The 116th annual Boston Marathon will kick off on Monday, April 16, with approximately 27,000 people scheduled to participate. The turnout is expected to be better than 2011, but much less than 1996, when nearly 39,000 people participated – a marathon record.
For men between the ages of 18-34, a three hour, five minute pace is required to qualify. For women the same age, the qualifying time is three hours and 35 minutes. The course runs 26.22 miles. Geoffrey Kiprono Mutai ran the fastest marathon of all time last year, clocking in at two hours, three minutes and two seconds.
Start times for different divisions follow:
| Start time | Approx. No. of Entrants | Bib Color |
| Mobility Impaired: 9:00 a.m. | 6 | |
| Wheelchair Division: 9:17 a.m. | 30 | |
| Handcycles: 9:22 a.m. | 24 | |
| Elite Women: 9:32 a.m. | 50 | |
| Elite Men & Wave One: 10:00 a.m. | 9,000 | Red |
| Wave Two: 10:20 a.m. | 9,000 | White |
| Wave Three: 10:40 a.m. | 9,000 | Blue |
You can follow the 2012 Boston Marathon by following along with our Storystream at SB Nation Boston.