<Li> 10: 50 a.m.: Wave Three </Li> <Li> 11: 15 a.m.: Wave Four </Li> <P> The course runs through 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km) of winding roads, following Route 135, Route 16, Route 30 and city streets into the center of Boston, where the official finish line is located at Copley Square, alongside the Boston Public Library . The race runs through eight Massachusetts cities and towns: Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston . </P> <P> The Boston Marathon is considered to be one of the more difficult marathon courses because of the Newton hills, which culminate in Heartbreak Hill near Boston College . While the three hills on Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30) are better known, a preceding hill on Washington Street (Route 16), climbing from the Charles River crossing at 16 miles (26 km), is regarded by Dave McGillivray, the long - term race director, as the course's most difficult challenge . This hill, which follows a 150 - foot (46 m) drop in a ⁄ mile (800 m) stretch, forces many lesser - trained runners to a walking pace . </P>

Where is the boston marathon finish line located