I was on the bus that was breaking down that was mentioned a few comments back. It was a complete nightmare. We had to stop several times because the bus was overheating. I was lucky enough to be sitting, but many had to stand for 50 minutes on the bus before the race. Had to scramble to get prepared to run a marathon in 85 degree heat. Made for a very difficult run.

I will be back next year hoping for a different result both on and off the course. Everyone I talked to said this never happened before, so I'm willing to chalk it up to bad luck.

Spectators were awesome. They actively participate in the race with hoses, water, oranges, etc.

Definitely felt honored to have been a part of such a prestigious event.

This was my 8th marathon, first Boston and it was incredible. The course was tough, but it's supposed to be... it's Boston. I was treated like a rock star the entire weekend by everyone in Boston and especially while running the race. It was hot and I didn't love my time (my 2nd slowest), but I LOVED my experience and still get choked up just thinking about it. I think I have to say it was better than my first marathon. I have been floating around on cloud 9 since the race with a perpetual runner's high.

I definitely hope to be back and hope that anyone who loves marathoning earns the chance to run Boston at some point in their life. The spectators were even better than Chicago, the best I've ever seen. The support was incredible. Every 't' was crossed and every 'i' was dotted and while there was much need for the med tents, they were there ready to help. Thanks to all of the organizers and supporters of this race, for giving me a memory that I will cherish forever.

This was my first Boston (5th marathon - the other 4 in Philadelphia). I'm happy to say the spectator support and encouragement along every inch of the course was outstanding. Even after the course was 'officially' closed and more runners were crossing the finish line, people were still lining the streets of Boston, telling us we could do it. We needed to hear that, more than you'll ever know.

I sprained my ankle just past mile 10. In that moment all could think was, oh no, not this, not now. I've worked so hard and dreamed of this day for so long (it took me 2 attempts over 2 years to finally qualify)... it can't end now. A nurse at the first aid station at mile 10.3 wrapped it up good in an ace bandage so I could walk... and I did... the remaining 16 miles, to cross the finish line in (net)6:12:36. Adding my start time offset of 17:37 meant the clock was at a 'gun time' of 6:30:13 when I finished, too 'late'. I heard the 6 hour limit was extended to 6 hours, 20 minutes due to the heat... but I still missed the 'closing' by 10 minutes.

Coming in so much later than I anticipated (I'd hoped for a 4:30 or so finish), water stations were running out of water. If it hadn't been for spectators along the course offering runners water and Gatorade from their own homes, we would have been in trouble. God bless them! And God bless the folks who handed out oranges, grapes, strawberries, bananas, Oreos, wet paper towels, ICE CHIPS - that was a GODSEND!! You have no idea how much those ice cubes and ice chips helped.

The lady halfway up Heartbreak Hill handing out Advil was an angel. Bless you, ma'am.

The young mother with her baby on her hip handing out Fig Newtons was nothing other than a picture of love and encouragement - bless you, dear.

People still lined the streets of Boston in those final 3 miles, regardless of how late it was, continuing to shout words of encouragement I so desperately needed to hear. I know they probably said it over and over, and went home hoarse, but 'You can do it!', 'Hang in there, baby - one more mile!', and 'You're my hero!' were more than words to me as I fought my way to finish in the evening shadows. Those words chased away the doubt and gave me hope. Their smiles chased away the fear of failure. Their shouts of encouragement gave me the courage and determination to keep going in the face of disappointment. If it hadn't been for the spectator support, I would have quit, no question.

I heard the buses didn't show for 2 hours on race morning in Boston... what happened? Sounds like the BAA dropped the ball there. At the finish I felt I was playing hide and seek to find a Mylar blanket, medal and my bag. I was cold, wet, hurting - and had to chase down red jackets to find things. Not good.

I understand because I finished 'late' that I won't get a finisher's certificate or a postcard with my splits and net time. My name didn't join all the other heros in the next day's paper, and my finishing time isn't posted on the BAA website. For some reason, there is no picture of me crossing the finish line, even though I was alone with no one around me and I'm sure I saw photographers still up above, but obviously I was too late? Did they pack up and stop taking pictures after the 6:20 time limit?

But my watch says 6:12:36, and I have my medal and Mylar blanket to prove it!

I know there were many people who crossed the finish line after me. I dare say we are the real heros of that day, and for what it's worth, I think we're being shortchanged to not have any finish line pictures or at least our results posted on the website, no matter how long we struggled to the finish.

To the people of Boston: Kudos and TEN STARS. To the BAA and Marathon Photo: need for much improvement. Not a good first impression for my first Boston. Marathon Photo would do well to adopt some logistical tips from the folks at Island Photo, who do Philly every year. Those finish line pix are far better: taken from just behind the finish line, everyone gets a photo of the Philly banner and time clock above them as they cross the finish line. Not so with MP - seems only if you came in directly under a time clock your time was in your picture.

And those HP runner locators in the tall hats? My family couldn't find them anywhere. Perhaps they left early as well? As it got later in the day, isn't it even more imperative to know where your runner is on the course, in case something happened (as it did with me and I was way behind schedule) - especially due to the heat we encountered- if nothing else?

Kudos to the people of Boston; to the BAA, HP and Marathon Photo - need for improvement.

Thanks for listening!

I'm finally recovered from my record breaking negative-PR...aka...how to add two hours to your PR and still finish under 6:00. What a kick-butt course, even though I already have 3 Bostons on my resume.

In the past, I have found the crowd at times boisterous, or maybe too drunk, but 2004 was very different: the crowd's compassion and generosity was bottomless. No bad remarks during walk breaks, sheer awe on their faces as I passed and claps so loud I can still hear them in my sleep. I'm proud of you Boston!

(Those negative New Yorkers who left comments in this section are still mad the Red Sox beat the Yankees during the race...give me a break and stay in your cute little Central Park race!)

I also want to mention the professionalism and encouragement offered by the med tents and EMS staff along the way. Perhaps they are sensitized by the unfortunate death of a runner in 2003... but this med staff rocks! I found it very easy to get shade, blood pressure and pulse checks every 2 miles to ensure my safety after mile 16.

I mostly admire the thousands of first-timers who looked beyond the poor weather and saw what real runners can only see: the respect for our BAA race and our sport. BRAVO and come back!

4/19 was my birthday & I'd planned to run this Boston for 2 years. Then in Feb., I got injured; last week a family emergency almost kept me from coming, so I blame my slow time on myself. As a 14,400-seeded runner, I was on a 6:30 AM bus; no bus problems that early. Although it was hot, there were plenty of fluids and the spectators were great!! My only complaint with the course is: MORE PORTA-POTTIES, please! Air Force, Atlanta, and even Cowtown have more than the Boston course.

But you really need to watch out after you've finished. Standing in line for baggage I almost lost it and saw a few people puking there guts out with no one there to help. After baggage claim I was pushed down the street and never saw the massage area or anywhere to get more water. Someone could fall there & get hurt easy. This is an expensive race, but when you include the Sunday Fun Run (nice shirt) and pasta dinner, it's a better value. The post-race party is no big deal; I only went because it was in my hotel & to look at results.

I heard all the stories about Boston. Unbelievable crowds, too crowded, too steep, too expensive, on and on. You have to experience it and make up your own mind. This race was too hot for a mountain boy who trains early in the cool and sun-less part of the day. Since you can't control the weather there is no use complaining about it. Now I can say I ran Boston in '04 and those that know will say, "Man, that was a hot one." It wasn't pretty (my run) but I found out that I had an extra gear in the survival transmission. My time was way off, but that only served to tick me off and want a rematch. (see you in '05, the good Lord willing).

For a race this size the organization was really good. My only complaints have to do with the fact that people (volunteers) gave me conflicting information about where the baggage buses were to the point I ran out of time before the race and had to hide my gear on someone's porch in Hopkinton. The other was since I stayed in the Hopkinton area (which I highly recommend), I had to find the bus back to Hopkinton which according to all the different red-coated volunteers was somewhere in the state of Massachusetts. I felt like garbage and the last thing I wanted to do was walk all over downtown Boston.

The expo was great, and if the people along the race course had not taken the time to bring out their hoses, squirt guns, spray bottles, etc., I do believe that this would have been the first race that I would have DNFed. Thank you kind people. Although I don't like large cities and crowds, the people of Boston and the general area were very polite and enthusiastic (except when they are driving... look out!) You just have to do Boston.

It was very disappointing that the organizers did not provide enough buses to the start. Many runners, especially runners in the first corral missed the gun going off. I can not believe this could happen at such prestigious event. The start could also be earlier, like 10:00 AM or so. The spectators in the other hand were very cheerful; thumbs up for that.

I was in line for the last bus from Boston to the start at 8:30am. There were not enough seats and buses left, with about 4 bus loads of us still waiting. We started worrying at 10:30 a.m. Some thought about taking the taxi out, but do not have the money (asking price was $65). At 10:40 a.m., one bus showed up, most people get on at an orderly fashion, except I did see one climb in through the window. Then 2nd and 3rd bus came. I got into my standing room in the 3rd bus, not looking forward to the ride. Then 4th bus came, we disembark and got our seat in the 4th bus, which was 3/4 full. It was close to 11am before the convoy of these 4 buses left Boston. Half an hour into the journey, one bus ahead of us had mechanical problem and pulled to the side of the highway. Gentleman from Columbus, Ohio on our bus got consensus and proposed to bus driver to go back and pick those guys up. Bus driver said there was no good way to turn back, and that the disabled bus had already called for help.

At 11:45 a.m., we got dropped off at the end of corrals on Main Street, but still need to run up the street to drop off our bags at the baggage buses. I made it to my starting corral less than 10 minutes before the start at noon.

This is probably what I would remember about the 108th running, besides the heat. Line at the pasta dinner had been improved. Crowd support and volunteers at aid stations were phenomenal as usual, especially at Wellesley, which was truly appreciated.
I am of limited financial means, but still try to come and run here every year. It is a runner's race. Everybody earns their right to be here. It is all about tradition and I feel fortunate to be part of it.

...then run Boston. Make sure the heat is up to 86 degrees (as it was this year):))

A special thank you to all the people with garden hoses along the route, it is incredible how hard they worked to support the runners. Unforgettable experience, I don't even worry that my time sucked!!!

Running my first Boston Marathon for Children's Hospital Boston was one of the best experiences of my life. The heat was bad and I was disappointed with my time but that was all secondary to the thrill of being a part of this terrific event and team. I had set a time goal long before the race and had been improving a lot since my last marathon (NYC) but with the weather... it was not to be. Actually I did set a PR but that was more of a reflection of my slow times before Boston and a determination (pig-headedness!!) that if I couldn't make the goal I set in training, I was at least going to do better than ever before. It's nice to only have been running for 3 years and still be on the up side of the improvement curve. But at 53 I don't know how long that will last!