Where Boston Marathon runners act like tourists

This weekend, the city welcomed roughly 27,000 marathon runners along with their families and friends. That number includes the 32 runners who fill the men’s and women’s elite fields of the Boston Marathon. While the race is essentially a business trip for those most fleet-footed marathoners, that doesn’t keep the elites from exploring the area and building wish lists of places they want to visit when they come back for other races and training.

Bunker Hill Monument

On his first visit to Boston, two-time Olympian Ryan Hall was a promising California high school schoolboy distance runner in town for a track and field meet. Taking advantage of the cross-country trip, he toured some of the city’s historic sites. He climbed the Bunker Hill Monument — all 294 steps to the top. The experience left a memorable impression, though not entirely because of the monument’s historical significance. “I remember climbing all these steps and being super sore before my race,’’ said Hall. “My quads were trashed.”

The Charles River

Not surprisingly, the Charles River is the most popular attraction for top marathoners, letting them train and get a sense of the city. Many venture from Back Bay to Harvard on their runs, impressed by all the activity on the water and on the bike paths along its banks. You might see defending women’s champion Sharon Cherop speeding by on the bike paths. She said it’s one of her favorite places to run, besides the marathon route, of course.

Ethnic cuisine

Meb Keflezighi, marathon silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics and third place finisher in the 2006 Boston Marathon, goes for ethnic food. “When I’m doing appearances and not racing, I love eating Indian and Thai food on Newbury Street,’’ he said. “If I am there for a longer stay after a race, then look for me in a spicy food restaurant.’’ Keflezighi planned to race Monday, but an injury forced him to withdraw and miss any post-race spicy treats.

Cheers

On one of his first trips to Boston, Keflezighi also made the popular tourist trek to the original Cheers bar. It was a show he watched growing up while adjusting to US culture as an immigrant from the African nation of Eritrea. To get a taste of his home country, Ethiopian Olympian Gebre Gebremariam heads to the Addis Red Sea Restaurant on Tremont Street.

Newbury Street

Not surprisingly, the Charles River is the most popular attraction for top marathoners, letting them train and get a sense of the city. Many venture from Back Bay to Harvard on their runs, impressed by all the activity on the water and on the bike paths along its banks. You might see defending women’s champion Sharon Cherop speeding by on the bike paths. She said it’s one of her favorite places to run, besides the marathon route, of course.

Sorella’s

Hall favors Dunkin’ Donuts for coffee and Sorella’s in Jamaica Plain for breakfast. “Sorella’s has the most ridiculously good pancakes and I’m a huge pancake person,’’ said Hall, whose sister-in-law introduced him to the eatery. “They have a million different varieties.’’

The Museum of Science

Asked what she planned to do post-race, Flanagan said, “It all depends on how much I annihilate myself. I could be in the fetal position and not moving for hours. Or, I could be on cloud nine and not have anything hit me until the next day.’’ All she could guarantee was that “some beer and some seafood’’ will be involved. And, perhaps, she’ll get a chance to check one item off her bucket list: a Sam Adams brewery tour. “I’ve been wanting to take a tour for the past couple years and do some beer tastings,’’ said Flanagan. “It’s definitely something my family and I have talked about doing this spring.”

The Public Garden

The Back Bay, Public Garden, and Boston Common were always special places for three-time Olympian Shalane Flanagan while growing up in Marblehead. She remembers reading the book “Make Way for Ducklings’’ in elementary school and taking a field trip to the Public Garden. When she started dating her future husband, Flanagan brought him there, too. “The first time I took my husband to Boston, he’d never been on ice before and the pond was actually iced over,’’ said Flanagan. “Then, I brought him back when the Swan Boats were out. It’s a full-circle place for me. I have lots of good memories there. Even when I come back for indoor track meets, I go over and run in that park.’’

Attend a sporting event

When not running along the river or racing on the course, elite marathoners may dine at North End restaurants, take in brewery tours, visit museums, or attend Red Sox and Celtics games. At least, they hope to cross a few attractions off their tourist wish list following the marathon, though it all hinges on how they feel after finishing.

Take a brewery tour

Asked what she planned to do post-race, Flanagan said, “It all depends on how much I annihilate myself. I could be in the fetal position and not moving for hours. Or, I could be on cloud nine and not have anything hit me until the next day.’’ All she could guarantee was that “some beer and some seafood’’ will be involved. And, perhaps, she’ll get a chance to check one item off her bucket list: a Sam Adams brewery tour. “I’ve been wanting to take a tour for the past couple years and do some beer tastings,’’ said Flanagan. “It’s definitely something my family and I have talked about doing this spring.”