the bib number recording sheets. The paper tape is part of the record. Save it by stapling that tape to the bib number recording sheet.

The first 100 men should arrive at the 20-mile checkpoint before the first open female. The men's team should leave the printer stopwatch running and give it to the women's team. Advance the tape and make a note on the tape that the women are being recorded.

The order of the runners is important. Do not sort the list by bib number. Leave them in order in which they crossed the checkpoint.

After 11:15 p.m. (real time) men's information may also be called in on the men's wheelchair telephone number (617-375-9853), and women's information on the women's wheelchair number (617-375-9854). Please make sure to identify that you are calling in information on the OPEN race, NOT the wheelchair race.

When calling in please state the following:

Numbers on front and back are worn by:

Make sure to record "F" when writing down numbers.

NOTE: We have done our best to assign all top athletes within the above number breakdown, however, late entries in any of the above divisions may be numbered between 1000 and 1999, or higher. Please record full number.

All wheelchair numbers start with a W, which is already filled in on your checkpoint sheets. For your information Quad Class athlete numbers have a blue background, however they are anticipated to be farther back in the field and as such would not have to be recorded.

NOTE: Wheelchair athletes will also have the digits of their bib number displayed on their helmets: in front of the helmet (when the athlete is in "tuck "or "racing" position) and on the right and left side of the helmet! The digits will also be posted on the frame of the chair, just in front of the right wheel (visible from the side). The wheelchair women's helmet and chair numbers also will have a pink background.

All bibs display adidas at the top, and 2009 BOSTON MARATHON name and blue logo at the bottom. All official numbers 1000-13,999 have a white, light-blue background, numbers 14,000 and up have a yellow background.

Also, see the 2009 Elite Field List below.

We do not expect to have real-time audio of the Starting Guns. You may start your watches for the Wheelechair start at 9:22 a.m., Elite women's start at 9:32 a.m., and Elite Men's and Main Race at 10:00 a.m. Wave II will start at 10:30 a.m.

You will be given NEXTEL phones that will provide you with the real time audio of the Starting Gun for the Wheelchairs at 9:25 a.m., Women's Elite at 9:35 a.m.; and the Open Race (which includes Wave I and II) start at 10:00 a.m. Mike Thompson, Communications Coordinator (cell phone 617-212-2928) will be driving down the course prior to the race and will stop at your checkpoint if you require phone assistance.

WBZ Radio (1030 AM) will be provided with real-time audio of the Starting Gun for the Wheelchair, Women's Elite, and Open Race starts. You may start your watches at the sound of each of the three start tones for the Wheelchair start at 9:25 a.m., the Elite women's start at 9:35 AM and for the Elite Men's and Main Race at 10:00. It is important that you start a minimum of three watches at the WBZ radio tones.

Justin's comments: Although we had listened to the WBZ 1030 AM broadcast of the Boston Marathon starts in the past we are unable to do so in 2008 and beyond. According to Mark D. Manuelian, Chief Engineer at WBZ, there is a delay of 8.6 seconds.

"This delay is not from the profanity delay which we run during talk shows etc.
Rather the delay comes from the Digital radio broadcast.  But HD Radio
is different from HDTV in that the digital and radio signals are carried
on the same radio channel and when the signal is too weak to support the
digital, the radio falls back to the analog.  Therefore the analog must
be delayed to synchronize the delay in the digital signal.

The delay is about 8.5 seconds.  There is another tenth of a second
delay from the digital link from the starting line to our studio.  For a
total of about 8.6 seconds.

But in past years we did ramp out of the delay on the analog signal for
the duration of the race.  So it should not have been an issue in prior
years.  I do not believe we will do that this year though. "

Therefore, checkpoint volunteers will need to rely on catching the start form the NEXTEL cell phones.

I asked how set up the NEXTELs in order to hear the start tones. They simply need to be turned on and the volume turned up.

Here's Paul McGalliard's reply:

From: Paul McGalliard
To: 'Michael Thompson'
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2008 12:03 PM
Subject: RE: checkpoint NEXTEL instructions

All checkpoint units should be set to TONE GROUP. The COMM CENTER in Boston will initiate calls on this Group Channel. Our technician in the Press Room will be trying to contact you during the morning before the race starts, both Sunday and Monday. Comm Center will do some test countdowns and start tones on Sunday, and a more extensive set of countdowns and start tones on Monday. The Tone is a short (2-3sec.) burst of tone that is synchronized with the Starter’s pistol. On Monday we will also have several time-of-day countdowns so that personnel on-course can set their wristwatches to our time tick.

Paul McGalliard
Capron Lighting & Sound Co., Inc.
278 West Street
Needham, MA 02494
781.444.8850 office
781.444.1408 fax
617.212.5485 cell

Map showing approximate location of 20-mile checkpoint

Location: The 20-mile checkpoint is in Newton on Commonwealth Ave. E of Centre St., opposite E end of front door to residence #615 on left, 20 ft. 3 in. after east edge of B E Co. road cover, 13 ft. before leading edge of single car garage on right, and 40 ft. 4 in. before pedestrian warning sign on right. Click on the map above to view details.

Click here to view the 20-mile checkpoint location in Google's Street View. You can get drivng directions at the link as well.

The single family home at 615 Commonwealth Ave, Newton MA 02459 is owned by Robert J (Bob) and Carolyn D Allen.

I captured some of these images of the 20-mile checkpoint location one week before the 2005 marathon. The 20M was painted in yellow on the road. Click on the images to enlarge.

The 20m checkpoint is just east of the intersection of Commonwealth Ave. and Centre St. in Newton. (2005)	Looking west from the 20m checkpoint (2005)	The orange cone is on the right side of Commonwealth Ave. The green house across the street is #615 Commonwealth Ave. (2005)	Looking east toward the 20M checkpoint. (2005)
Google Earth's Street View (2008)	Google Earth's Street View (2008)

Driving: To drive to the checkpoint from Route 128, take Route 9 east, (toward Boston). You'll pass the Elliott MBTA stop. You'll pass the Getty Gas, Dunkin Donuts, Speedy Muffler shop on your right. Look for the exit to Centre Street on your right and take that exit. It'll pass under Route 9. Stay on Centre St for 1.5 miles. Take a right onto Commonwealth Ave. The 20M is on Commonwealth Ave. It's less than 1/10 mile from the intersection of Centre St. and Commonwealth Ave.

Parking: The 20-mile checkpoint is less than 3/4 miles from the Newton Centre stop on the MBTA (Green) D-Line. If you are going to drive, I would recommend approaching from Route 9, which is south of Commonwealth Ave., and park on Rice or Sumner Streets.

First male wheelchair arrives (2006)

Fifth male wheelchair arrrives (2006)

Phone male wheelchair times to pressroom (2007)

11:36

Phone female runners times to pressroom (2005)

Fifteenth male runner arrives (2008)

11:44.11