Setting Up the Starting Line for the Boston Marathon

About 30,000 runners will race 26.2 miles to Boston. And it all starts here in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.

As volunteers prepare the downtown area, police are on guard, making sure safety is not a concern for tourist getting a picture at the start line.

"We start preparing for the marathon right after the runners head into Ashland," said Hopkinton Police Chief Edward Lee. "It's a year-long process. I have several officers working on it, and they do a great job."

Lee says state police as well as officers from others towns will be on the grounds until the event is over. As a precautionary measure, certain items will not be allowed near the beginning of the race.

"We'll certainly have people's backs," he said. They can relax and enjoy the time, but, like anything else in this day and age, if something's out of the ordinary, please say something."

Signs with that same message are set up around the perimeter to help spectators remember just that. But bomb-sniffing dogs or plain clothes officers will not stop any of the thousands of runners who will be bused into town on Marathon Monday.

With all the security measures put in place, police are hoping everyone will come out and enjoy the race that starts in Hopkinton.

Contact Us