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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 71 to 81]
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A. A. from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
(4/22/2011)
 "Magical" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first Boston; I had dreamed of this moment for most of my adult life, and the experience was exactly as everyone had said it would be: amazing. The people of Boston take tremendous pride in their marathon, and they made it a truly memorable experience. If you are thinking about doing this marathon next year, here are some thoughts: - do your hill training. And then go out and run some more hills. This course had hills from start to finish, literally. I was told that it was "all downhill" after Heartbreak; it wasn't. I have never felt so beat-up after a marathon. It took 3 days for the pain to leave my quads. - at the Athlete's Village, don't wait until you're called to your corral to check your gear, especially if you want to use the port-a-potties before you line up. I almost missed the start of my wave because I waited until I was called to check my gear. - wear lots of sunscreen. I wore SPF30 and still got a nasty sunburn on my right side where the sun was. - consider carrying a water bottle, just for the first few miles. The first water stations are CRAZY; the road is narrow and there is tremendous runner congestion. - high-five some kids, and get ready to love running past Wellesley and Boston College! In spite of the toughest course of any marathon I've ever run, I ran even splits, a PR, and I BQ'd by over 10 minutes. I will probably come back every year from now on! Thank you, Boston! | |
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A. B. from Boston area, MA
(4/21/2011)
"A must-run event" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run 14 marathons and people ask me which is my favorite. I always respond by saying that Boston is in a category by itself so I can't compare it to the others. There are many reasons for this (such as the history and the prestige) but it is by far due to the support of the spectators. You will feel like a rock star from start to finish (even more so if you have your name on your shirt). It is really difficult to describe the support of the crowd unless you run the marathon. It is incredibly special. Other aspects of the marathon are very good, such as: organization, amenities, mile makers, clocks etc. but truly you need to run this race for the crowds. The expo is a zoo so get there early. The amount and variety of booths is amazing but it's wall to wall people so either go early or be prepared. Boston is an amazing host city! Be prepared for a long wait in athletes' village and take plenty of throw-away clothes. Do the race for the experience and not for a PR (but congrats if you get one!). | |
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D. R. from Utah
(4/21/2011)
"Spectator support is wildly enthusiastic" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Second Boston. This time I wrote my name in big, black capital letters above my bib number, and boy, that was the way to do this thing! I must have heard my name more than a thousand times, often screamed or chanted by uninhibited crazies who would only get louder with a look or a thumbs-up. I finally turned off the iPod, which couldn't compete with the insanity. There is nothing more motivating than a succession of smiling strangers yelling your name (and, come on, fastah! or, you can do bettah than that!). I bet that many come regardless of whether they know anyone in the race. What a fun experience. The sunshine and the tailwind didn't hurt either. I love Boston. | |
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Kate Levine from Seattle, WA
(4/21/2011)
"Surprisingly Easy Course for how Competitive it is" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I thought the course was easy, but was still surprised that I saw and heard about so many runners scoring personal records. This may have been the easiest marathon I have ever run, but my time was not very good because it was really hard to weave in and out of the crowd. I really loved the support from the spectators. This was the most fun I have ever had during a race. Heartbreak hill is way over-hyped. I didn't even know that it happened. | |
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J. R. from Haverhill, MA
(4/20/2011)
 "It's the one you gotta do" (about: 2011)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It was my dream at age 12 to run in this race and now I've done it. To the elite, it's a fast course. For us slower folks, it is tough, and you've got to run it smart. I thought I was smart, and I fell apart early. Even still, it's THE marathon to run with great organization, amazing crowds, and awesome sights. The madness was enough that I probably won't do it again any time soon, but it was amazing to fulfill a dream. | |
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D. P. from Atlanta, GA
(4/20/2011)
"Killer course but what a great experience" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 All of the stories about this marathon are true... the course just kills your quads. I went into the race planning on slowing down my usual per mile marathon pace by about 20 - 25 seconds so I could enjoy the Boston experience and have something left in the tank towards the later part of the race. I ran my planned mile pace successfully through the first half of the race and my quads were still killing me by the 18-mile mark. If I could go back and alter my training, I would have done at least 4 separate interval sessions of downhill speed work. The crowd was awesome... couldn't ask for anything more. From an organization standpoint, the only thing I saw they needed to improve upon was the bus loading in the morning to take you to the athlete's village. Where as the NYC Marathon has several designated pick-up spots, Boston has everyone coming to one area (Boston Commons) in the morning to get on the buses. I got there about 6:30 a.m. and it took me about 30 minutes to get onto a bus. If I had gotten there around 6:45, it would have taken me close to an hour, I'm estimating, based upon the crowds I saw behind me. Still, though; it was Boston and I hope to get back there again someday. | |
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K. C. from ohio
(4/20/2011)
"Boston Marathon is the Best" (about: 2011)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Back for my seventh run of The Boston. The volunteers are great and it's got the very best expo! Crowds are amazing - they really carry you through. It's worth all the hard work to get there. | |
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C. B. from Bermuda
(4/20/2011)
 "Difficult road surface" (about: 2011)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 As so much has been written about Boston, I was surprised that no one (as far as I know) has warned about the road surface. Apart from a section of smooth asphalt around Wellesley, it is hard and often rough. I found it was that more than the downhill sections that blasted my quads. However, the upside is that, after the race, you will have no trouble getting seated in restaurants with steps down to them! I've rated the spectators as only three stars because I found them too noisy - I was just starting to get brain fade from about mile 22 and the screaming bouncing around my skull made it worse. However, minor criticisms - fantastic race with first-rate logistics. | |
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S. F. from Boston, MA
(4/19/2011)
"All it is reputed to be!" (about: 2011)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The BAA has this dialed in! The army of volunteers, enthusiastic and proud to be part of this, is the best! The 26 miles of spectators in every community the race passes through are great! Boston is a fast course, as proven by the 2011 race. It is a straight-line, point-to-point, downhill course. Love it, right? Until the Newton hills throw you a curveball. Be ready, trust your training, start out slower than you think you should, and then throttle back a little more. Aim for negative splits and you will motor up Heartbreak while those guys who blasted by you early are falling apart. Even the finish was smooth. My wife saw me finish and buzzed to the meet up area while I was wrapped in a heat sheet, medaled, fed and grabbed my bag - no line for bag pick-up! Great! Stretch your legs with a stroll up to Boston Common, grab a Starbucks and get on the Green Line at Boylston with no waiting. Head out to the suburbs where you left your car and celebrate with a burger and a cold beer. Spend the rest of the day enjoying that ache in your legs, which comes from a superior effort on a course so rich in history. Congratulations, you are part of that now! | |
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T. M. from Atlanta
(1/31/2011)
"Spectators and Organization are Superb" (about: 2011)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I have run this race the last 12 years. Every time I run, I always think as I finish the race that I will never run it again. The long wait before the race and the expo are horrific. Newton Hills are killers. But all of that said, it is a great experience, and for as long as I qualify, I will keep running. Everyone in Boston treats you well. Everyone in Boston is helpful and you can hear the screaming of the Wellesley girls a mile away. All of the kids along the course who want to give you the high-fives. It is a lot of fun and I would recommend it, in spite of some aggravations. I would also go to a Red Sox game when you come to town. |
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