Inspired by their experience at the 1896 Olympic Games, several members of the Boston Athletic Association founded their own marathon in 1897. The race has been run every year since (though the 1918 edition featured a military relay rather than an individual race) and is now the world’s oldest annual …
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Inspired by their experience at the 1896 Olympic Games, several members of the Boston Athletic Association founded their own marathon in 1897. The race has been run every year since (though the 1918 edition featured a military relay rather than an individual race) and is now the world’s oldest annual marathon. Both the start and finish lines have been moved over the years, but much of the original course remains exactly as it was originally designed.
Since 1924 the race has begun in the town of Hopkinton, and from there the point-to-point course descends through Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley. Upon entering Newton, the course gradually rises to the famous Heartbreak Hill. As runners reach the top, they can see downtown Boston for the first time, four miles in the distance. After running through Brookline, the course enters Boston where it finishes on historic Boylston Street.
Runners must qualify for entry by meeting time standards corresponding to gender and age, which is another aspect – besides its course and longevity – unique to the Boston Marathon.
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Boston at it's best (weather)
While running Boston in 2025, I realized during the race how my preparation and strategy could have been improved (I ran the initial downhills too fast, felt it in my … MORE
While running Boston in 2025, I realized during the race how my preparation and strategy could have been improved (I ran the initial downhills too fast, felt it in my quads trying to get up the Newton Hills, and then began cramping when entering Brookline). It was still an amazing experience but I spent the last year wanting a 2nd chance/repeat opportunity and got it. Training block this year included required hill work and my strategy was more dialed. Throw in amazing weather and I was able to PR/PB at Boston! Boston is truly a celebration of the efforts made to qualify and the race itself is a puzzle/challenge that is a difficult needle to thread. It’s not quite the continuous block party that other World Majors provide (though Wellesley College/Boston College/Boylston are AMAZE), it’s a celebration and a tradition of a different sort that makes Patriot’s Day so special. I humbly look forward to running Boston until I can’t.
Loved getting my sixth star here!
This is a very organized race (which I love), but the 5-6 hills near miles 17-22 are no joke! I'll never do it again, but I was very happy to … MORE
This is a very organized race (which I love), but the 5-6 hills near miles 17-22 are no joke! I’ll never do it again, but I was very happy to get my sixth WMM star here. Cheers to the people of Boston for making the last five miles so special. Also love the branding of the merch!
The One with the Perfect Weather
Being from New England and now living in the Boston suburbs at some point I knew I had to figure out how to run the Boston Marathon. I knew I … MORE
Being from New England and now living in the Boston suburbs at some point I knew I had to figure out how to run the Boston Marathon. I knew I wasn’t qualifying as my marathon PR is 20 seconds to slow to qualify for an 80 year old woman and I am slower than I was then but I had a few fundraising opportunities this year which led it to be the perfect year for a charity bib. I also had already secured my entry to Tokyo this year and as a slower runner wanting to get the six star medal, I thought it was a good strategy to do the races back to back in the same year. The reason for this is these were the two most intimidating majors for me as they have the tightest time limits and they were the only 2 I really had to get faster to get my star. So my plan was to train hard and build my speed for Tokyo and hopefully keep the speed for Boston and have some of the muscle memory of running 26.2 miles from Tokyo. I actually thought Tokyo and Boston were the perfect amount of time apart to be able to recover but still have your body used to running a marathon. This plan was either going to result in 2 Abbott World Major Stars or end in disappointment. Don’t worry I got the stars. If you are in my position where you are slow but potentially fast enough to run a marathon in ~6 hours and want the 6 stars and can figure out how to run Tokyo and Boston in the same year, I would highly recommend it. So how did I get my charity bib. Let’s just say the charity bib application is about as competitive as getting into medical school. I think I applied to the same number of charities as medical schools and got the same number of acceptances, wait lists and flat out denials. I ended up raising money for the Boston Theater Company which is a local charity that provides artistic and athletic opportunities for marginalized communities with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community. I was hoping to raise money for the LGBTQ+ community and liked the idea of raising money for a smaller, more local organization so this was perfect for me. If you want a charity bib you are going to need to both be passionate about the charity and commit above the minimum. It is also a good idea to make connections and get involved with some of the charities now. It helped that I had done the Road of Rainbows 5K which is hosted by and raises money for the Boston Theater Company. So after I got my charity spot in the fall, the next step was the training. Boston Marathon has a 6 hour time limit from the last runner and they “close” the course at 5:30pm which is 6 hours after they expect the last runner to cross the start line. Luckily unlike Tokyo, if you cannot make the time limit you won’t get swept off course and can still finish, get your medal and an unofficial time but you won’t get your Abbott World Major Star but I wanted that start so I needed to try for an under 6 hour marathon. You can read more about how I got faster in my Tokyo Marathon review but I finished Tokyo in 6:08 and felt pretty good as I knew I could shave a few minutes off if I ran the tangents a little better and I took Tokyo a little conservative in the end once I knew I would make the time cutoffs but I was still nervous as Boston was a harder course. Somehow though after Tokyo my half marathon times really improved and I had 3 really strong half marathon finishes leading up to Boston and was feeling more and more confident. I just needed good weather. I feel like Boston is often defined by the weather as it can be any temperature in April. Luckily this was the year the weather was pretty much perfect. Once I saw the weather forecast I knew I could do it. Pre-race communication was good and I was very happy my charity gave me the lowest bib number they got since they knew I was worried about the time limit which put me in the 2nd corral of the last wave so I would have a bit more of a buffer to finish. Logistics for Boston are obviously a lot easier for me. I live about 30 minutes north of Boston and work in Boston which means I have parking in Boston so I didn’t really have to worry about anything. I went to Boston Sunday and went to the expo. The expo was different. It was a lot of Boston marathon stuff but not a lot of other stuff. There were lines that moved fast to get the bibs and everything was well organized. The kit included a race shirt, sticker, bottle opener and lots of other little swag items. You also got a nice Boston Marathon pin as the charity runner gift. I never really spend much time or buy much at the expo as I’d rather spend money on traveling than merch and I already bought the jacket. I then went home and slept in my bed since I didn’t need a hotel. Race morning was also quite smooth and stress free. Marathon Maniacs rents buses and you can purchase a ticket for them if you are a club member. I decided to do this which was smart as I heard there were issues with the official buses. The only issue is the Marathon Maniacs bus leaves much earlier in the morning than my assigned time for the official race bus but at the same time there is no traffic driving to Boston before 6am and a lot of traffic driving rush hour so it was fine arriving early. The bus was nice as we could wait in it. It was perfect running weather but it was kind of cold waiting for the race to start weather. My assigned time was 11:21 so we spent a couple hours on the bus. There were porta potties in the bus area with short lines. I left to enter athlete’s village about an hour before my start. There was a security line. It was a bit slow and some of the runners tried to rush through and honestly I thought many of the runners were quite rude and security had to yell at them. With the Boston bombing and everything going on in the world right now I understand why they took security so seriously. It really didn’t take that long maybe 10 minutes and then you entered Athlete Village. Charity runners could go in the school so had indoor access. There was also water, gatorade and lots of porta potties. They called out waves one at at time and it was organized which direction for each corral for each wave to go. I was in the last wave the orange wave. As soon as they called out the orange wave I left as I wanted to be as close to the front as I could to ensure I had as much time as I could. It is a long walk to the start. There are porta potties before the start area. I was getting nervous about starting as every second counted for me but they lined us up and got us going right at 11:21. Of note they are very strict about wave and corral numbers and you cannot try to move up. As I said I was in the second corral and it took me maybe 30 seconds to cross the start line. It was kind of funny as I pretty much had to finish the marathon in exactly the time I finished Tokyo to make the finish line at 5:30. I however really wanted to see if I could break 6 hours. The start of the race is very crowded and very fast. The first four miles are downhill. Everyone says to not take this too fast but I had other plans. I am not going to lie. I am great at downhill and terrible at uphill. Also my quads were used to downhill running from Revel Mt Charleston (honestly this was a great training run to get used to downhill and I 100% recommend running the half before Boston to train your quads) so I was planning on taking the downhill fast and banking time so I could walk the big hills. This strategy worked perfectly for me but it may not work for everyone and obviously won’t work if your goal is even splits. My plan was to aim for around 12 minute miles the first four miles which I knew was too fast to maintain but not so fast it would tire me out. It is hard not to go fast in the beginning especially if you are a slower runner as the charity corral isn’t really based on speed but what charity you are running with and what bibs they were assigned so there are people of all speeds and most people are faster than you so you go faster. It is then mostly flat until mile 16 with just some rollers. My plan was for a steady pace of 12-13 miles here hopefully hitting the half marathon under 2:45. I hit it in 2:44:22 right on target. I typically slow down in the second half but I had a good pace the next couple miles and actually made it to the hills 5 minutes ahead of target. It helps that there are so many spectators and so much crowd support. I am going to be 100% honest. I thought the scenery was super boring for most of the race. Probably because I drive in the Boston suburbs all the time and was just running past things I see all the time but the spectators really make the course special. There are so many people cheering for you and giving out high fives and the energy is electric. The famous Wellesley Tunnel really helps as I usually hit a bit of a wall after the half way point as I’m so used to half marathons but the screaming helped me keep my pace up. It also helped that the weather was perfect with the exception of a random snow flurry in Framingham and we had a tailwind most of the course. Course organization and support is also excellent with aid stations on both sides about every mile with water and gatorade and a couple gel stations. There are also both km and mile signs and lots of timing mats to record splits. The course is all walled off and is basically a straight line until the end so it is very easy to follow. There is a nice downhill before mile 16 and then it is the toughest part of the course, The Newton Hills. I actually thought the first hill was the hardest and was worse than heart break hill. There are 4 significant hills and they last mile 16-21. My plan was for the hilly section to average close to 15 minute/mile pace as I knew I would need to walk a lot but I banked the time I needed and ran all of the downhill on this section. I was so happy when I made it up heartbreak hill that I was still 5 minutes ahead of my goal pace that I actually started crying as I knew I was going to make the time limit and I was almost certainly going to break 6 hours. There is great crowd support on the hills and despite what Nike says everyone was cheering for us even though most of us were power walking. Once you get to the top of heart break hill the rest of the course is mostly downhill and is more interesting. There is a nice downhill and I still felt strong and had a good pace at least for me. Going past Boston College is also a blast as the college kids are having a lot of fun cheering us on. You then go into Brookline and run down Beacon St which is mostly downhill but there are some small uphills until finally you see the beautiful Citgo sign indicating you made it to Boston. Honestly you are only in Boston for like 1.5 miles so this race is more a tour of the suburbs not a tour of Boston but you do run past Fenway park. Once slightly disappointing thing is the aid stations are being broken down for slower runners at the end of the race. There was still aid out but a lot of the volunteers were more focused on clean-up. I got to the 25 mile marker with about 20 minutes to spare to break 6 hours and knew I was going to do it. You then make a right turn and I saw my parents who were waiting by the finish line I excitedly ran to them and screamed I’m gonna break 6 hours and get my star and then you turn left onto Boylston to the finish. I was so happy I got my star and even broke 5:55 as I kept that 5 minute buffer from my planned pace to break 6 hours. After you finish you get your beautiful and coveted unicorn medal, a heat blanket and a bag of food. Afterwards I met my parents for dinner at My Thai Vegan Cafe which is about 1 mile from the race finish so close enough that you can miserably walk there but far enough away to not have huge marathon crowds. I then stayed in Boston for a concert and then finally drove home and had the best night of sleep in a long time. Overall Boston is an epic experience that every runner should try to do once. It is a challenge to get a bib and a challenge to finish in the time limit if you are a slow runner but it is such a special feeling actually finishing it! Hopefully the next 4 stars will be a little less stressful and just as amazing of races as Tokyo and Boston
Boston is special
I trained diligently (highest mileage to date) and practiced hills (larger/steeper than Heartbreak) and thought I was prepared but I did not train for the downhills enough! By the time … MORE
I trained diligently (highest mileage to date) and practiced hills (larger/steeper than Heartbreak) and thought I was prepared but I did not train for the downhills enough! By the time I was through Wellesley and arriving in Newton, I was already starting to feel it in my legs. Running Boston makes you quickly realize how you need to train for Boston. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to give it another go next spring and hope to not make the same mistake twice! Crowds/food/Patriot’s Day are all part of what make Boston so special.
It’s Boston
Love this race will go every year until I can’t Qualify. About 5 minutes harder than most marathons with the down hills early and up hills later in the race. … MORE
Love this race will go every year until I can’t Qualify. About 5 minutes harder than most marathons with the down hills early and up hills later in the race. Boston always satisfies!! Crowds are great and the after race celebration is great!!
Hard to beat Boston
There is a reason everyone wants to run Boston. It's the oldest and most prestigious marathon in the world. The crowd support is top notch. There is nothing like the … MORE
There is a reason everyone wants to run Boston. It’s the oldest and most prestigious marathon in the world. The crowd support is top notch. There is nothing like the Wellesley Scream Tunnel. Such an incredible race and experience.
It was very sunny this year. They had sunscreen at the start, but I foolishly declined. I didn’t realize how little shade there is on the course, and I got fried.
Logistics are always crazy. You grab a bus at Boston Common and ride an hour to the start. You then wait for at least another hour before taking a 1K walk to the corrals. Unfortunately this year, even with a 2:59:55 qualifying time, I was in wave 2. This meant I didn’t get on the first buses and didn’t start until 10:25. Just keep in mind that it is going to be a long morning before you even start to run.
I tried to start out conservatively in the downhill to save up some energy and my legs for the hills. I still fell apart in the second half. Boston seems to have my number. I still was 6 minutes faster then I was 6 years earlier. I guess I’ll take it.
Overall, it was an experience unlike any other.
There's nothing like Boston
The Boston Marathon is very unique in that the whole town and surrounding areas are geared up for the race with stores, restaurants, and billboards promoting the race. In the … MORE
The Boston Marathon is very unique in that the whole town and surrounding areas are geared up for the race with stores, restaurants, and billboards promoting the race. In the days after the race, the town and airport are filled with runners wearing their Boston gear (shirts, jackets, and medals). It was good weather this year and there were plentiful refreshment stations. The crowd of course was wonderful. The only hitch was bus-loading before the race. It was a little disorganized and took too much time. Although I arrived at the appropriate time for the bus, I did not get to Hopkington with much time to spare.
An Amazing Experience!
I finished much better than I had ever hoped to expect. I had heard so many horror stories about the race beforehand that I lowered my expectations. But, after running … MORE
I finished much better than I had ever hoped to expect. I had heard so many horror stories about the race beforehand that I lowered my expectations. But, after running NYC three times and training in my hometown of NYC, which is hilly, especially in Central Park, Boston was not as bad I as the hype. Of course, two things really helped: the amazing crowd support and the luck of decent weather (for April in Boston, but still not ideal for a marathon). Yes, there are hills, but also many downhills.
All in all, a very special, emotional, and unique running experience. I don’t know if I would do it again, but I was very happy that I raced it.
1st Boston Marathon
I worked really hard to get to Boston and qualified on my first marathon. It was grit to qualify and grit required to finish. As the oldest world's marathon and … MORE
I worked really hard to get to Boston and qualified on my first marathon. It was grit to qualify and grit required to finish. As the oldest world’s marathon and my first time running the race, I knew I wanted to take it all in and enjoy every bit of the race. I did not want to miss the moments as I ran to the finish line. I ran happy, I ran strong and I ran in gratitude. I am looking forward getting back to the grit for another qualifying time.
PB on a Perfect Day!
The 2025 Boston Marathon was as nearly a perfect day as you can get here in April in New England. Weather was almost ideal and the crowds were in full … MORE
The 2025 Boston Marathon was as nearly a perfect day as you can get here in April in New England. Weather was almost ideal and the crowds were in full throng and full voice throughout. As always the race production and logistics were excellent and organized and everything went off (from my vantage point) without a hitch from the somewhat crowded walk to the start all the way through the finish on Boylston. Couldn’t have asked for more and I’m so thrilled with a PB.
Some tips/advice for first timers: Start slow, try not to weave. You can make up time from the first mile or 2. Try to pick out humorous signs. Slap some fives in the Wellesley Scream Tunnel, but “save your gas” for the start of the Newton Hills. They’re not really that bad – imagine yourself “floating” up them and next thing you know you’ll be running down their backside.
Run hard on the downhill into Cleveland Circle and soak in the cheering and energy from about Mile 23 all the way in! Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston and Bob’s your uncle.
Bad Ass
Top notch all the way around. Somewhat difficult to get to start line. Construction created back ups. Got off the bus and walked to start line with 2 mins to … MORE
Top notch all the way around. Somewhat difficult to get to start line. Construction created back ups.
Got off the bus and walked to start line with 2 mins to spare. It was warm. Crowd support was better than normal. The medals this year were much improved from last year.
Boston never disappoints!!
Always a great race. Plenty of volunteers and plenty of spectators. This was my 4th and definitely the hottest. Never know what weather Boston will bring! MORE
Always a great race. Plenty of volunteers and plenty of spectators. This was my 4th and definitely the hottest. Never know what weather Boston will bring!
A bucket list race
Conditions and injuries made this a rough race for me, but I am honored to have run the oldest marathon. The crowds were good and the volunteers were amazing. Don't … MORE
Conditions and injuries made this a rough race for me, but I am honored to have run the oldest marathon. The crowds were good and the volunteers were amazing. Don’t let Heartbreak hill scare you, it’s not that bad, the real killer is the downhill start.
Warm beautiful day!!
Boston is an amazing race. So honored to go. It was a warm day and lot of people on the course. The crowd support was the best ever. I am … MORE
Boston is an amazing race. So honored to go.
It was a warm day and lot of people on the course. The crowd support was the best ever. I am already looking forward to going back next year.
Boston is Boston!
I participated as a Charity Runner and it was an amazing experience. The Expo is nothing special. The Pop-up shops along Newbury street are where all the brands are and … MORE
I participated as a Charity Runner and it was an amazing experience.
The Expo is nothing special. The Pop-up shops along Newbury street are where all the brands are and they each have shakeout runs. Lots of free hats at shakeout runs.
The bus from Boston to Hopkinton is easy to load – no issues.
I was in wave 4 so the starting village was not that crowded if you kept walking toward the back plus they had no-line potty. Lots of people crowded at the entrance.
The course is cool because there are no “real” turns until you get to Boston
The spectators are the best…It was a warm day and they had ice in bags plus popsicles along the course.
I practiced on hills so the Newton hills were not an issue for me.
Lots of bars/restaurants give out free food to runner after the race.
The hotels close to the starting line are very expensive (800-1200/night).
Save your money and run Boston if you can!
F cancer
Boston was my first race almost 6 months to the day of losing half my right lung to 911 cancer. This was a test to see if I can continue … MORE
Boston was my first race almost 6 months to the day of losing half my right lung to 911 cancer. This was a test to see if I can continue my quest for 50 states. Despite the hills, heat and missing half lung, this turned out to be an amazing day. The logistics were spot on by the race, support on the course was plentiful and the people were absolutely amazing. Both spectators and fellow runners really were supportive and help me get to the finish line despite lots of pain. I was lucky enough to run Boston. “ cops for kids with cancer.” charity and was able to raise $13,000. If you don’t qualify for Boston, find a charity as it is a must do race.
Best for last - 62nd & Final Marathon
**FULL DISCLOSURE**--This is a highly biased review! The completion of this race was the completion of a 16-year goal to run a marathon in every state (plus DC), on every … MORE
**FULL DISCLOSURE**–This is a highly biased review! The completion of this race was the completion of a 16-year goal to run a marathon in every state (plus DC), on every continent, and all 6 Abbott World Marathon Majors. I had many family and friends there to celebrate the milestone. So I loved everything about the experience!
BUSES & ATHLETE’S VILLAGE:
*The loading of the buses in Boston Common was very efficient. My comparison is my hometown of NYC and Boston was way more efficient.
*Like NYC, it’s a travel adventure to get to the start. The bus ride was over 45 minutes. Be prepared for that and use that time to fuel your body.
*Athlete’s Village is big but it does get crowded. There are tents to get out of the sun/elements. Men– there are urinal tents & there were never any lines.
*It’s about 3/4 mile walk from Athlete’s Village to the start corrals. You’ll go by one more group of port-o-potties (by the CVS) right before the corrals.
COURSE:
My glasses aren’t so rosy that I can’t admit it is a difficult course. I was lucky to do one training run on the final 17 miles of the course–so I was able to demystify the rolling hills of Newton. They weren’t easy, but it was good to know they weren’t the straight vertical climb I had envisioned.
*The course starts with downhills–which I knew. And I knew not to go out too fast. And, of course, I did go out too fast!
*There are plenty of aid stations. They are on both sides, but that is not immediately obvious with the first one. Once you understand that they are staggered (the runner right water station is first and then a little further later there are water tables on runner left). This is consistent for the entire course. I’m a back of the pack runner and the aid stations were being broken down as I got to mile 23. That can mess with you mentally–so just be prepared. While they are breaking down PART of the station, there is still water and Gatorade to be had.
*The crowds are fantastic–very loud and very supportive.
*It can be tough for family & friends to see runners multiple times on the course, but with some planning its possible. My family took the train to Framingham and saw me at the 10k point and then returned to see me at the finish line.
TRAVEL:
*Hotels are ridiculously expensive that weekend. Book your hotel early. Check out Marathon Tours for hotel options.
*Amtrak is a good option for people in the Northeast Corridor. Many hotels are then within walking distance of one of the 3 Amtrak stations. Logan Airport is a short ride-share/taxi away.
*I don’t think you need to rent a car. Boston traffic, especially Marathon weekend, is particularly slow.
WEEKEND EVENTS – EXPO
*The expo is exciting (a word I definitely overused that weekend) but also underwhelming. It’s “exciting” because it is the Boston Marathon and everything is exciting this weekend!
*You can buy a lot of the official merchandise in advance–which I did. I do suggest bringing the Celebration Jacket to the expo so that you can get a personalized patch for the sleeve. Be prepared to wait 90 minutes+ to go through the line and then wait for the patch.
*The recent marathon expos I have been to have left me underwhelmed. There are a lot less vendors and the ones that are there are quite random. I’m not sure if that is a post pandemic related issue or if sponsors are now strongly dictating exclusivity, thereby blocking more vendors from participating.
*Supplement your expo experience race weekend. Comb social media in the weeks leading up to the race. Many brands did pop-ups on Newbury Street. Other brands did special discounts for runners.
WEEKEND EVENTS – 5k & Shake-out runs
*The 5k is held on Saturday which is nice that it is two days before the marathon. I did the 5k and was happy to do it. It was fun. You get to run through marathon finish line and get pumped for the main event.
*There were many shake-out runs that weekend. Lots of different brands and groups did semi-organized runs. Again, comb social media for the different options.
WEEKEND EVENTS – Other
*There is so much going on Marathon Weekend. Do a little research and pick what is meaningful for you. I had a CharityTeams brunch on Sunday morning. There were other brunches Saturday with good speakers. There was a Sunday blessing of the runners. There is Fan Fest all weekend long. There is something for everyone.
MERCH & MEDAL(S):
*Pre-race there was a lot of negative talk about this year’s medal having a prominent logo of the new sponsor (Bank of America).
*With the creation of the medal and merchandise there is now a focus on sustainability. While good for the environment, I do envy the older Celebration Jackets that have the embroidery and are (seemingly) more substantial. The medal this year included velcro, which I understand was new.
*I received the Abbott World Marathon Majors 6 Star medal this weekend, too. It’s great.
It was such a special event and I loved every moment of race weekend. To be able to share the experience with family and friends was fantastic. I wouldn’t have changed a thing about the weekend. It was a perfect way to complete my full marathon journey.
Top notch event. Warm
Must do. The people of Boston are so supportive and gracious. The crowd support throughout the race is the best. The cheering throughout the last 4 miles was so loud. … MORE
Must do. The people of Boston are so supportive and gracious. The crowd support throughout the race is the best. The cheering throughout the last 4 miles was so loud. There is Nothing like turning left onto Boylston and sharing it with all the runners is special.
The World's Greatest Marathon
If you're wondering if this race lives up the hype: IT DOES! Here's my take from running the 2024 Boston Marathon: - Go to the expo early in the day … MORE
If you’re wondering if this race lives up the hype: IT DOES! Here’s my take from running the 2024 Boston Marathon:
– Go to the expo early in the day and Friday or Saturday if possible. It gets crazy busy.
-The $120 for the Boston Marathon jacket at the expo feels excessive. Do it anyway. EVERYONE wears the jacket. It’s a great way to connect with fellow runners that weekend.
-I showed up for the busses on race day 15 minutes before my wave was scheduled to depart. That was plenty of time.
-The bus ride is long. It can mess with your head thinking you have to run the whole way back. Just remember it’s the same 26.2 as any other marathon.
-Athletes Village is huge. There is plenty of time and space to stretch and warm up. There is hydration and plenty of porta potties. Guys, they have urinal versions that have NO LINES!
-Know there is about a 3/4 mile walk from the village to the start line. If it’s cool, keep your throw away clothes on as long as possible. Volunteers will collect them to donate, even up to the starting line.
-The first few miles are mostly downhill. You don’t notice the down as much in your head, but go too fast and your legs will definitely notice them later.
-Aid stations are every mile. No need to bring a water bottle.
-The race provides gels at a few stops. I am not a fan. I brought my own fuel, but never needed it. Spectators give out enough food that you can rely on that. I had a bunch of orange slices and bananas, even a watermelon slice. It was plenty. If you want salty or candy fuel, there was lots of that too.
-There were a few lulls in the crowd support in the early miles, but overall the support is excellent. The crowd really got me through, especially the last 10K. The crowds get bigger the closer you get to the finish.
-The hills in Newton in miles 17-21 are no joke. There are four main hills and they start right after the fire station. The first one was tougher than I thought. A long grinder. The middle two were fine. The last one, Heartbreak Hill is the toughest. I have run steeper hills in Marine Corps and the LA Marathon, but Heartbreak felt the hardest. It’s a long, steady climb. Coming at mile 21 in the race means the legs are sore already so it feels worse. Granted if Heartbreak was in mile 4 it wouldn’t be nearly as famous. Even at mile 4 though you would still notice it. Make sure you don’t run those first miles too fast or the hills in miles 17-21 will make you pay.
-The post race is efficient. You keep walking when you finish, get your water, then your medal, then your bag of food and Mylar blanket. You can meet family in the designated area. We instead chose to meet in the Public Garden. It’s a beautiful park 3 blocks from the finish line. It’s a much more pleasant place for everyone to wait for you. Make sure to designate a specific point in the park to meet like the George Washington statute or the ducklings statutes.
-The entire race process is a well-oiled machine. It’s a huge race with lots of friends and family so expect crowds and expect things to move a bit slowly for things like the expo, the lines for the bus, getting to the start line etc. However, it all moves efficiently. Budget a little extra time and you won’t have any stress.
This is marathon #27 for me and it is my all-time favorite!
A bit warm, but awesome as always
Typical well run race with HUGE crowds this year. Unfortunately the heat was too much for my goal time although still ended up w/ a reasonable finish. Will be doing … MORE
Typical well run race with HUGE crowds this year. Unfortunately the heat was too much for my goal time although still ended up w/ a reasonable finish. Will be doing it again next year and hopefully sometime in the future as a qualifier.