CBS News
How to watch the 2024 Boston Marathon today: Livestream options, starting time, more
Omar Rawlings/Getty Images
Expect sunny skies for today’s Boston Marathon and appearances by some of the city’s most beloved celebrities, including former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara. Gronk will serve as the race’s grand marshal, while Chara will run his second Boston Marathon.
Gronk will deliver the trophy to the finish line ahead of the athletes today and tour the marathon course. Last year’s winners, Evans Chebet for the men and Hellen Obiri for the women, both from Kenya, are back in hopes of winning the $150,000 first-place prize, while approximately 30,000 runners and para-athletes will hit the streets in hopes of securing a PR (that’s a personal record).
The world’s oldest annual marathon, and quite possibly one of the best known, is on. Keep reading for how and when to watch the 2024 Boston Marathon today.
How and when to watch the 2024 Boston Marathon
The 2024 Boston Marathon will broadcast live from Hopkinton, MA, all the way to the finish line in Boston on Monday, April 15, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET (5:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. PT). The race will air on ESPN and stream on SlingTV and the platforms featured below.
Local coverage of the race begins at 4:00 a.m. ET on WCVB 5 and runs through 8:00 p.m ET.
How to watch the 2024 Boston Marathon without cable
While most cable packages include ESPN, it’s easy to watch the 2024 Boston Marathon if ESPN isn’t included in your cable TV subscription, or if you don’t have cable at all. Your best options for watching are below. (Streaming options will require an internet provider.)
Stream the 2024 Boston Marathon on Sling TV and save 50%
If you don’t have cable TV that includes ESPN, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream major sporting events like the Boston Marathon airing on ESPN is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer offers access to ESPN, plus top cable channels like TBS and TNT with its Orange tier. Also worth noting: Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud-based DVR recording space included, perfect for recording today’s race or your favorite sporting events to come this year.
You can watch today’s race on ESPN via the Sling TV Orange or Sling TV Orange + Blue tiers. The Orange tier features 32 channels, including ESPN, for $40 per month. The Orange + Blue tier features 46 channels, including ESPN and local ABC, NBC and Fox affiliates (where available), for $60 per month. Sling TV is currently offering 50% off the first month of service on all subscription tiers, or prepay for four months of the Orange tier and pay $120, a savings of $40.
Top features of Sling TV Orange tier:
- There are 32 channels to watch, including local ESPN, TBS and TNT, CNN and Comedy Central (where available).
- You can access ESPN’s coverage of top sporting events like the Boston Marathon.
- All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
Watch the 2024 Boston Marathon for free with Fubo
You can also catch the Boston Marathon, plus nationally-aired sporting events including the 2024 NBA playoffs and network-aired NFL games next season, on Fubo. Fubo is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to NBC, USA, Fox and FS1, in addition to NASCAR races this season and network-aired MLB games this year.
To watch the 2024 Boston Marathon without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to today’s race, you’ll have access to NFL football, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. Fubo’s Pro Tier is priced at $80 per month after your free seven-day trial.
Sports fans will want to consider adding on the $7.99 per month Fubo Extra package, which includes MLB Network, NBA TV, NHL Network, Tennis Channel, SEC Network and more channels with live games. Or upgrade to the Fubo Elite tier and get all the Fubo Extra channels, plus the ability to stream in 4K, starting at $90 per month.
Top features of FuboTV Pro Tier:
- There are no contracts with Fubo, you can cancel anytime.
- The Pro tier includes 195 channels, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
- Fubo includes most channels you’ll need to watch live sports, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
- All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
- Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.
Watch the 2024 Boston Marathon on Hulu + Live TV
You can watch sports this year with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including ESPN, CBS, Fox and FS1, NBC and USA. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch your favorite sports on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch almost all live NFL games next season, exclusive live regular season games, popular studio shows (including “NFL Total Access” and the Emmy-nominated show “Good Morning Football”) and lots more. With Hulu + Live TV, you’ll have access to live local network affiliate programming without the hefty price of a cable subscription.
Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month.
Boston Marathon 2024 race day schedule
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Below are the start times for each division entering today’s race. All times Eastern.
6:00 a.m. – Military Marchers
9:02 a.m. – Wheelchair Division – Men
9:05 a.m. – Wheelchair Division – Women
9:30 a.m. – Handcycle & Duo Participants
9:37 a.m. – Professional Men
9:47 a.m. – Professional Women
9:50 a.m. – Para Athletics Divisions
10:00 a.m. – Wave 1
10:25 a.m. – Wave 2
10:50 a.m. – Wave 3
11:15 a.m. – Wave 4
Who is expected to win the 2024 Boston Marathon?
After not racing for a year due to an Achilles issue, 2023 Boston Marathon champion Evans Chebet is back — the only man in the elite division who has won the race before. Hoping to win his third Boston Marathon, the Kenyan runner would become just the fifth man to do so. Expect Ethiopia’s Sisay Lemma, Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay and Kenya’s Albert Korir to be strong contenders looking to dethrone Chebet.
As of this article’s writing, 11 elite women runners who all run sub-2:20 marathons are scheduled to compete in today’s race, which makes the women’s elite competition exceptionally fast — and exciting. 2023 women’s Boston Marathon winner Hellen Obiri enters today’s race as the favorite. She’ll be joined by Ethiopia’s Worknesh Degefa and American Emma Bates, both of whom are looking to give Obiri a run for her money.
What is the prize for winning the Boston Marathon?
Winners will split over $1.2 million in prize money this year. First place runners in both the men’s and women’s division will each earn $150,000, while the second and third-place runners will receive $75,000 and $40,000, respectively.
In the wheelchair division, the top winner will receive $40,000, and the second and third-place winners in this division will receive $25,000 and $12,000, respectively.
The top finisher in the master’s division will receive $5,000, while the para-athletics division winner will receive $2,500.
How long does it take to finish the Boston Marathon?
Entrants must finish the race within six hours from the time the last starter enters the race. 2023 men’s top finisher Evans Chebet finished in 2:05:54, while women’s top finisher Hellen Obiri finished in 2:21:38. The average finish time is approximately 3:40.
CBS News
“Sleepmaxxing” trend has young adults optimizing their sleep. Experts share some do’s and don’ts.
How to get an ideal night of sleep has been trending on social media. It’s called sleep optimization, or “sleepmaxxing,” and it’s particularly popular among younger Americans.
From using sleep trackers to sleeping with mouth tape, social media users are sharing tips online for what they do to catch more Z’s — and millions of people are paying attention.
Kamila Charles, a college senior in Florida, is among the many young adults who are now prioritizing their sleep routine.
“Magnesium, I do my skin care, I put my hair in rollers,” she said of her nightly rituals. “I’m trying to figure out what works for me because it is hard.”
Another student, Craig James, told CBS News he makes sure his room is dark, quiet and cold for optimal sleep. “No television on, no nothing,” he said. Many sleep experts echo that advice.
One recent analysis found members of Gen-Z spend more time sleeping than any other generation. That same survey showed they also spent more time exercising and prioritizing self-care than others.
“They just want to make the quality better, which is a good thing,” Dr. Rafael Pelayo, a clinical professor at Stanford University’s Sleep Medicine division, told CBS News. “Even though they may be considered good sleepers overall, they want to make their sleep even better.”
A recent Gallup survey found a majority of Americans — 57% — said they would feel better if they got more sleep.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, though it depends on age and other factors.
Middle schoolers should get about 9 to 12 hours a night, high schoolers about 8 to 10 hours, and adults more than 7 hours, Dr. Nidhi Kumar recently told CBS News New York.
“How many high schoolers are really sleeping that much?” Kumar said. “We are a country that is chronically sleep deprived.”
Sleep scientist Vanessa Hill recently told CBS News the sleepmaxxing trend may be beneficial because it gets people thinking about their sleep.
“So I think overall, it’s good,” she said, but warned, “sometimes when people can be too perfectionistic about their sleep, it can backfire.”
Risks of the sleepmaxxing trend
Despite the wellness intentions, experts say some aspects of this trend could do more harm than good.
“A lot of the things people do are not necessarily evidence-based,” Pelayo said. He also warns against obsessing over smartphone sleep trackers.
Kumar agrees, saying the problem with tracking your sleep is it can become obsessive.
“People can actually start dealing with an anxiety about trying to get to sleep,” she said.
She also says people should avoid mouth taping, a practice many have seen on social media.
“I’m going to say a hard no to mouth taping. It can actually be quite dangerous. It can increase snoring. It can cause anxiety, suffocation. It can cause a reduction in oxygen levels in certain susceptible individuals,” she said.
Kumar advises against the many pills and potions being promoted online, but says two supplements can be useful.
“Certain forms of magnesium, magnesium threonate, crosses the blood brain barrier (and) can help with sleep,” she said. “And if you’re dealing with jet lag, melatonin can be helpful. Other than these two supplements, nothing else has really been shown to work.”
Benefits of better sleep
Sleepmaxxing is helping to repopularize certain aspects of good sleep hygiene that everyone should try to embrace, Hill said.
“Things like try not to use your devices for half an hour or so before bed. Try to stick to a consistent bedtime. Try to have a relaxing wind-down routine. All of these things can set us up for a good night’s sleep,” she said.
Improving sleep is a positive step for overall health.
Kumar said quality sleep can lead to fewer sick days because it boosts your immune system. It can also help you maintain better weight control and reduce your risk of other serious conditions.
“Lower rates of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure; better mood, better attention, less stress, less anxiety,” she said.
If you are having trouble with your sleep, it’s best to consult your doctor.
“TikTok is not the answer when you really do have a problem, and there are a lot of sleep problems out there,” Hill said.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
“Sleepmaxxing” trend has young adults optimizing their sleep. Experts share some do’s and don’ts.
What happened inside the courtroom as Luigi Mangione waived extradition
Texas moves to reverse impact of Biden immigration policies at U.S.-Mexico border
“Sleepmaxxing” trend has young adults optimizing their sleep. Experts share some do’s and don’ts.
What happened inside the courtroom as Luigi Mangione waived extradition