This was my second Boston Marathon having run it for the first-time last year. What makes this race special to me is the history, as well as the fact that you need to qualify to get in (unless you're a charity runner). While the race can give the appearance of being congested early on, you find that all the people around you are running about the same pace so there is little need for weaving. The use of the wave system really helps to space the runners out.

I give my highest marks to the organization of the race and the seemingly endless army of enthusiastic volunteers that you encounter from packet pickup till they hand you your bag back at the end. This year, they still had men's medium shirts left at packet pickup unlike last year, so that eliminates my one gripe. I would also have liked an indoor spot to have the pre-race pasta dinner since it was chilly out, but I'm sure it is hard to find that type of location for such a huge crowd. Once the race begins, you will be surrounded by mile after mile of spectator encouraging you on.

You will not be disappointed if you run Boston. It really is the ultimate race for any marathon runner.

I gave the course three stars because, anywhere else, it would not be remarkable. However, the organization is top notch and I doubt the spectators can be matched by any other race fans. And Boston is even more: history and tradition, tens of thousands of runners from all over the world, and instant camaraderie among those who love running more than is probably prudent. When you put it all together, you have a marathon that lives up to its stellar reputation. Any serious marathoner owes it to him/herself to try for the Boston Marathon experience.

This is THE best marathon out there. They do everything perfectly. And for 2010, the spectators were simply SPECTACULAR! Thank you, Boston!

The fans, organizers, and volunteers take care of it all completely. Bostonites are sport-savvy; with the Sox, Bruins, AND Celtics in town as well as the marathon, there was plenty to cheer about. Consistent and friendly fluid stops, clocks at every mile, on-time start, last-minute aid for lost chips, etc... they have it all. Post-race was equally as organized. This year a Velcro bag filled with goodies was handed to you after your medal was hung on you. Bag retrieval and reunion area were a breeze. Wellesley girls awesome as always! Expo has it all (albeit crammed quarters and a bit disorganized). Packet pick-up was easy, too. This feels more like an athletic event than other marathons - the race and fans treat charity entrants with respect. Run it if you get the opportunity.

My first Boston and my 21st marathon. What can I say - a wonderful city with many touristy things to do, great weather on race day, and an awesome high throughout the whole race. The fans were top notch and the girls at Wellesley rock! I wish I were younger! I am not a fan of the 10:30 start time, but it is a great course. I hope to return next year and spend more time downtown.

I LOVE Boston! Unbelievable support from the city itself (free rides on the T to runners after the race, the whole town reorganizing itself for the race, unbelievable volunteer support, and the spectators think of everything - handing out baby wipes, Vaseline, drinks, food, etc.). The waves work well; being in corrals with similar runners keeps one from feeling like they have to push through the crowd. Strangely hard course - there isn't one element that is so difficult; it's just the sum total. This was my second Boston; I always swear it's my last marathon, but I feel compelled to go back and conquer that course. I did re-qualify, which is exciting, and I did better the second go-around. Third time PR???

Boston has more commentary than any other marathon and a lot of what I read didn't hold true. This is what I found: lines for porta-potties (I used them 5 times - 3 in the village, 1 on the way to the corral, 1 at mile 15). I never waited for more than 12 minutes. I was in and out of the one on the course in 1 minute. I don't understand why everyone warns about hour-long wait times. Officials must have heard the complaints.

Crowded course: I ran my first 3 miles at 8:15 pace, which was fine by me. I was there to enjoy the experience and didn't really care about my time. I just followed the herd, and there's little you can do about it. The course is boring - I gave it 4 stars because of the history. The crowd noise is fantastic. The hills are mostly hype - I didn't train for them, I didn't worry about them, and I ran over them. If you want to worry about them, then add a couple of minutes to your estimated time. Does everyone qualify in Nebraska?

The finish area: I read lots of complaints about long walks, but I thought it was well organized overall. With dozens of runners crossing the line every minute, where did you think they would put them? There has to be a large area for runners to collect water, medal, blanket, drop bag, goody bag, and meet friends and family. This will likely be my first and last Boston. I trained hard to qualify and I'm proud to have done it. It's a great memory, but doing it once is enough for me. There are other marathons.

The 2010 Boston was a remarkable event from start to finish. I ran my last Boston at the 100th in 1996 and the efforts to manage 25,000 runners are unmatched by any other U.S. marathon. The two-wave start is a great idea to spread out the runners on the course. The spectators really support the runners all the way to the finish. It is a dream come to true for any marathon runner to "Run Boston."

This race is so well-run that there are no cons about it. All of the volunteers are tremendous from the start all the way through the water stations and the finish area. I was a little wobbly walking through the finish area when a volunteer stepped in front of me, looked me right in the eyes and made sure I was okay after I told her I was. The course is not easy, but marathons aren't supposed to be. I will be back next year.

This is my 9th Boston. Having run over 35 marathons, I know that many things in an event as large as this can go wrong very quickly.

This year was impeccable. It was run like a military maneuver: Ample port-a-johns, tons of water, plenty of food and giveaways, and lots of crowd support. And there is nothing like the Hopkinton to Boston crowds. And, of course the weather cooperated with perfect marathon running temps.

There was one hitch with the Athlete Alert system going down. I'm sure AT&T (the sponsors) were quite upset about that; it didn't make them look good. The pre-race expo was great, but I miss the clothing bargains I used to find from the smaller vendors that were noticeably absent this year. I missed the pre-race pasta party, but I have long ago learned that you can't go wrong at any Italian restaurant in the north end for a pre-race meal!

As big-city marathons go, Boston retains a certain atmosphere that is not found anywhere else.