WOW, what a race! B.A.A. volunteers excellent job. BUT, the folks along the course were just a bit better. These people know their marathon!
The cool water, oranges, hoses, wet sponges, wet & dry naps, bananas, popsicles, ice, jelly beans, pretzels - need I go on? Next year's rookie marathoners are in for a treat.

My first timer hints: Buy one of those cheap pool float mattresses to lie on while waiting at the athlete village. If the port-o-let lines are too long, go outside the village towards the start; there are plenty along the way, on the side streets. Enjoy yourself!! Boston is a great town!! I won't give any running tips because this course is my DEMON course. I've run the last (2) Bostons and I've failed miserably!! But don't think I won't come back to beat that marathon monster. Congrats to all the finishers, the runners who went towards the white light and back from the heat this year, and good luck to all future Boston marathoners!!!

Boston Marathon is, of course, the one we all aspire to run. It is the most prestigious marathon in the world with a history going back over 100 years. Having said that, perhaps my expectations were too high. The course was as described - hilly, point-to-point course. Some areas were more scenic than others. My biggest complaint is the lack of port-a-potties on the course. They only had 1-2 at each water stop. How hard is it to position more on the course, especially since they really didn't want people urinating in public. The crowds were good, but not great. They got better as you got closer to Boston. The fans did a super job of helping the runners with water, ice, orange slices, bananas, Gatorade, and even sprinklers on the very hot day we had. As far as cheering, I felt that Chicago and Marine Corps Marathon fans were better overall cheerers.

Run it because it's Boston. If you've never run a large marathon, it'll be a pretty cool experience with the sea of runners and lots of spectators. If you've run other large, well organized marathons, it probably won't live up to the hype.

This is THE ONE to do even if you hate road marathons. Despite the big field and big city name, it gives you everything a small town race would: it only finishes at Boston but runs through the outskirts of it with all the perks of locals cheering just for you, their oranges, wet towels, ice cubes (so nice this year), strawberries and the like. The Wesley girls are great (I've heard back then they would practically jump at you), Boston college kids very loud, children are enthusiastic and I could go on forever pointing details.

I liked the course with all its hills: up and down. Not the PR one but we are not all Kenyan, are we? Liked it a lot. Probably will not come back but very happy to have done it. If you can - come and experience the oldest marathon in the US. Organization is great (maybe the corrals are to narrow and it takes up to 30 min for people at the back to start but the street is narrow and it's all part of fun to wait to move). Hot day, never shortage of water. Thanks for keeping this marathon alive.

Bus to the start:
Since I had a relatively low race number, the race instructions indicated that I could/should board the bus to the start between 8am and 830. I got to the right area (Tremont Street side of the Boston Common) at 8:01 am. I was not able to get onto a bus until 10:45am(???!!). It did not really pull away from Tremont Street until 10:55, really. The 'management' on-hand said some buses got lost and then said that they were blocked by a parade. This is unacceptable and can't be blamed on the poor volunteers. I did not get to the starting area until 11:50 am, 10 minutes before the start. I had to sprint with my bag and skip much of my normal routine preparation. The bus was so packed that I could not do anything en route. There seemed to be several hundred runners in the same boat. Some decided to get together for cab rides to the start (don't know if that worked out). If the management can't keep buses from getting lost or blocked by parades then there should be some contingency plans to provide transportation (cab rides, alternate buses, anything).

Bag is missing:
I dropped my bag off at the yellow buses at the start. I was in a hurry since I only had a little less than 10 minutes (see bus problem above). The lady onboard the bus who took my bag said, "Don't worry, your bag will be there at the finish." When I went back to the same exact bus after the race, my bag was not there(!!!???). I asked other buses as well. I was not in much condition to deal with this. The main action I prompted was to get me escorted off a bus (where I had been previously invited to sit and wait). I do not know what happened to my bag. Any advice is welcome. Since the bag has a sticker with my name and number on it I am still slightly hopeful that it will be returned.

These problems make me want to avoid this race in the future. I don't need these kinds of problems when other races (bigger and smaller) I have done (NYC, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia) never have as many hassles. As a minimum I need: a) a properly measured course, b) timely ride to start (if not then indicate so beforehand), c) water on course, d) finisher's medal, e) return of bag at finish.

For veteran marathoners, I would not spend much time at the expo. The talks were too basic (e.g. drink water, conserve energy, etc...) and there were many posers around just buying gear. It looked like a fashion show.

The course is challenging. The fans are great although their energy can throw you off your plan. The weather always seems to be a factor. This year it got up to 87 with a strong tailwind at points. The problem with a tailwind is it never cools you off. I saw many people struggling--it looked like a M*A*S*H unit at the end.

The city and outlying areas really get into the race. There was about 15 pages of race coverage in the paper.

The organization is great. I always knew where to be and the volunteers were great as well. I even got to run next to the first Japanese winner (1953?). There is a lot of history, and if for no other reason Boston deserves respect.

Yes, it was hot, but the crowd support was terrific. The was the 5th year in a row I have run Boston. The fans are wonderful and serve to keep the runners motivated no matter how tired and brutal the weather is. I'll be back.

Just coming back home from my 5 hour train ride, still having these awesome memories from today's race in my mind. Thank you Boston. Thank you to all supporters along the course with your generosity in providing million of gallons of water, oranges, dry and wet paper towels, etc. along these steamy roads. Thank you Wellesley College girls, you were the loudest and cutest...

Yes, it was hot but for my first Boston Marathon - a memory of a lifetime. I even qualified for next year and will be back...

Thank you, Boston, for my last weekend in the US for the last 7 years. You made this an unforgettable one.

It's the Boston Marathon... enough said.

Running Boston is an experience of a lifetime. In no other sport can you have thousands of people cheering just for you. Fantastic. All along the 26 miles the fans are screaming for you. Drawing on having run it 12 times, here are a few pointers for first-timers.

-It is a hilly course. Mostly downhill the first 10k, so go out at an easy pace. The crowd, your adrenaline, and the downslope make you want to run like a bat out of hell, but resist it! You will be thankful come Heartbreak Hill. Also be careful of the steep downhill after mile 15. Too fast and you will kill your quads.

-You worked hard to qualify to get here, so loosen up a bit and enjoy the race. Now is not the time to PR. Have fun, enjoy the crowds and scenery. Give some high fives. Grab a beer at Heartbreak. I usually stop several times for beer. Makes it more fun and the crowd will love it.

-Be prepared for any type of weather. It can be very hot or very chilly, sometimes on the same day. Many years it is warm at the start, but very cool after Heartbreak due to the sea breeze off the stil-cold ocean waters. The temps can drop 20 degrees within a few mile stretch!

-You may want to consider taking the tour of the course the day or two beforehand. It will give you a better idea of what to expect.

-Try not to leave town that night. Since it starts so late, it can be difficult to get a late flight and driving so soon after the race can be painful.

-Have fun!!!

This was my first Boston Marathon, and my 7th marathon overall. Boston is as different from other marathons as apples and oranges. First let me say that my Syracuse winter didn't provide for great training, so my time stunk. Knowing that a PR wasn't going to happen let me really enjoy the crowd and the course. The crowd is the biggest, loudest, most involved thing you could ever imagine. I slapped hands with kids for about the first ten miles, it was wall to wall people. The wellsley girls are as advertised; they were so loud that I couldn't hear myself think! Towards the end of the marathon, the crowd was so pressed in that there was only about 4 feet across to run in, it was great.
There were plenty of aid stations and I thought the course was very fair. The hills are no worse that the ones at Steamtown.
Congrats to the organizers, the bus ride was fine, the tent city at the start was great, and even the finish was ok - confusing, but ok. If you qualify for Boston, do it, and stay in the city; the food and sights are great.