Everything went well, except I got stuck in potty line and missed my wave. I was the first or second person out of Wave 3 and enjoyed running mostly all by myself for about 8 miles.
I started off too fast and got burned at the end. Plus got a bad cramp in my quad.

If you are still trying to qualify for Boston Marathon, keep trying hard. The marathon event is well worth for you to try hard to get there.
You will not be disappointed to everything you tried. Bostonians are very proud of their beloved Boston Marathon. The fan base is the best you can ever imagine about. You are the star along the way.
The organizers are world class in event management. All runners are felt welcome. Each step is well taken care of, including the registration, confirmation, bib number claim, dinner before the race, transportation to the start line, the start area preparation, the supply along the course, and the finish area services.
Believe or not: The number of volunteers is larger than the number of runners in this event.
The course is relative narrow in considering the number of runners on the course with the same pace at the start section. You may not be able to run at your own pace in the first 5 miles, at least, that's what I felt. You have to 'fight' out your running lane, or to follow some certain pace you may not comfortable with.

Race day started with promise and enthusiasm with the cooler temperatures. The starting line was abuzz about PRs and personal Boston bests. Evidenced by the too many to count runners who scanned their wristwatches as they ran the last five miles. I crossed the finish line at 2:45 pm with a face smiling and a 3:57:33 time. Taking a picture with my wife next to the medical tent is a tradition unlike few others in my family. Joy, love, sweat and 'BANG'. Only five minutes after finish the heaven turned to hell. Maybe a canon I thought...but I know I would have seen one next to the finish line and thought it odd. No, this was bad. The second 'BOOM' confirmed bad had gone to worse.

In only a few minutes we saw the parade of wheelchairs driven by the first responders in a flurry to the medical tent. The crowd in the finish chute was frozen caused by finish fatigue and eye popping amazement of the billowing smoke. We saw what we would not want others to see. The stuff we would hide from our children's eyes in a bad movie. Ground Zero had come to Boston. Our home. Our race.

Impressed I was with the calmness of the BAA volunteers, police and runners. Instructions were clear, 'Please keep moving away from the finish line, please'. Can you believe I heard 'Please'? The police calmly stated another bomb may be located nearby, so 'PLEASE keep moving'. So much concern for our safety. Compliance was easy. After finding our way into our hotel nearby, I was stunned to learn only 20 minutes had elapsed on my watch. A lifetime of tragedy lasting only 20 minutes. Odd how time slows down so much.

A medal earned? A finish time treasured? No. Just sadness.

I went with my family to the 2013 Boston Marathon. We stayed in the Copley Square Hotel which was very convenient to the finish line; however, it was almost a mile from where the buses were loading for the start. I think staying closer to where the buses were leaving (maybe the Four Seasons) would make more sense. My whole family ran the 5k on Sunday; that was a good, well organized event. The organization for the buses on Sunday morning was impressive. I got there early (about 6am) for the first wave, and I was amazed how many people were already in line. We got to the 'village' about 6:30 and set up tarps on the ground (bring tarps and/or throwaway sleeping bags). It was really fun waiting for a few hours in the village. There was plenty of food, water, Gatorade, and coffee. The bathroom lines started getting pretty long at about 8:30. The walk to the start line is about 3/4 of a mile (and there are bathrooms on the way that didn't have long lines). The race itself was impressive. The crowds were huge at every city. Nothing can prepare you for the screaming girls at Wellesley. I started getting really sore quads just into the hills of Newton, and I ended up running about 10min slower (3:13) than I wanted to run. But, I was proud that I was able to finish without walking. The only place I'd say the organization was not good was to get the food, medals, etc at the finish. There were very long lines to get to the first person giving out each thing, but there were plenty of other people available just waiting to give out food This could have been organized better. I'm not going to comment on the incidents after the marathon. I will come back to Boston to run again next year.

This was my third Boston Marathon. It was hotter than 2008 and even hotter than 2004 when it went over 85F. The organizers, runners, volunteers and people in MA made it another great race. I would do it again even with high temperatures.

We had plenty of warning about the heat, both at the EXPO and by email, and a choice of deferring to 2013. There were several thousand who took the deferment due to the heat. For me, deferring my favorite marathon was out of the question. Besides, my training partner DB was here for his First Boston.

There was plenty of BM merchandise in the EXPO. The orange jackets and other gear were in color with the time. It was a nice change from BM blue. Visors were available for the first time and BM unicorn mascots. There were several excellent seminars about health and running. Compared to another world marathon major, Berlin, which I ran in 2011, the EXPO was better in variety, merchandises, samples, seminars and prices. The bus ride to Hopkinton was smooth compared to 2008 when the bus was delayed mid-way, causing many to miss the big-tent social opportunity. That is always fun before the race.

In my first mile, the heat really got to me and I was unsure if I could finish. However, the runners near me were running strong. I went along with the crowd from Hopkinton onwards. There was no physical or visual crowding problem, since we were the third wave and started in different corrals in sequence. This contrasted favorably with the 2011 Berlin Marathon, where the crowding was definitely a problem. Im short and could not see ahead through most of that race. All I could do was to follow the crowd without seeing where the course went.

At Boston, I could see where the course was turning, and where I could squeeze through if I saw the chance. When I caught up with my training partner DB, we decided to run our individual paces and meet at the finish. We passed each other several times since we had different timing at the water stations. I stopped for water and Gatorade as often as I needed and also carried my own bottle. I took advantage of all the mist tents to cool off and got the wet shoes.

With wet shoes, and pain in the toes, I knew I might have black toes developing. Black toes are almost a BM trademark for me as I got them in both of my last two races. It took a long time to heal and may leave a permanent mark. Just I was wondering about my choice: my toes or the 'All in BM,' there was a huge sign that no runner would miss it, saying 'WHAT ABOUT BLACK TOES? BOSTON IS ALL IN!' Yeah, what about black toes, once in four years! It had to be ALL IN!

I got so excited by the Wellesley girls and high-fived as many as I could, which electrified me. That gave me an adrenaline pump! When I ran into Boston proper, the BC students were even more passionate in cheering us on! The magic part was some of them could even call out our names to cheer us even though we did not have names displayed. They must have used mobile devices to find names from bib numbers. The Boston young people in the digital age: magically advanced!

When the young man yelled at me 'You are the first BLUE!' (Color of the third wave runners) What?! It had been a very busy year; my son's wedding at end of March, and, my daughter expecting a baby. Unlike last two times, they did not make it to Boston to cheer me on. I was only hoping for a BQ finish. I could not believe my ears. There was such a big crowd; he might have missed quite a few 'blue' runners. So onward I went, speeding up as much as I could downhill, knowing that my toes would be black. The possibility of the first BLUE cancelled almost all pain.

Eventually, I found out that I did finish first in my division. It felt like a miracle. My husband and I did not know what to do about the news; where was the awards ceremony? I did not have the runner's booklet with me nor did any runners nearby. That information was supposedly irrelevant to people like me who started running late in life. We went back to our hotel, got the location from the pamphlet around 4:40 PM. We grabbed a taxi only to find that the ceremony was inside the restricted race area. After checking all the big hotels, we finally found it and got in at 5:16PM. Well, it was the best award ceremony that I have attended. It was formal and inspirational but done in a relaxing manner.

It was a full house in the Grand Ballroom with many reporters and photographers. There were winners with incredible finish times considering the heat. My finish was nothing spectacular, but it was like a dream that I did it. I guess anyone could get where I was that day by fluke of nature. It was just magic! Boston can be magic for anyone!

The organizers provided more than enough hydration and refuel support. The volunteers and spectators along the course also provided the same. The cheering, high-fiving, encouragement from the spectators and the screaming from the Wellesley girls, and later, the BC students were overwhelming and helped the runners to keep going. It was a superbly-managed race with maximum support to the runners.

Qualifying for my first Boston was magic. To win a division was a miracle! Or something just slightly short of one. I think every runner can have the chance to experience this type of MAGIC. It is exhilarating! The Boston Marathon is the best race to strive for.

I starting running because I wanted to run the Boston Marathon. It took me six marathons to qualify, but when I did, I was elated and couldn't wait to register for and run Boston.

I had high expectations for Boston-it is THE marathon, and my expectations were all completely exceeded. WOW. The organizers, the expo, the towns, and spectatorsall top top notch.

So it was pretty hot during the 2012 race. And yes, the heat did affect my finishing time. But my goal was to finish with a smile on my face, and I achieved that goal.

And that smile came from: the incredibly organized bus ride to Hopkinton, the relaxing but exciting Athlete's village with a pre race massage tent, the cute towns along the course, and the spectators along the ENTIRE course.

The spectators really were fantastic in helping to beat the heatthey came out with extra cups of water, ice cubs, and hoses with spray nozzles. THANK YOU.

It's easy to say that everyone should run this race, but it's not always so easy to get there. But do whatever you can to, because it was completely worth it!

I had two things in mind when I began this race - not to quit and not to fall out!!! This is my 3rd Boston and I am still impressed!!!!

To the very kind lady and her family that gave me Tylenol in Natick to help with an unexpected hip injury at mile 8, 'THANK YOU!!' And to all the other wonderful Bostonians that did everything in their power to try and cool us down, 'Thank You!!!' This was my 3rd Boston and was my worst but also my best. I hope to return.

This was my first Boston and it was amazing in every way! With the crazy heat, my goal was to finish healthy, which I did! I purposely ran slower with respect for the heat but I am still pretty sure I wouldn't have made it if it wasn't for the crowd!!! Thank you for the ice, hoses, and orange slices...the crowd was without question, the best I've experienced and I have run other big marathons! Thank you to the spectators and volunteers for making my dream of becoming a 'Boston Finisher' a reality. I couldn't have done it without you!!! I hope to be back some day to experience the magic once again!!!

Race directors please let the citizen of Boston know how appreciative we are. I am so grateful. They are the very best !!

Thank you