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Boston Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Boston Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.6 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 418 [displaying comments 21 to 31]
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M. W. from Minnesota
(7/1/2015)
 "Bucket list race" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Boston has been on my bucket list since I started running. Now that I've run it, I won't come back anytime soon. I think it's selfish to run it multiple times when this race turns away applicants. Great race though. | |
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T. L. from Minneapolis, MN, USA
(6/25/2015)
"The Big One" (about: 2015)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The BAA are a class act. Everybody wants to run this race, and they could screw people out of money every which way. Instead, BAA treats the runners like rock stars. Every aspect of the organization was first rate, from the registration process, travel bookings, and prerace communications, to the packet pickup and expo, and especially the prerace dinner, which was really well done. Race day was organized so well - at least for those of us in wave 1 - that I never stood in lines or felt prodded about, and I never wondered where I should be. The course is, of course, the main event. So many races have gone to being easy for the sake of being 'fast and flat', and a few races have gone the other direction, being difficult for the sake of being difficult. Here Boston stands out, because it's neither of these - it's a runner's course. It rewards the thoughtful, methodical runner and punishes those who didn't bother to scout the course months before the race. It's interesting, it's tricky but not especially difficult, and it holds a lot of riddles for an attentive runner to figure out. It was a cold, wet year and my time was five minutes off my qualifier, but still it stands head and shoulders above other races. | |
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S. H. from Minneapolis, MN
(6/14/2015)
"It's Boston" (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run Boston in 1996, 2000, 2008, 2012, 2014 & 2015. Since the events of 2013, I will continue to run it every year I can. Boston is synonymous with the Marathon. Giving the spectators a 5 is an insult to the spectators. They deserve a 10 out of 5 as there are no better spectators in the world. They line the streets 3-4 deep (in 2014 they had to have been 10 deep; in 2015 due to the rain, they were still at least 2-3 deep). The women of Wellesley College continue their tradition and outstanding support. The folks lining the course through the Newton Hills and up Heartbreak are great! Then you go through BC and the students there are grilling and partying and they're awesome! Each section of the course has its own unique flavor unlike ANY marathon in the world and I've run the biggest races around the globe. But then you turn onto Boylston and the deafening crowd pulls you to the finish line. Even during my 6th Boston, there are no words to describe the spiritual event of running down Boylston. You need to experience it to understand it. Boston is not another marathon. Boston IS the marathon. Do whatever you can to experience it. | |
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D. L. from Southern Calif.
(5/11/2015)
"Love Boston!!" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I wasn't going to post but after reading a couple of recent posts I had to. I don't care for big city marathons as a rule but this is Boston! I don't understand the one and done mentality. I just finished my 2nd Boston and as long as I qualify I will be back! Boston with the history and the greatest crowd support of any race is worth any price. When most cities don't even want a marathon in there city Boston embraces it. I tell every runner I run with do what it takes short of cheating to get there it's worth it. Love Boston! | |
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Kathryn Waldron from Green Bay, Wisconsin
(5/10/2015)
"A place of reflection" (about: 2015)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My childhood dream of running this great race came to reality in 1992, and I have been Blessed with good health and great family support to be able to have run it since. In that first year, my Dad (a dairy farmer from Wisconsin) ran it too, as a 'bandit', and died one year later of cancer. I can't describe the feeling I get when I go back there, but it is almost as if he is still there with me, 'giving me wings'. Boston is one special place for so many reasons. It is my time to reflect on the Blessings in my life, and how lucky I am to have the family support that I do. The City of Boston is filled with so much positive energy, it is truly unbelievable. Thank you Boston, for so many awesome memories every year! | |
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A. C. from Southwest USA
(5/2/2015)
 "Bad weather, good race. Once is enough." (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Despite the bad weather, Boston lived up to the hype. Good organization. Great spectators. I don't care for big race logistics, but I had to run Boston at least once. Memorable experience, but one and done for me. | |
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D. S. from California
(4/27/2015)
"Toilet paper" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I had to make 4-5 pit stops for this run. In 3 of the porta potties stops after mile 13 there was no toilet paper left. Not fun when you don't have any choice but to go on. I was in the last wave to head out (no pun intended). | |
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B. S. from New York, NY
(4/20/2015)
"The Best, Again" (about: 2015)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The buzz, number of spectators, and temperature were down this year, but it was still a great race. This is the ultimate marathon. The pride from doing well in this race is greater than for any other. A first class operation all the way around. Nothing beats Boston. | |
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P. G. from NYC
(10/29/2014)
"It's World Class For Sure" (about: 2014)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My favorite thing about running Boston was actually the days preceding it. Someone below said you feel like a rock star and it's true. If you're walking around with your stuff from the expo, everyone stops and asks if you're running the marathon, how many you've run before, what time you think you'll do, wish you good luck, express their amazement that you're running it, etc. It really does make you feel special. Day of the race is always difficult for a race like this (where the starting line is so far from the finish) but Boston does a great job with it. The starting area is well organized, good food and such available, very solid. The race itself is tough. The course is really hard after the Newton hills. I was in a lot of pain, but made it through. It's especially comical with the T trolley car moving along the course, providing sore temptation to jump on board and call it quits. But, getting back to the best part of the race, the people pull you along to the finish. It's the best crowd support of any race I've done. Even at the slower points in between town centers at the start of the race, there's people all out on their front lawns, the centers of each town have their own quirky characteristics, and the people really get into the race. It's something special to run and I'm very glad I was fortunate enough to make it. Two quibbles: They should take a page from the NYC race and have an 'early exit' option for those who don't check a bag. Not needing to walk the whole length of the Boston Common would be nice. Also, in keeping with the timeless complaint of runners, there weren't enough bathrooms at the start. There was no way I could have waited in the line at the main waiting area and almost missed the start because I waited at the bathrooms that were right by the actual start line (though the bathrooms near the start line were very welcome). But, it's overall my favorite marathon yet! | |
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R. K. from MI
(5/16/2014)
"Amazing marathon experience" (about: 2014)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first Boston Marathon, and it was an amazing experience for me. The race organization was top-notch. Some nice touches were the pasta dinner the night before (great food and enthusiastic volunteers), the race passport, and the nice Sam Adams Boston Marathon bottle opener they gave each runner. Boston was really festive that weekend, and as a runner, you feel kind of like a rock star there! The enthusiastic spectators throughout the course are a big part of what makes the Boston Marathon special. Because of the size of the field, it may not be the best marathon for a PR attempt. If you're looking for a festive atmosphere and a moment to celebrate your running achievement, Boston can't be beat. |
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