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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 381 to 391]
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C. A. from Hartsville SC
(1/13/2003)
 "This is THE Marathon!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Warning... do not run this as a race! It is a pilgrimage. A happening. A 26 mile party. There are no PR's to be had, no age group awards to take home. Be prepared to spend a long time at the staging area. You'll have to stand in a lot of long lines for everything. There is no way to relax and get some rest in the staging area. Once the race finally starts the atmosphere is awesome. Then the next 26.2 miles are a roller coaster of emotion. Didn't even notice the hills. | |
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S. L. from Boston
(1/5/2003)
 "Bandits all the way!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran the Boston Marathon twice as a bandit runner. Both times the organization has welcomed me as if I were a regular runner (except I didnt get the cool bag). Everyone claims the course is hard, but you hardly think about it since the fans are infinite! Recently I ran Philadelphia marathon which is known to be an easier course; however, the lack of fans tripled its difficulty. The patriots of Boston carry you straight to Copley Square in no time. The big drawback is the crowded finish line and fenced in runners. It is not an easy escape to your bed at home; rather you are forced to walk numerous blocks until you drop (i nearly fainted myself.) This marathon is very exciting... If you cant qualify , run bandit!! p.s. the qualifying time is way too hard ... it allows no time to stop for the bathroom! (i was only 10 minutes too slow) | |
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A Runner from Riga, latvia
(12/18/2002)
"Why don't you hava a 6-star rating for BM?" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I came from Europe, Latvia to run my 222nd Marathon in Boston. I ended 2002 with 10 marathons (231 total since 1969) and Boston is still in my mind. Organizers were kind enough to make an exception accepting my entry and after the race I wrote a detailed report in my running newsletter in Latvia. I finished BM with tears in my eyes. My dream was to run the famous Boston Marathon and I did it. | |
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A Runner from Worcester
(12/10/2002)
"Dreams do come true!!!!" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Growing up on the track team, my wish was to finish a Boston Marathon. Turning 40 soon, I slapped on my Saucony shoes, bellied up to the Hopkington start line, and grinded my way to the promised land of the John Hancock tower finish line. This is not a race for the weak kneed...it is a race for those with passion. The energy of the runners and crowds was contagious as I crossed in 4:57..totally numb from heartbreak hill, the girls of Wellesley College, the crowds at BC, the young children of Natick,the fireplace aroma of Ashland, and the Hopkington corrals. The pace is fast...the course unforgiving...the race unforgettable. You must check this off your life's 'to do' list. I will be back forever. | |
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A Runner from Houston, Texas
(10/31/2002)
"This race was AWESOME!!!!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I loved this marathon. It was the most exciting experience running I have ever had. The crowds were great and I truly didn't want the marathon to end except maybe at mile 23! The Wellsley Women were AWESOME! I didn't run a PR but was just a few minutes off my best time and that was talking, yelling and taking pictures the whole way! IT WAS A SUPER MARATHON!!! | |
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A Runner from los angeles
(10/14/2002)
"Words alone cant do this marathon justice" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I can't say anything more than what's already been said about boston. Just thinking about boston makes me want to cry. running boston #4 in 2003. | |
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A Runner from Madison, Wisconsin
(5/17/2002)
"America's greatest marathon" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My third marathon and while the course is not PR material, the fan support is nonstop excitement for 26.2 miles. Historic course filled with landmarks. Technically it is difficult compared to what I've done (Chicago and Madison) but it's so much fun, if a marathon can be called fun. | |
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A Runner from Cleveland, Oh
(5/14/2002)
"Its been a month since Boston & I'm still floating" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Still can't believe I ran, or for that matter qualified for the freakin' Boston Marathon! This was my 3rd marathon and was it a doozie! The organization was top notch, the fans unbelievable, those Wellsley girls floated me through on their cheers and high fives... I wasn't prepared for how abused my body would feel afterwards, so sore I couldn't attend the post race party, and I never miss a party! I was fine after Cleveland and Columbus marathons, it's those damn hills! Also, all I heard about was Heartbreak, which I didn't find too bad, it's all those smaller hills after Heartbreak that got me mad! The crowds were unbelievable, I feasted on oranges, popsickles, even jellybeans through out the course! I hope to run it again, this time with my husband, and have our 6 kids at mile 21 to cheer us through to the finish! IF YOU QUALIFY...DO BOSTON!!!! | |
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A Runner from Coon Rapids, Minnesota
(5/9/2002)
"The most personal experience in running" (General Comments)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just read the comments of other Boston finishers, then compare with the notes on other marathons. Other marathons evoke evaluation of technical details - course profile, logistical deficiencies, quibbling about t-shirt or medal design. In stark contrast, so many of the comments from Boston finishers on this website are about heart, emotion, honor, and pride. And as a two-time Boston finisher, I submit that's what separates this race from the pack: The honor of qualifying. The responsibility to run well, no matter what your time. The history, or as another runner put it so eloquently, 'Running in the footsteps of greatness.' The unbelievable emotion of the fans. The challenge of preparing to run well on a difficult course. The pride of rounding the final corner onto Boylston and realizing that you are a player in one of the great scenes in sport. Sure I wish we didn't have the 3-4 hour wait in Hopkinton. I agree; better food at the finish line would be nice. BAA: I hope you can make those changes, but don't worry. As long as I can keep qualifying, I'll be back. For a the serious recreational runner, for thousands of us who have worked for years to achieve a qualifying time, qualifying for and then finishing the Boston Marathon is all about heart, honor and pride. It's about running in the footsteps of Salazar and Beardsley. It's about digging deep on Heartbreak to honor the thousands cheering you on. And for runners, typically modest, the hardest thing of all may be to embrace the accomplishment and have the courage to take pride in being a Boston finisher. | |
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A Runner from Kingston, TN
(5/6/2002)
"Running Boston was a real rush!" (about: 2002)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What can I say -- it's the Boston marathon! It was fantastic to participate in the World's ultimate marathon and to run in the footsteps of greatness. The race is very well organized and the Boston fans are outstanding. My only minor suggestion is to shorten the very long wait in the athlete's village prior to the start. It was fun for the first hour, but it got old after that. Bring warm clothes for the wait, even if it's supposed to be a warm day. But I'm not complaining; this was my first Boston and it was everything I thought it would be (and more). I feel extremely fortunate to have qualified for this race and I hope to be back for many years to come! |
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