I had to travel all the way from England to run Boston 2012 and it was the best ever journey to the starting line. I couldn't have finished the race if it wasn't for the supporters. There were so many wonderful people with their hoses and bags of ice. One lady ran about 10 yards with me so I didn't have to stop to get ice out of her cooler. The crowd support was everywhere! I've already qualified to come back and run next year, which I definitely will.
My only points for improvement would be to have little bottles of water at the stops instead of cups. It's almost impossible to get a good drink out of a cup while running. At the London Marathon they give you bottles and not only is it easier to drink, but you use less because you can hold the bottle past the following one or two drink stops. The only other issue for me was after the finish there isn't any shade. I really suffered from the heat and could have used just a bit of shade to cool down. I saw a few people laying under the school buses so I decided to join them. I realise it's not usually as hot as 2012, but if it's predicted again please add some shade and maybe some benches at the finish.
Boston is great!

If it were any other marathon, I would have taken a DNS. I knew the BAA preparation is always top notch, and this was no exception. What was surprising was the level of support from the spectators, they handed out everything but free cars as we ran by. Water in cups, or chilled bottles coming out of coolers. Orange slices, twizzlers, wet sponges and towels, ice, freeze pops, etc etc etc. Understanding that every runner was making an extra effort, the crowd did as well. On a tough day for runners, volunteers and spectators alike, the spectators and course vols brought their world-class A game. I will be forever grateful that I had an opportunity to take part in such a great event.

This is my 1st Boston, my 2nd marathon. I had been planning for this for a year and a half. I wanted to do well and to re-qualify for Boston by running Boston. Unfortunately, the record high temperature did not help. However, it was an amazing experience. I would do it all over again, even with the heat. The crowds were awesome. Thank you so much for the water hoses, ice, popsicles, bananas! The highlight for me was the women of Wellesley, Absolutely loved their screeches. Now I have to run another marathon to re-qualify because I have to run Boston again!

I wish I could gather all the volunteers and spectators to thank them one by one for taking such superb care of us runners.
The heat was so extreme, but so was all the help and care along the course.
I have ran over 35 marathons and none have come close to the comaraderie that Boston shares with its marathoners. Thank you Boston for making 'My Dream Come True Marathon,' better than I could have ever imagined!!

This was my third Boston, my worst time ever for a marathon, and the race I will never forget! The heat tested every part of your will to run. The support on the course from the official volunteers and ALL of the others on the side of the roads was like nothing I have ever seen or heard (THANK YOU SO MUCH). My family being at mile 17 gave me the strength to make it all the way to the finish. The girls at Wellesley and the kids at BC were 100% supportive. Finishing a marathon is 26.2 worth of special feelings, finishing this Boston Marathon was PRICELESS!

This was my 44th marathon, but my first Boston. Yes, it was HOT HOT HOT. I crossed the start at 10:25 and it was over 80 degrees already. Sooo glad I wore sunscreen, and wore a hat - which I generally don't do. The runners were awesome and supportive, as were the enormous crowds. The girls at Wellesley were great, and beautiful.(Hot weather means less clothes!!) The Volunteers on the course were the best I've encountered. I heeded the warnings and ran extremely slow, finishing almost an hour slower than I could run on a 50 degree day, but it was very important that I finished, since it was so hard to get in this race. I feel so bad for the 1000 or so runners who did mot finish due to the heat. (I saw more than a few collapsed on the course).
Expo was huge, and Boston in the spring is beautiful. We took a Duck Boat tour of the city, I highly recommend doing this. We ate dinner on Sunday at Momma Anna's in the North End. (JFK's fav Italian restaurant) It was so great to see so many runners eating dinner with thier families and just walking around town in thier marathon jackets and shirts. As a runner, Boston made me feel like a rock-star! Best big city marathon in the country, and I've done NY and LA.

Third Boston...Probably not possible but it would have been nice to start 1 hour earlier with the heat.
Course gets 6 stars for history & challenge. Fans get 12 stars for the non stop screaming and passing out of food & drink. The spectators were spectacular. Thank you to the Moms & little kids passing out frozen treats and to everyone with a garden hose & ice. I really think those made the difference for me. The race did a good job of having extra misting tents and fire hydrants running. Really would have liked to have seen a tractor trailer of Popsicles everywhere on the course. Don't want to drink Gatorade for a while.
The post-race food potato chips, buns and a cup of fruit cocktail in a bag?
Missed the pasta dinner as last year the food was luke warm and the free can of beer just seemed not quite enough.
Expo still very crowded and very fun, but seemed a little smaller this year.
A great experience that I wouldn't repeat or recommend when it is above 80 degrees.

My 17th Boston and obviously the warmest one. 2004 may have been just as high on a thermometer but this one was warmer at the start, a touch more humid, and had very little breeze while 2004 had a nice cooling breeze all the way home. The BAA and their volunteers and the spectators did an awesome job to have the runners survive the experience. My personal worst by 45 minutes in a marathon but I never thought I wasn't going to be able to make the trip due to everyone on the side of the road trying to help me get there. Boston showed its strength in adversity.

This was my fourth Boston Marathon since turning 60 years old and it was a challenge! We had a lot of fun....support was fantastic throughout the entire course.....will definitely try to qualify again...

Surviving the heat became the focus at this year's race, and most of us did, in large part due to the absolutely remarkable support from the BAA and the fans along the course. Even the runners understood the idea of working together. While I would never want to do it again, I am glad to have been a part of this historic day.