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Every spring, viewers and runners from around the world get ready for one of the biggest races of the year: the Boston Marathon. This year is no different, and if you’re wondering how to watch the Boston Marathon live for free, you’re certainly not alone. Up ahead, we’re diving into everything you need to know about how to stream the race—even without a cable subscription.
With a history dating back to 1897, the Boston Marathon stands as the oldest marathon in the world. It takes place every year on Patriot’s Day, which typically falls on the third Monday of April. Not unlike the bustling streets of New York City’s marathon, the Boston Marathon route winds its way through historic neighborhoods and landmarks, attracting elite athletes and passionate runners from every corner of the globe hoping to experience this race through the Hub.
This year marks the 128th Boston Marathon. The race will also be celebrating 100 years since it was lengthened to its full 26.2-mile length, with its starting line moved to Hopkinton from Ashland. Professional runners like Kenya’s Albert Korir and defending champion Hellen Obiri will also be vying to make history in their own right, promising plenty of excitement for the viewers at home and on the sidelines. “I am excited to return to the 2024 Boston Marathon to try to defend my title,” Obiri said in a statement earlier this year. “Boston is an historic race and I would like to add my name further to its history on April 15. Winning such an historic marathon with my family waiting at the finish line was an amazing experience.”
Whether you’re cheering on friends and family or hoping to catch a glimpse of elite runners as they charge toward the finish line on Boylston Street, there’s nothing quite like the intensity on race day at the Boston Marathon. But if you find yourself unable to join the crowds lining the streets of Boston on Marathon Monday, don’t worry—you can still be part of the action from the comfort of your own home. Below, we’ve put together a guide on how to watch the Boston Marathon live for free to make sure you don’t miss a single moment of this historic race.
When is the 2024 Boston Marathon?
This year’s Boston Marathon takes place on Monday, April 15, 2024. Coverage will begin airing on ESPN2 at 8:30 a.m. ET. See below for the race’s official start times and to find out how to watch the Boston Marathon live for free as it airs live on ESPN2.
How to watch the Boston Marathon live for free
The Boston Marathon will be aired nationally on ESPN2, which is available to stream on services like DirecTV Stream, Fubo, Sling Orange, and Hulu+ With Live TV. DirecTV Stream offers a five-day free trial, starting at $79.99 per month after the trial ends and includes ESPN and ESPN2. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial, starts at $74.99 per month after the trial ends, and also includes ESPN2.
Sling Orange and Hulu+ With Live TV don’t have free trials, however, they are cheaper per month than the other options. Sling Orange costs $20 for your first month and includes ESPN2. Hulu+ With Live TV starts at $75.99 per month and also includes ESPN2 to watch the Boston Marathon live for free.
Best Overall Pick to watch the Boston Marathon: Direct TV Stream’s Free Trial
Direct TV is our best overall pick to watch the Boston Marathon live for free for its free trial, price and channel selection. Direct TV Stream offers a five-day free trial. DirecTV offers four plans: Entertainment, which costs $79.99 per month; Choice, which costs $108.99 per month with the first 2 months at $83.99 per month; Ultimate, which costs $119.99 per month with the first 2 months at $94.99 per month; and Premiere, which costs $174.99 per month. ESPN2 is available on all four plans.
As for other differences between the plans, Entertainment includes more than 75 channels, the ability to stream on unlimited devices in your home, unlimited cloud DVR storage, and a special offer on premium channels. Choice, which is the most popular plan, includes more than 105 channels, regional sports networks, and everything included in Entertainment. Ultimate includes more than 140 channels and everything included in Entertainment and Choice. Premiere includes more than 150 channels including premium channels like HBO and Starz and everything included in Entertainment, Choice, and Premiere. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Boston Marathon live for free with DirecTV Stream’s free trial.
- Visit streamtv.directv.com‘s packages page
- Click “Try It Free” for the plan of your choice
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN2 and start watching the Boston Marathon!
Best Free Trial Pick to watch the Boston Marathon: Fubo’s Free Trial
Fubo is our best free trial pick to watch the Boston Marathon live for free. Fubo offers a seven-day free trial (two days longer than DirecTV Stream) and offers three plans: Pro, which costs $79.99 per month; Elite, which costs $89.99 per month; and Premier, which costs $99.99 per month. ESPN2 is available on all three plans.
As for the difference between the plans, Pro includes 180 channels, 1,000 hours of Cloud DVR, and the ability to watch on up to 10 screens at once. Elite includes everything in Pro, as well as a total of 256 channels and 4K resolution. Ultimate includes everything in Pro and Elite, as well as a total of 299 channels, Showtime, and Red Zone NFL Network. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Boston Marathon live for free with Fubo’s free trial.
- Visit Fubo.TV
- Click “Start Free Trial”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN2 and start watching the Boston Marathon!
Best Budget Pick to watch the Boston Marathon: Sling TV
Sling TV is our best budget pick to watch the Boston Marathon based on its price and current deals. Sling has two plans offering ESPN2: Sling Orange and Sling Orange + Blue. Sling Orange starts at $40 per month and Sling Orange + Blue costs $60 per month.
As for the difference between the plans, Sling Orange includes 32 channels and the ability to stream on one device at a time, while Sling Orange + Blue includes 46 channels and the ability to stream on three devices at the same time. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Boston Marathon live for free with Sling.
- Visit Sling.com
- Click “Try Us Today”
- Create an account
- Choose your plan
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN2 and start watching the Boston Marathon!
Best Upgrade Pick to watch the Boston Marathon: Hulu+ Live TV
Hulu+ With Live TV is our best upgrade pick to watch the Boston Marathon based on its channel selection and its free subscriptions to Hulu, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus. Hulu+ With Live TV offers four plans: a $75.99 per month plan with access to only live TV; a $76.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; a $81.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads; and a $89.99 per month plan with free subscriptions to Hulu with no ads, Disney Plus with no ads, and ESPN Plus with ads. ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN News are included on all four plans. Read on for step-by-step instructions on how to watch the Boston Marathon with Hulu+ Live TV.
- Visit Hulu.com/liveTV
- Click “Sign Up Now”
- Enter your information and payment method
- Search for ESPN2 and start watching the Boston Marathon!
Boston Marathon Start Times
Participants in the 2024 Boston Marathon will run in different waves based on their division and qualifying times. See below for the full list of start times.
| Division/Program | Start Time (ET) |
| Men’s Wheelchair | 9:02 a.m. |
| Women’s Wheelchair | 9:05 a.m. |
| Handcycles & Duos | 9:30 a.m. |
| Professional Men | 9:37 a.m. |
| Professional Women | 9:47 a.m. |
| Para Athletics Division | 9:50 a.m. |
| Wave 1 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Wave 2 | 10:25 a.m. |
| Wave 3 | 10:50 a.m. |
| Wave 4 | 11:15 a.m. |
Boston Marathon Qualifying Times
| Age Group | Men | Women | Non-Binary |
| 18-34 | 3hrs 00min | 3hrs 30min | 3hrs 30min |
| 35-39 | 3hrs 05min | 3hrs 35min | 3hrs 35min |
| 40-44 | 3hrs 10min | 3hrs 40min | 3hrs 40min |
| 45-49 | 3hrs 20min | 3hrs 50min | 3hrs 50min |
| 50-54 | 3hrs 25min | 3hrs 55min | 3hrs 55min |
| 55-59 | 3hrs 35min | 4hrs 05min | 4hrs 05min |
| 60-64 | 3hrs 50min | 4hrs 20min | 4hrs 20min |
| 65-69 | 4hrs 05min | 4hrs 35min | 4hrs 35min |
| 70-74 | 4hrs 20min | 4hrs 50min | 4hrs 50min |
| 75-79 | 4hrs 35min | 5hrs 05min | 5hrs 05min |
| 80+ | 4hrs 50min | 5hrs 20min | 5hrs 20min |
Who won the 2023 Boston Marathon?
The winners of the 127th Boston Marathon were Kenya’s Evans Chebet, who won the men’s race with a time of 2 hours, 5 minutes and 54 seconds, and Hellen Obiri, who won the women’s division with a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 38 seconds.
