AT&T will keep runners and fans connected at this year’s Boston Marathon

AT&T will once again keep runners and fans connected at this year’s Boston Marathon.

The carrier will bring back the popular AT&T Athlete Alerts to help fans follow their favorite athletes along the route, and will host AT&T Communication Centers at the Finish Line to help runners get in touch with their families after the race.

“This is our 10th straight year working with the Boston Athletic Association to support this iconic event,” said Janna Ducich, AT&T New England vice president and general manager.

“Marathon Monday is an exciting day for this city and the hundreds of thousands of Boston Marathon fans across the country, and we look forward to keeping athletes and fans connected throughout the festivities.”

As the official wireless provider of the 121st Boston Marathon, we will again offer a host of mobile features to connect runners and spectators. These will include:

– AT&T Athlete Alerts: Friends, family and fans wanting to track runners’ progress can sign up to receive real time email, text and social media updates. Receive text alerts when your runner reaches the 10K, half marathon, 30K and 40K marks, as well as the finish line.

Signing up for AT&T Athlete Alert is easy. Simply text RUNNER to 234567 and sign up to receive up to 8 text alerts per bib number. Runners can also register to have alerts sent through their own social media.

• Free Communication Centers: Runners can contact their loved ones after the race with AT&T Communication Centers. They can congratulate them with a call, text or video call. The calling centers will be located in the Family Meeting Area after the finish line.

• Increased Network Capacity and Free Wi-Fi: There will be free temporary Wi-Fi to customers at the Marathon start line in Hopkinton and at the finish line on Boylston Street. AT&T boosted 4G LTE network capacity at more than 30 cell towers along the marathon route. We also plan to bring a Cell on Wheels (COW) to Copley Square to accommodate expected increased network demands.

• Mobile Medical Centers: AT&T is providing 50 Samsung tablets in the 25 medical tents along the marathon route. They will help the B.A.A.’s medical personnel track competitors as they enter the tents, are treated and released.

• Boston Marathon App: Runners and fans can use the B.A.A.’s mobile app – the Official Boston Marathon App, powered by AT&T – to learn about the race and the competitors.

• Virtual Reality Experience: AT&T created a Boston Marathon virtual reality experience. From the “Scream Tunnel” at Wellesley College to “Heartbreak Hill” in Newton and all the way to the Finish Line on Boylston Street, users can see all of the iconic sights along the Boston Marathon route.