"It's gonna be epic!" We are less than three weeks away from the 129th running of the world’s oldest marathon. This year’s Boston Marathon takes place, as always, on the third Monday of April — this year, that’s April 21. In this mega-episode, I (along with a team of experts and insiders) am attempting to answer all of your questions about all things Boston. Katie Hawkes and Lauren Proshan from the Boston Athletic Association are here to talk logistics (take some deep breaths — the journey to the start line is doable, and you won’t be waiting around for too long once you get there!), elite athlete coordinator Mary Kate Shea talks about assembling this year's professional fields and about which storylines to follow, and 2018 champion and Boston favorite Des Linden joins to talk course strategy. Get excited: Whether you’re running, volunteering, cheering, or watching from home, it’s always a Boston to remember. SPONSORS:  UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN Edge sample pack (you’ll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALI for 20% off your next UCAN order. THE AJC PEACHTREE ROAD RACE: The lottery for this year's most famous Fourth of July 10K is now open. Enter today for your chance to run Atlanta's iconic race. In this episode: B.A.A. director of brand and experiential marketing Katie Hawkes talks about the significance of the Boston Marathon, and shares what’s new for 2025 (4:35) Want to run Boston someday? Here’s what you need to know about getting in (29:25) B.A.A elite athlete coordinator Mary Kate Shea talks about assembling this year’s professional athlete fields, and shares the storylines to watch (48:35) Lauren Proshan, the B.A.A.’s chief of race operations and production, explains the process of getting to the start line in Hopkinton, and what to know once you’re there (1:21:30) 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden breaks down the Boston Marathon course (2:07:20) All about the Boston Marathon finish line (2:37:35) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!