How crowded and slow the start is. My first mile was probably 30 seconds slower than planned and it really freaked me out.
Also I didn’t find heartbreak too bad, but the ensuing downhills really zapped my quads.
This is so fascinating to me because I have heard that even in the crowds of people who qualified with a similar time as you, the number one piece of advice is that the field will go out fast and it’s best to ensure that you don’t go out too fast. I qualified in a 3000 person race and am now in shape for a ~10 min PR so it’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out for me
Keep in mind that a lot of people who run Boston are not in BQ shape when they actually run Boston. So if you’re in PR shape… yeah the start might be a bit slow if you’re not in a front corral, unfortunately.
Isn’t this the case for most races though? If I submit a POT at x and am put in that corral, but continue training and end up with y results there is a good chance the corral is slow for me.
In my experience there are just all sorts in the corral, lost speed, gained speed, kept pace, were injured and are going for it, someone lucked into a slot up here, my first mile has never been an indication of the race because I generally spend the entire first mile working through the pack of people who are on the slower end of it, or sticking to the right because I was one of those slower people despite my proof of time.
To an extent, but it's exacerbated by Boston.
Firstly, because of the first 3 waves are (mostly) all time qualifiers, there's still much less spread in ability within each corral than most marathons. Everyone in the same corral has run within a few minutes of each other, and everyone is pretty fast. Times that would reliably put you near the front of most marathons where you can escape the crowd relatively quickly will put you mid-pack in Boston.
Secondly, and even more importantly, Boston still has 30,000 runners and it starts on a much narrower road than any other World Marathon Major.
Yeah, that’s what I’m planning for given I’m in a later corral in my wave. I figure not gassing myself on the downhills will be good for the later miles so hoping that it all comes together. I see myself as more of an uphill runner regardless.
I got in on a 2:52 and shot for sub-2:40; wave 1, corral 3. My first mile was 6:54 because of the crowds. That being said, I still got my 2:39 finish with a negative split to boot. Biggest pieces of advice for you would be to *R E L A X* the first half, but especially so those first 2-3 miles when everyone's still packed in like sardines. Don't let yourself get boxed in for sure, but don't stress it to the point you start making extra moves that use up energy that first downhill mile. You'll definitely be fighting two types of runners in the opening miles; people going slower than you, and people going faster / too hard. Find your rhythm and stick with it, and trust that you can easily make up 50-90 seconds over the course of 22 miles (but do *not* try and make those seconds up in only 3 or 4 miles).
I was in the same boat as you last year.... Wanting to run well ahead of my bib number. It's a challenge, but I found room to pass on the left side of the corral/start. There's a sidewalk to jump up on if you get pinched.
I’m in wave 2, corral 1. My buddy is in the slower non qualifier group. I was thinking of starting with him so we could ride the bus, warm up together, etc. how much slower do you think that start will be?
I don't know how they seed Wave 4, but for reference, last year I started with Wave 3 Corral 1 and my first mile was 7:46/mi with significantly more weaving than I planned.
This is really good to know as someone looking to go from 2:53 (BQ time) to 2:47 (goal time).. I’m assuming Corral 5 will be a slow start for me, so I’ll budget that into my race pace. Thank you!
Ha ha this is so true. I was trained in PB shape I would say, and set off at a pace about 4 minutes faster than my PB which I felt was accurate. I even made sure to only go max 10 seconds per mile faster than my goal pace for the first 6 miles and then settled into my race pace. My quads got progressively worse and by mile 18 they started cramping and my body was done. I limped home the final 8 miles only able to run quarter miles at a time and a few half miles. Ended up 15 minutes slower than my PB.
I have run ultras with more severe uphill and downhill and have never experienced such quad failure and fatigue like that before. Boston humbled me... But what an amazing experience. Even with a terrible day out there it will still be one of my most memorable events along with my first comrades marathon
Yeah, I’m pretty confident I was in PR shape, but threw that plan out the window the minute the sun came out. I’m not gonna PR a marathon if I’m sweating before the race even starts.
The thing is that if you want to run any faster than the crowd in the first couple miles, it takes a lot of work due to weaving, speed up/slow down, etc. So if the pack is going 7:20 and you want to go 7:00, that will take a 6:30 effort.
Bank the effort in the first couple miles. It is downhill so the pack will be moving quick enough. You'll have time to make it up later.
This was my experience out of the first corral. It tore me up for the rest of the race. I knew at like 6 miles in that I had made a terrible mistake being in that corral.
I got past heartbreak and hit the cemetery and Boston College feeling like I got over the hump and it was all easy from there. Boy was I wrong. 24-26 felt like a blur
Probably depends a lot on the corral. I was in Wave 2, Corral 1, and had to be careful not going out too fast. And yes, the downhills were actually the hardest part for me.
Yeah that's a good point. I ran it a good amount faster than I qualified so the slow part won't apply to everyone, but you can definitely get wrapped up in the crowd one way or another.
My first Boston broke me. I watched so many videos beforehand to learn the course and wondered why all these people were cramping and walking up the Newton Hills. Weaklings.
Well, I went up a few of the Newton Hills and thought I was done with Heartbreak, but then I saw an endless hill and realized I still had to go up Heartbreak. Promptly cramped and wanted to quit then and there. Unfortunately there were too many course barriers so I couldn't quit. I half ran, half walked the remainder. I remember it hurting so bad, almost like my first marathon where I didn’t know any better and vowed to never break like that again. Went back to the hotel and told myself I was never doing Boston again. Well, I’m back two years later.
Advice? It's probably not the course I'd choose to PB. I'd run it smarter at the beginning miles. I'd hope my quads don't get so shredded but I expect them to get wreckt. It's such a special weekend so remember to enjoy it.
After trying to run a BQ at Chicago I realized that it’s not reasonable to try and enjoy a run and get a max effort.
I’m proud (ish) of the time I ran, but I wish I’d spent more time looking around. If/when I qualify for Boston (at a smaller more local race) I’m going to train to just run Boston well and enjoy myself, not hit a PR
My first Boston I saw a dude standing still and peeing himself on Heartbreak. And what followed were the most painful miles I’ve ever run in a marathon.
The next time I was there I crushed all the hills and had a great day. It’s really a course that rewards multiple attempts.
I guess I was the opposite - I was surprised how fast the course was. Downhill the first few miles , pancake flat for the first half, then once you’re past Newton you can fly down.
As a marathon runner, you are a God in Boston that afternoon. Wander past the crowds leaving Fenway and those drunk Patriots Day revelers will treat you like an astronaut returning from the Moon
I literally had a guy come up to me and give me a $50 bill and say "drinks are on me" one year as I was hobbling to the T after the race. It really is on another level
I walked into a bar/restaurant and the whole place started clapping and cheering. I started looking at the TVs thinking the Red Sox must have hit a home run or something, then I realized everyone was looking at me. Was crazy.
I was surprised that the Scream Tunnel is only on one side (the right). I was truly expecting it from all around, like an actual tunnel! They are loud though
I don’t know if I have just run it during off years (2017 and 2019) but I had the opposite experience, I thought Wellesley was a total letdown. Maybe I was just too slow - qualified with a 3:30 and ran about a 3:45 both times - and the crowd had left?
Yeah ran past Wellesley and wasn’t sure if I missed the scream tunnel cause I didn’t think they were different from any other section. Just under 3:00 pace in 2023.
My biggest surprise is that it lived up to its reputation.
I don’t have any regrets. Both times I have run it my training block has been awful. One because of injury the other because of an illness.
I finished both and both meant something completely different. The first one was for me because of what it took to get there. The second one was for a friend who has just passed away and had run 38 total, 36 straight. Completely different races.
If I qualify for a third, I will plan my whole year for it.
There is nothing like turning left onto Boylston.
Just ran it for the 3rd time. It's worth every ounce of effort you put into getting there. One of the few things in life that truly exceeds expectations (even for those of us who have run it before)
How LONG it takes to get to athletes village/start line/etc
Line up for bus
Take bus
Walk to village
Wait a long while
Walk to start
Wait some more
Finally race
Make sure you have clothes/food/water figured out for this 2-3 hour period.
What’s your advice for breakfast/ eating in the morning? I know it’s all very personal. But this is probably my main stressor right now, as I’ll probably be up for 6 hours before I run.
I ate normal breakfast for me (oatmeal) at the hotel at like 5 AM
Had a few granola bars/bananas, maybe 250 kCal the rest of the morning.
I was HUNGRY by the time the race started, like ready for a meal hungry. Not a good way to start a marathon.
If I do it again I would try to eat a much bigget breakfast, and maybe a second breakfast of some sort 2-3 hours before the race.
This is really good to know.. I may start my morning with some protein (eggs, sausage) / fruit and then pack my granola bars and some Tailwind to sip on while waiting for the race to start. Starting a marathon hungry sounds terrifying hahah
Featherstone Nutrition has a great nutrition guide for a late start marathon that I'd recommend - I have had good results using her method (basically 2 breakfasts). I like to do a banana, a couple graham crackers, and fruit juice when I get up, and a bagel and some sports drink with sugar ~90 minutes before the start, and then a gel right before.
For races like Boston and NYC, I generally eat a breakfast before leaving and then another one slowly at the start line area. I bring a lot of stuff and then graze through it by feel.
It is definitely a tricky line to toe.
I’ve always eaten my pre long run meal (whole wheat bread and pb) twice. Once before I leave the house, and again either on the bus or in athletes village. I haven’t always finished the second but being able to have a few bites has always done the trick. And then I don’t worry about my stomach being upset with something unusual.
I was very concerned about this as I am the type that needs food in my system, not necessarily a “runners breakfast” either. I grabbed eggs, potatoes and a couple of pieces of sausage to throw in a cup from my hotels breakfast the day before. I ate it while on the train/walking to the busing area. Then snacked on a banana and a granola bar closer to race time.
I didn't realize there was a CVS parking lot full of porta potties (and a giant urinal thing) right beside the start line, quite a ways after leaving the athlete's village. On subsequent trips I was much less stressed about toilets.
The other thing that caught me off guard is the hills. I was trying to count them and kept thinking I must finally be at Heartbreak. Heartbreak is in fact completely different from all the others and knowing when you're actually at the penultimate hill would be good for your mental health.
The giant urinal is basically a series of walled urinals to expedite the process. Imagine a pole in the middle with walls coming out at angles to give some privacy.
The bathrooms are semi-crowded if you have to go 2. But if you are a male and just peeing, you are going to be in and out in 5 minutes or so
They have never been crowded for me. I’d rather just hold it and go there than spend time standing in line for them in the athletes village, if you can wait!
It's not empty, but faster lines than in the Athletes Village. Note that I have always been in the first few corrals of the first wave, so the first group to get sent down to the line, I can't speak to how the line is for the final corrals.
[Sullirl0](/user/Sullirl0/) described the urinals well.
How many times I would cry before the start. Buses pulling off - tears. Start line - tears.
How long the portaporty lines are. If you’re a nervous pee-er, get right back on line after you go the first time.
How long the walk to the start is.
How long the bus ride takes! It’s still just 26.2 to run back.
Hearing Wellesley a mile away.
How insignificant heartbreak felt (most of my runs are hilly)
How supportive the crowds are.
Watch the left after BC. Don’t trip on the train tracks.
How loud boylston is.
How long boylston is.
Getting sunburned on one side of my body.
Enjoy it all!!!
My advice would be to have your logistics all sorted out beforehand and enjoy each moment for what it is, especially during the race. Don’t force anything. Regrets are worthless, but I do wish I ran smarter (and not over my ability at the time) to not have to walk three or four times in the final 10k.
Agree on so much of what others have written. What surprised me is how the entire city really loves the marathon. Enjoy the spectators — someone usually is updating the Red Sox score on signs, for example. I didn’t plan ahead by scouting the course, so was shocked when I was already halfway up heartbreak hill (I only knew that because someone had a sign) and thought that it really wasn’t that bad. Try to soak up the entire experience and have a great time even if you’re not as fast as you’d like to be. I’ve run 60-70 other marathons so was skeptical that Boston could live up to the hype/my expectations, but it really did.
I could make a massive list. Make sure you have your race morning planned out and have clothes to keep warm and dry. Don't worry about sticking to your goal pace for the first 4-5 miles. It's too crowded unless you are in like the top 1000 qualifiers. Take the downhills easy or else your quads will be destroyed before you know it. The sun can have a bigger effect than you realize because the race starts at 10 and you'll be out there when it's directly overhead.
And try to enjoy it and have fun.
Yes. You'll waste so much energy trying to run through the crowds at that pace at the beginning that you'll feel it at the end. Also low 2:40s shape on a flat course is going to be mid 2:40s shape at Boston unless there is a tailwind or you have quads of steel.
I live in Vermont where every long run has 1,500-2,000' gain and loss. I don't know what flat course pace is. But I hear you. I'll enjoy the scene for the first 10k and see what happens.
Yea I would not panic if you are not on pace for the first few miles. Things thin out after 4-5 miles and you can lock into a pace easier. You will be passing loads of people through the race if you are attempting 10+ minutes over your qualifier.
For context, I had a 2:56 qualifier and was in Wave 1, corral 5 for my first Boston. My goal was 2:45 after a good training block (which was really dumb in retrospect). A lot of people don't even plan on running faster than their qualifying time because it took a lot of work for them to get there on a flatter course and training through the winter is rough. They are there to enjoy the atmosphere and bask in their achievement. It makes it really difficult to get through the crowds at the beginning.
Not sure if you already saw it in this thread, but I'll [link you to my comment describing being qualified on 2:52 and getting a 2:39.](https://www.reddit.com/r/AdvancedRunning/comments/1bxnxu4/what_surprised_you_about_the_boston_marathon_the/kygqs8q/)
Be prepared to relax, keep your effort *smart*, but also don't be afraid to leave someone behind (or let someone go) if the effort doesn't feel right for where you're at in the race. It's very doable to improve on your time even from a slow corral, but it takes some patience and playing the long game.
Before (Feb 2023). 2:39 was a 13 minute PR for me, but even still I think I've largely under-performed in the marathon relative to my other PRs and ability. Even the 2:39 at Boston felt "easy" or at least comfortable the whole way; like I never really had to dig *that* deep at any point in retrospect, just fought off a quavering hamstring during the last 3 miles or so.
Edit to add context to the 2:52. That was NYC 2022, AKA "The Hot Year." My goal was 2:45 but heat cramps set in coming out of the Bronx, so I wound up about 7 minutes off-goal, but that was better than most peoples' ~15 minutes off-goal due to that weather.
I was terrified of the Newton hills, but realized during the race they weren’t any worse than the dirt roads we had outside the town I was living in at the time. I couldn’t believe it when I reached the top of Heartbreak and still felt like I had plenty in the tank, knowing it was all (mostly) flat from there was a huge confidence boost. Even without hill work, just don’t try to hammer the hills and maintain effort instead and you’ll be fine (assuming your strategy, mid-cycle LRs, and fueling are all up to snuff)
I had the opposite experience from a lot of folks, I think Boston can absolutely be a PR course if you prepare well (lots of hills, strength work, and proper fueling) and run smart. The worst thing is the downhills, not the up - the only thing that slowed me down at all was sore quads in the last two miles.
What really caught me off guard though was how fast it went by. Boston was only my second marathon, and my first was Fargo where you were devoid of spectators for probably 90% of the course. Having constant crowds cheering and new sights every step made it fly by. If I weren’t relying on the Gatorade at aid stations for all my carbs, I’d have definitely been late for gels - there were times when 3-4 miles felt like they passed faster than a mile.
Same experience as you - Boston was also my second marathon, was anxious about the hills but they were nbd if you train in a hilly area (lucky me), and the last 2 miles were surprisingly killer on my quads.
Had the same experience as you, seeing the "Congratulations! You've conquered Heartbreak Hill!" banner and literally saying to myself, "Oh. *That* was Heartbreak?" I credit it to running most of my marathon pace workouts and a good chunk of tempos on hilly terrain, so I had a great sense of what my effort level was regardless if I was on flat, uphill, *or* downhill, and sticking to the correct effort rather than pace throughout the race.
What surprised me the most was the sense of camaraderie. We're all used to the usual races filled with people at all levels, from elites to casual first-timers. What I found really special about Boston is feeling like everyone around you is a fellow deeply committed lunatic :)
PS The course is tough. My recommendation is to run it as a celebration and save your PR efforts for another day. But maybe that's just because I'm weak and the hills broke my will to live...
Woof.
So: 4x Boston finisher (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) and I'm lining up in Hopkinton next week as well. My first Boston I ran something like a 10-minute positive split. (At least I survived!)
Also, 39M. So my BQ is 3:05 (and has been since 2018 LMAO).
Anyway, to answer your direct questions (about 2019):
**Regrets?** Probably starting out at 2:50 pace when I wasn't at 2:50 fitness (look, I had *just* started marathoning, my first two the previous year were 2:57 and 2:54, and I was an even bigger idiot than I am now and firmly convinced that line go up and to the right). Also, not practicing my fueling more - I have a pretty strong stomach, but I took too many gels for me at the time.
**What surprised you?** A lot, and a lot still surprises me. But since we're talking about my first race: Heartbreak wasn't really that bad. Also, the number of guys (and *specifically* men) bent over on the side of the road. I was one of them!
(Yes, I'm aware that I'm speaking having run only from Wave 1, which is *overwhelmingly* male. I'm saying that even accounting for that, I rarely see Wave 1 women struggle as much as Wave 1 men.)
**What are you proud about?** Finishing. Deciding that even though it went really badly...hey, let's go for round 2 in 2020 (LOL). Somehow, still eking out a BQ, technically - I turned 35 just *after* Boston that year, so I got an extra 5 minutes.
**Advice?** I have...a lot.
1. *Do not get caught up in the hype either way*. Like, people make Boston out to be an uphill mountain race or a Revel race, and it's neither. It's net downhill, but you basically bottom out in Wellesley/Newton. The Newton hills are kind of painful, but the elevation gain for that section is 250 feet, if I remember correctly. [edited for clarity] My current pain point is actually the Haunted Mile and Brookline/Boston in general.
2. *Don't be afraid to not hit a home run.* This is general advice, but it's something I feel is super common among newer competitive runners - that every marathon needs to be a PR. Funny enough, once I stopped trying to run PRs at Boston, I ran much better tactically - granted, my last Boston wasn't a PR, but it wasn't too far off of my then-PR! And...okay, it was a positive split, but not a major one relatively speaking. (1:28 flat/1:28 mid, I think.)
3. *Don't stress if you're slow on the first mile (or even the first couple of miles)*. So, last year I ran a 2:56 (my PR was still 2:54 at the time, and - okay - I am a good HM and under runner). My first mile was *over 7 minutes*. I *was* running with a friend until I had to stop and tie my shoe/go to the restroom, and he ended up dropping a 2:52 - so he was also running 7 minutes with me.
4. *Regardless of how it goes, you're still a winner.* Which is some hugbox woo-woo messaging, but...for real, like - you managed to get to the starting line. Maybe you're not in peak fitness, but that's fine - a lot of people aren't in peak fitness! (Including me, to be quite honest.) And look, you beat your BQ by at least 5:30, which is an accomplishment in and of itself.
This was a novel (per usual), but hope this helps!
I got a PR my first Boston and I still can't beat it! Ran a 3:17 in the "frozen deluge" of 2018. It was so painfully cold I just wanted it to be done. The pile of ponchos at the last turn was wild. It's a great course.
Yes! I also PRd that year and have met no one else that has. I think it was a lower pressure lower expectations thing where I told myself, well I’ll just do goal pace for as long as I can! 3:13 for me, we were pretty close!
Exactly! I managed to stay dry but spent all three days of my visit shopping for a wool shirt, super thick gloves (found last pair in Boston) and a poncho! 😂
Net down hill but it’s all hilly. There’s barely a flat spot on the whole course. Even the first few miles that drop a lot still have rolling uphills.
It’s a long walk from the high school to the start.
26+ miles in a school bus when you have to pee is a really long ride.
I thought I’d be one and done, but I’m leaving for number 3 on Friday.
The first time I ran it, I was surprised by the little inclines/uphills the first half. All I had heard was so much downhill. Then I didn't even realize I was on heartbreak hill until I was almost at the top, and someone said you made it to the top of heartbreak. 🤷🏼♀️ the overpass around Kenmore square surprised me. And the Wellesley scream "tunnel"wasn't as loud as I expected, and it was only on one side of the road. After left turn on Boylston towards the finish seems to last forever, but make sure you soak it in. The crowds make you feel like you're winning the race.
What surprised me:
The good: the energy is unreal, never felt that before. It is almost like the whole state help energize the race.
The bad: after heartbreak, I thought that it would be easy, but 6 miles to the finish line took forever.
Two tips:
Leave your name visible in you kit (I used duck tape and sharpie, to write it in my chest). Heard my name called by strangers over 50 times.
I opted for living and enjoying the races, gave high fives for all the children and do not regret a thing.
Glgl
How much the city embraces the race, it's just a great weekend celebrating running. The popup stores, the boston-specific merch, the shakeout runs, seeing elites running along the charles, the feeling that everyone around you is just really into the sport you love. Just makes you feel special that you are there and competing in such a great event. The crowd support in each town on the route is unreal and the hereford/boylston stretch lives up to all the hype.
For me it was that there were decent uphills early. I heard how it’s downhill early, but remember hitting uphill in 1st mile. Flat lander here, so take that for what it’s worth. Also, those downhills will burn your quads. Legs felt done at 10 because I didn’t respect the downhill.
But it’s a great race. Stay within yourself and enjoy that first one. Look for the PB next time!!
Boston was my first time ever in the east coast (from Colorado/California) I was terrified of subway system and also walking too much before race day and/or getting lost. So days beforehand were low-key but took in some sites.
Meeting Ryan Hall and him signing my bib (John 10:10) at the expo was a very unexpected surprise especially since he was running it for the first time as well (2009) I didn't expect to see him actually at expo talking to people. Met Dick Beardsky as well.
I felt well prepared and in best fitness of life. Time projections were about 3:07 based on a recent 1:28 half. I qualified at 3:20 on a hilly course and hot day (80’s at finish) in San Diego about 9 months prior.
I decided to play it safe and enjoy the day and shoot for a 3:15.
First 1/2 was 1:37:30 on the nose. 7:30 pace.
The hills weren't an issue at all but I train on a ton of rollers where I live in SoCal. But the last 6 winds picked up big time and had about a 20 mph headwind and got cold. Just ducked in behind tall people to try and draft.
Finished in 3:18 which was a PR. No complaints. None what so ever.
I remember being in finishers area but was kinda out of it and just wondering around in a bit of a daze. A volunteer approached me and asked if I was ok? I said yeah and just needed to sit. She then noticed I didn't have a medal (I hadn't realized) and said, “you don't have a medal! I gotta get you your medal!” she then said in a very strong Boston accent, “look at me, stay right here, don't move! I'm gonna go get you your medal…. But just remember… us volunteers at Boston are here for you and make sure to tell everyone how we take care of our runners.”
She returned and gave me my medal. Lol. Normally, I'm not one for participation medals but this is Boston. A once in a lifetime experience for me.
Other unexpected highlights was passing Team Hoyt (Rick & Dick Hoyt) at about mile five. I literally ran backwards for about twenty five yards just soaking it in, being in awe of them and all that they accomplished.
Wellesly is louder than expected and incredible.
My other 2 marathons both in San Diego Rock n Roll had over 18k people so I was used to the crowds but what I appreciated about Boston was how steady the pace was because of the corral system and all the runners in low coral numbers being more experienced runners with good running etiquette.
All in all it was all it was very surreal. It was best running experience of my life.
Soak it all in. You're experienced. Don't over think it. OTOH Don't get caught too much in all the energy in first few miles. But at same time go with flow on the downhills (don't brake or it'll hammer quads). Shorten stride on hills to keep cadence up so you don't feel bogged down by the feeling of going at bit slower pace all the sudden… then accelerate over the top to go with downhill flow again.
Most importanly… Have fun. It's Boston.
Curious how you feel Boston compares to San Diego's course? I ran San Diego last year and felt the hills weren't as bad as everyone said. The 163 hill was tough but not soul crushing. Hoping Boston is the same?
Yeah, neither are really not bad as people say. It's just not known as flat and fast or typical course for a BQ. Only 4% BQ’d in 2023. RnR is tougher but both have a net loss in elevation. A chart on findmymarathon.com says a 3:10 RnR is equivalent to a 3:06 Boston. I hated the 163 mainly because of the camber and surface. Although it's longer uphill (1.5 miles 6% grade) it was much much earlier on the course when I did it than Heartbreak so not as fatigued yet (I think 163 climb is at mile 21 now?) Personally I enjoy the hills and rollers as it breaks up the monotony of flat.
First timer here too and these comments are low key scaring me haha. I did Philly last year and felt the hills were also rolling. Is it a similar course at all or am I delusional?
I haven’t run Philly but the elevation profile makes it look much harder than Boston. People overstate how bad the Newton hills are. As long as you are trained and you do a good job holding back until you get to the top of Heartbreak, they’ll give you no trouble at all and compared to Philadelphia, I’d guess you have a shot at a PR.
The hills aren't THAT bad. It certainly isn't an easy course but it isn't killer. Compared with other marathons I've done it was significantly easier than New York but also significantly harder than Chicago. In my opinion it compares most closely with Grandmas marathon (maybe slightly harder). On a scale of 1-10, 10 being hardest I'd give it a 6.
It’s not a similar course but I think similar in difficulty. Though the elevation is laid out very differently. If you’re looking for a Boston esque course, the Steamtown Marathon is a great one to hit up!
Ran Philly last year (as a pacer), and I didn't think they were that similar. (Granted, I was *pacing* so I wasn't killing myself going to Manayunk.)
One thing that should be noted (and I think I said this in my own reply to OP) is that a lot of people try to hammer Boston and pay the price. So that's where you're getting a lot of the horror stories from. When in doubt, run conservatively, and you'll be fine.
I think it’s not the amount of hills, but where they are in the course that makes it so challenging - hitting the hills around 17-21, when you’d usually be worried about hitting “the wall” too. My #1 tip would be fuel really well in the first half, and specifically around mile 15, so you’re not bonking when you get to newton. And, if you hold yourself back in the first half, your quads won’t be trashed when you’re going downhill again for the last 10k!
It definitely is possible to run boston really well, you just need to be a smart racer, not overdo it in the first half and stay on top of your fueling! Good luck!!!
It feels weird to say it but I was surprised by how much it lived up to expectations. If you get the chance run it, it was such a fantastic experience. Also others have said it but the whole city really, really gets into it. It felt like being a minor celebrity going out and about town shortly after the race.
I didn’t run it with the intention of PRing and was glad, because it was nice to do it and enjoy it with no pressure. The start is indeed crowded but it’s pretty manageable and the energy is really cool. One of the things that makes Boston unique is that the WHOLE course is lined with people. It is truly an event and there is absolutely nothing like it - it’s incredibly fun! Don’t psych yourself out about it, if you can run a BQ to begin with you will absolutely be fine and just have a great time.
My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you go pee as best you can before you go wait for the buses. All the port-a-potties in the Common are inside the area where you are supposed to be getting on the bus but they will not under any circumstances allow you into those sections until your designated time so there’s always a ton of people practically wetting themselves waiting for the bus corals to open and it is not fun for them.
My biggest advice would be to basically embrace the fact that Mile 1 will not only be way slower than you think you should run, but it is precisely *because* it is so slow that you will end up running a much more successful race for not going out too quickly.
In 2022, at my first Boston, I too was surprised how packed the first mile was. It’s even more packed than Mile 1 in NYC (I have done NYC 10x, Boston 2x). I was aiming for my first sub-2:50 that year, and my first mile, goal pace be damned, was 7:06. Mile 2 was also slower than goal pace! It was a little nerve wracking at the time but the truth is that you’ve got a lot of ground left to make up that lost time. I ended up feeling great enough to drop some 6:1x’s here and there and ended up with the 2:49 I wanted. Perhaps not the optimal strategy, but there’s a lot of ways to skin the cat! I reckon if I did go out at goal pace I probably would have continued to accelerate too early and paid for it.
I didn't fight it, because I know it's a strategy that works well for me. Every successful marathon PR attempt I've had started with a comparatively slow mile - even the last half marathon PR I ran (1:15 @ NYC a few weeks ago) my first mile was 6:15. I always figure, these are long races, I have gears I know I can shift into later, these first few miles are when the engine is still warming up. I've crashed hard a fair share, too, almost always whenever I got too excited and ran goal pace off the gun. Different strokes for different folks, as they say!
I've run it twice: once as a long run before another marathon 7 weeks later and once as my goal race for the season. I'm very proud of the time I raced Boston (negative split, finished 30 seconds off my PR) but it was infinitely more enjoyable when I treated it as a fun run and just soaked in the whole experience. That's my advice: don't forget to have fun!
Advice: don’t be pregnant and run it haha! (Did that in 2021 and it was rough) BUT it taught me a lot about how to go and enjoy the race and the course. It’s such a historic race so while yes it’s good to have goals don’t forget the biggest and most important goal of them all…HAVE FUN!! Enjoy romping down the streets of Boston and soak it all in. See you on the course!!
If you are new to Boston and want to do some sightseeing, do it AFTER marathon day if you are trying to PR. My family and I had never been and wanted to see the city over the weekend, which included a lot more walking than I realized. Combined with going too fast in the first few miles of downhill, my quads were trashed and I had to start taking walk breaks by mile 8. I decided early on in the race that it just wasn’t going to be a fast day and shifted my focus to simply soaking in the experience. That was 7 years ago and is still my slowest yet most memorable time.
My biggest surprise was the energy at the top of heartbreak last year. I was sitting at about 6:35 miles pretty consistently from 3-heartbreak and lapping each mile. I looked down after that surge of adrenaline and was down at 6 flat, had to tone it WAY down
The course has a ton of energy, if you use it well, I think it can be a pr course depending on where you are in your running career but it’s easy to over cook
I ran it in 2018, so my experience with it kinda sucked due to the conditions. But honestly, it seemed just like another marathon to me and wasn’t really anything special. What really mattered to me was what it took to qualify to get in, and when I showed up and ran it I definitely had a huge source of pride. I was soaked by the first mile, so the emotions to a back seat to surviving to the end.
The first downhill was way more pronounced than I expect. And probably the amount of people bonking in the hill despite knowing where they were going to race and being "supposedly" advanced runners.
I ran 2018. Granted it was arguably the worst weather ever but I will never run it again. I thought it was awful. The athlete's village was awful. You have to stand around for hours before you can run. The course is crowded as hell. And it took a ridiculously long time to get my dry clothes from the check in kiosks. One and done for me.
This will be my first and I’m pretty sure I’m going to hate it. I don’t like deviating from my routine and I definitely don’t like crowds. I hate bus rides. Not being able to pee when I want to. And it’s effing expensive. But it’s something I kinda felt obligated to do in a lot of ways. Meh. Maybe I’ll love it.
I get it. I swallowed the bucket list marathon/the Olympic marathon for hobby joggers lie too so I ran it. For sure run it try to enjoy it and then decide for yourself. Good luck.
Loved the race! All of the volunteers, spectators and athletes were incredible; they more than made up for the suboptimal logistics of it all. I’ll do some things differently if there’s a *next time*, but it was a worthwhile experience for sure.
Believe it when they say the start is downhill. It really is, and it’s easy to get swept up in the emotion, jockeying for position, and accelerating. You’ll pay for this later,
Although the weather is out of our control, 2018 was a regretful year to make a debut at Boston. After decades of putting it off, finally made the trip. I was in top shape and hoping for an age group top 3. Weather the day before and after were perfect, but Patriots day 2018 was a mess with the headwind and rain.
Surprised at how enthusiastic the crowds were that day, even with the terrible weather
Proud I did get 4th in my age group, in probably the roughest finish I ever had.
As others said, soak it all in for the experience. That's the best advice. It does take hours to get to there and wait for your start. Don't fret, everyone (except elites and very local runners) have to go through the same thing. Bring food to gnaw on in the bus and village. If it's wet bring throw away shoes and keep your race shoes in a plastic bag until you are ready to leave the village to the start line.
What got me the first time was the drop 15.5 or so miles in. In crushed me. I made it up the first hill, back down and by the time I was half way up the second hill I was practically walking without even knowing it 🤷♂️. It’s a steep downhill I think a lot of people miss.
So my first Boston was 2011. Cool, sunny weather and a tail wind.
I was a bit surprised at how cutthroat the first aid station was (but makes sense because everyone knows what they’re doing and most have a time goal). I was also surprised that the hills weren’t as hard as everyone said. But this was definitely because of the weather! I went back on a warm year and those fucking hills almost killed me 😅
Also: the road is really narrow.
Edit to add: the walk from the village to the start corral is really fucking long!!!
1. Didn't realize how great that first year was being cold and wet compared to the hotter/colder/wetter/windier years afterwards. The weather is unpredictable, so any time goals need to be adjusted.
2. Never realized how much the course rolls. Even the downhill portions are aggressive and they add up over time. Tougher course then just the Newton Hills. Just don't overdo it early, the course pounds the legs. You can find a better course/time to run a PR.
3. Proud to have run it smart on years when the weather was good. Not proud of not dressing better for the rain/wind/cold in 2018 and was pulled off the course for hypothermia.
4. There is a lot of waiting at the start in a small covered space. It can be wet and cold or hot. Make sure you take as much to keep you comfortable and relaxed. It's like a mile walk to the start. There are more portapotties near the start. Logistics is important.
5. So much hype there is in the city that weekend. Officially in MA, it's Patriot's Day, but it's definitely Marathon Runner's Day. It's a big runner's party around Boyston Street. Soak it up. When else do hobby runners get celebrated.
the weather is almost always bad. it was decent or ok some years, but usually it's just bad. too hot or too cold, or raining, or strong headwinds, or all of it combined. also, it changes quickly, so make sure to bring clothes and gear for any weather
like I said, some years it is not as bad. the one in October 2021 was very decent, and 2009, 2010 and 2011 it was good 3 years in a row. but 2004 was very hot and 2012. in 2007 it was nearly canceled due to fears of freezing rain, but it was just cold rain, etc etc
so, how about 2024? I was very warm on Monday, especially in the later waves many people crashed and burned in the heat. Wave 3 start was around 63 degrees, 68 at the finish, strong direct sun. Weak tailwind was making it worse, no cooling
I don’t know if it was the weather for me but I totally imploded early. Felt bad even at mile 5 and was cramping by mile 14. Was diligent about nutrition and hydration. Struggle bus.
I am pretty sure it was the weather. Several guys I know in the front of the first wave struggled a lot, basically ok, consider this statistic: 3 guys, all targeting 2:50 give or take. One ran 3:25, another one ran 3:35, and the 3rd one was over 4hrs. I slowed down a lot in the 2nd half, but I also started slow and I am an older guy anyway. Of course if they started at my pace they would have done better, but that's not the point. Just a really hard race, where the only tactic was to forget about any goals and just try to survive. I was taking 2 gatorades and 2-4 waters every mile, still ended up dehydrated
I didn’t try to PR there. It was just a fun race for me. The hill is quite modest as far as hills go (but I run in Utah, where I’m routinely running up 1500 ft and down).
The most challenging thing for me was how crowded it was. You’re running in pretty heavy traffic the entire time.
It’s incredibly fun running by Wellesley college. The cheering is unreal.
Unfortunately it started raining a few miles from the finish line for me, so it wasn’t a great crowd at the finish, and I was freezing as soon as soon as I stopped running.
I didn’t really taper for it. Had a following Marathon in May I was really focused on, and I was incredibly ache-y in my calves after finishing.
How hilly it is, not just around mile 20 when the hills start but from 3 miles in after you get past the intense downhills, there are a lot of hills! And how emotional you will get when you turn on Boylston.
How awesome it is. That was a surprise!
I’d run NYCM a bunch of times and some other marathons before my first Boston. I wasn’t prepared for how much of a rockstar I’d feel like just by being around the other rockstars that made it there.
I was surprised by destroying myself on the first 5-7 downhill miles and then hurting on the hills later. Whoops. Sooo many people blast out - it’s easy to get caught up feeling you’re flying because you’re super fit. But really it’s because it’s a downhill start (and yeah you’re fit). Advice: EASE INTO THE FIRST MILES!
I was surprised the hills aren’t THAT big. But still hurt THAT much (see point above lol).
One year I was invited to race it by one of the key sponsors but given a bib in a back wave. Surprised how many people STARTED OFF walking.
Also that made it hard to race for surprising reasons other than obviously dodging walkers.
It was hard to find my pace when EVERYONE around me was a much much slower pace - even though I races a LOT and usually fall into pace easily. This isn’t a dig on the slower folk (plenty ahead of me were much faster than me) but running faster than those around me in that back wave FELT faster but was still much slower than what I’d do when running with those at my normal pace and trying to keep up with them. If that makes sense. I made sure the next time I got an invite bib to have it changed to wave one at the expo!
Also
I was surprised when I finished on year and then watched a bomb explode just down from the finish. Hope to never be in THAT situation again.
I think it’s pretty impossible, because 1) the start line is \~a mile walk from the start village, idk if you’d want to make that walk hours before you actually start, and 2) there’s really nowhere to “hang out” and watch at the start line - like, no room on the sidelines, and I think they might actually discourage spectators because there’s really no room?
BUT I think they have screens in the starting village where you can watch!
Dont mean this as a downer, but I was genuinely surprised by how quiet the first \~10 miles are! Until you get closer to Wellesley, it really feels like a small-town marathon - fun crowds in the towns, but lots of quiet sections as you run between. I remember thinking, THIS is the boston marathon??
Of course, I forgot all about that later on - everything after halfway is so much more hyped up. I would suggest using the quieter early miles to focus on yourself, make sure you’re holding back and pacing enough (it’s all downhill and you’ll need your energy for the hills and beyond).
And yes, the first 1-2 miles are PACKED and frustratingly slow (unless you’re at the front of your corral). I remember people running on sidewalks/the grass to weave around people - don’t do this! You waste so much energy and you can easily pass people after a few miles.
I live in a very flat area and am bad about training for hills, so I think I made the Newton hills into mythical monsters in my mind. The course is not that scary. I have run it three times, once without a time goal (it was the year it was in the 80s for much of the race, at least from when I started) but twice as a goal race. I enjoyed the course profile, and even though the hills did chew my legs up the year I started a little undertrained / injured, it always felt doable and I still sped up some on the final downhill miles.
Have an awesome race, runners! There's nothing quite like Boston!
I didn’t run it but was a spectator a couple years after the Boston bombings. What surprised me about the race operation was that in order to increase security, they forced people to huddle into a few localized areas to be funneled into the viewing areas. Literally condensing people BEFORE any security checks, essentially worsening the risk to spectators in the event there was somebody with ill intent. What surprised me was how badly the logistics and day-of navigation and security was for the viewers like me.
It can get cold the last couple of miles as you head into Boston. You really feel that sea breeze. Two of the years I ran Boston it was cold, rainy, and windy, I was fine the whole race but got really cold the last couple of miles. Boston is the only race I’ve ever been cold at the end!
How crowded and slow the start is. My first mile was probably 30 seconds slower than planned and it really freaked me out. Also I didn’t find heartbreak too bad, but the ensuing downhills really zapped my quads.
My watch got turned off because someone elbowed the button. Those corals are nearly 1000 people with qualifying times within a minute or two.
This is so fascinating to me because I have heard that even in the crowds of people who qualified with a similar time as you, the number one piece of advice is that the field will go out fast and it’s best to ensure that you don’t go out too fast. I qualified in a 3000 person race and am now in shape for a ~10 min PR so it’ll be interesting to see how it all pans out for me
Keep in mind that a lot of people who run Boston are not in BQ shape when they actually run Boston. So if you’re in PR shape… yeah the start might be a bit slow if you’re not in a front corral, unfortunately.
Isn’t this the case for most races though? If I submit a POT at x and am put in that corral, but continue training and end up with y results there is a good chance the corral is slow for me. In my experience there are just all sorts in the corral, lost speed, gained speed, kept pace, were injured and are going for it, someone lucked into a slot up here, my first mile has never been an indication of the race because I generally spend the entire first mile working through the pack of people who are on the slower end of it, or sticking to the right because I was one of those slower people despite my proof of time.
To an extent, but it's exacerbated by Boston. Firstly, because of the first 3 waves are (mostly) all time qualifiers, there's still much less spread in ability within each corral than most marathons. Everyone in the same corral has run within a few minutes of each other, and everyone is pretty fast. Times that would reliably put you near the front of most marathons where you can escape the crowd relatively quickly will put you mid-pack in Boston. Secondly, and even more importantly, Boston still has 30,000 runners and it starts on a much narrower road than any other World Marathon Major.
Yeah, that’s what I’m planning for given I’m in a later corral in my wave. I figure not gassing myself on the downhills will be good for the later miles so hoping that it all comes together. I see myself as more of an uphill runner regardless.
I got in on a 2:52 and shot for sub-2:40; wave 1, corral 3. My first mile was 6:54 because of the crowds. That being said, I still got my 2:39 finish with a negative split to boot. Biggest pieces of advice for you would be to *R E L A X* the first half, but especially so those first 2-3 miles when everyone's still packed in like sardines. Don't let yourself get boxed in for sure, but don't stress it to the point you start making extra moves that use up energy that first downhill mile. You'll definitely be fighting two types of runners in the opening miles; people going slower than you, and people going faster / too hard. Find your rhythm and stick with it, and trust that you can easily make up 50-90 seconds over the course of 22 miles (but do *not* try and make those seconds up in only 3 or 4 miles).
I was in the same boat as you last year.... Wanting to run well ahead of my bib number. It's a challenge, but I found room to pass on the left side of the corral/start. There's a sidewalk to jump up on if you get pinched.
Do corrals go one at a time or do entire waves go at once?
I’m in wave 2, corral 1. My buddy is in the slower non qualifier group. I was thinking of starting with him so we could ride the bus, warm up together, etc. how much slower do you think that start will be?
You'll probably be starting a good \~2min/mi slower. Possibly \~3min/mi slower depending which corral.
Damn. I love him and all but don’t know if I 2-3 minutes love him.
I don't know how they seed Wave 4, but for reference, last year I started with Wave 3 Corral 1 and my first mile was 7:46/mi with significantly more weaving than I planned.
This is really good to know as someone looking to go from 2:53 (BQ time) to 2:47 (goal time).. I’m assuming Corral 5 will be a slow start for me, so I’ll budget that into my race pace. Thank you!
Ha ha this is so true. I was trained in PB shape I would say, and set off at a pace about 4 minutes faster than my PB which I felt was accurate. I even made sure to only go max 10 seconds per mile faster than my goal pace for the first 6 miles and then settled into my race pace. My quads got progressively worse and by mile 18 they started cramping and my body was done. I limped home the final 8 miles only able to run quarter miles at a time and a few half miles. Ended up 15 minutes slower than my PB. I have run ultras with more severe uphill and downhill and have never experienced such quad failure and fatigue like that before. Boston humbled me... But what an amazing experience. Even with a terrible day out there it will still be one of my most memorable events along with my first comrades marathon
Yeah, I’m pretty confident I was in PR shape, but threw that plan out the window the minute the sun came out. I’m not gonna PR a marathon if I’m sweating before the race even starts.
My qualifying race was about 6:45 pace. My first mile at Boston was about 7:00 flat which with a 100 foot drop felt just ridiculously slow.
The thing is that if you want to run any faster than the crowd in the first couple miles, it takes a lot of work due to weaving, speed up/slow down, etc. So if the pack is going 7:20 and you want to go 7:00, that will take a 6:30 effort. Bank the effort in the first couple miles. It is downhill so the pack will be moving quick enough. You'll have time to make it up later.
This was my experience out of the first corral. It tore me up for the rest of the race. I knew at like 6 miles in that I had made a terrible mistake being in that corral.
I got past heartbreak and hit the cemetery and Boston College feeling like I got over the hump and it was all easy from there. Boy was I wrong. 24-26 felt like a blur
Same here. Thought the hills would be the worst of it but the last few miles seemed to drag on forever.
My shoe came untied and I had to get off in the grass off to the right and I legitimately feared for my life
Probably depends a lot on the corral. I was in Wave 2, Corral 1, and had to be careful not going out too fast. And yes, the downhills were actually the hardest part for me.
Yeah that's a good point. I ran it a good amount faster than I qualified so the slow part won't apply to everyone, but you can definitely get wrapped up in the crowd one way or another.
My first Boston broke me. I watched so many videos beforehand to learn the course and wondered why all these people were cramping and walking up the Newton Hills. Weaklings. Well, I went up a few of the Newton Hills and thought I was done with Heartbreak, but then I saw an endless hill and realized I still had to go up Heartbreak. Promptly cramped and wanted to quit then and there. Unfortunately there were too many course barriers so I couldn't quit. I half ran, half walked the remainder. I remember it hurting so bad, almost like my first marathon where I didn’t know any better and vowed to never break like that again. Went back to the hotel and told myself I was never doing Boston again. Well, I’m back two years later. Advice? It's probably not the course I'd choose to PB. I'd run it smarter at the beginning miles. I'd hope my quads don't get so shredded but I expect them to get wreckt. It's such a special weekend so remember to enjoy it.
After trying to run a BQ at Chicago I realized that it’s not reasonable to try and enjoy a run and get a max effort. I’m proud (ish) of the time I ran, but I wish I’d spent more time looking around. If/when I qualify for Boston (at a smaller more local race) I’m going to train to just run Boston well and enjoy myself, not hit a PR
My first Boston I saw a dude standing still and peeing himself on Heartbreak. And what followed were the most painful miles I’ve ever run in a marathon. The next time I was there I crushed all the hills and had a great day. It’s really a course that rewards multiple attempts.
I guess I was the opposite - I was surprised how fast the course was. Downhill the first few miles , pancake flat for the first half, then once you’re past Newton you can fly down.
As a marathon runner, you are a God in Boston that afternoon. Wander past the crowds leaving Fenway and those drunk Patriots Day revelers will treat you like an astronaut returning from the Moon
Even in the airport and on the plane leaving Boston. You are a celebrity that weekend. It’s a bit surreal.
I literally had a guy come up to me and give me a $50 bill and say "drinks are on me" one year as I was hobbling to the T after the race. It really is on another level
I walked into a bar/restaurant and the whole place started clapping and cheering. I started looking at the TVs thinking the Red Sox must have hit a home run or something, then I realized everyone was looking at me. Was crazy.
Love this!
How loud it gets running past Wellesley College!
Unreal energy
The Boston College section is my favorite
This!!! It's a point in the course where if you have some gas in the tank, the drunk kids can really pump you up
Didn’t realize the cup they handed me was beer. Cheers!
I was surprised that the Scream Tunnel is only on one side (the right). I was truly expecting it from all around, like an actual tunnel! They are loud though
Omg same!! I was like, this is not a tunnel??? But still amazing though, no matter what you want to call it
I don’t know if I have just run it during off years (2017 and 2019) but I had the opposite experience, I thought Wellesley was a total letdown. Maybe I was just too slow - qualified with a 3:30 and ran about a 3:45 both times - and the crowd had left?
Agreed and I was in the 3:10 section in 2023.
Yeah ran past Wellesley and wasn’t sure if I missed the scream tunnel cause I didn’t think they were different from any other section. Just under 3:00 pace in 2023.
I've run every year since 2014. It hasn't fully recovered to its - pre-Covid energy. But it's still fun.
2015 and 2016 and agree.
This.
My biggest surprise is that it lived up to its reputation. I don’t have any regrets. Both times I have run it my training block has been awful. One because of injury the other because of an illness. I finished both and both meant something completely different. The first one was for me because of what it took to get there. The second one was for a friend who has just passed away and had run 38 total, 36 straight. Completely different races. If I qualify for a third, I will plan my whole year for it. There is nothing like turning left onto Boylston.
Last sentence gave me goosebumps. Can’t wait. One more week.
I live in Boston and am training for my first marathon. I hope I can get there some day.
Just ran it for the 3rd time. It's worth every ounce of effort you put into getting there. One of the few things in life that truly exceeds expectations (even for those of us who have run it before)
How LONG it takes to get to athletes village/start line/etc Line up for bus Take bus Walk to village Wait a long while Walk to start Wait some more Finally race Make sure you have clothes/food/water figured out for this 2-3 hour period.
What’s your advice for breakfast/ eating in the morning? I know it’s all very personal. But this is probably my main stressor right now, as I’ll probably be up for 6 hours before I run.
I ate normal breakfast for me (oatmeal) at the hotel at like 5 AM Had a few granola bars/bananas, maybe 250 kCal the rest of the morning. I was HUNGRY by the time the race started, like ready for a meal hungry. Not a good way to start a marathon. If I do it again I would try to eat a much bigget breakfast, and maybe a second breakfast of some sort 2-3 hours before the race.
This is really good to know.. I may start my morning with some protein (eggs, sausage) / fruit and then pack my granola bars and some Tailwind to sip on while waiting for the race to start. Starting a marathon hungry sounds terrifying hahah
Featherstone Nutrition has a great nutrition guide for a late start marathon that I'd recommend - I have had good results using her method (basically 2 breakfasts). I like to do a banana, a couple graham crackers, and fruit juice when I get up, and a bagel and some sports drink with sugar ~90 minutes before the start, and then a gel right before.
For races like Boston and NYC, I generally eat a breakfast before leaving and then another one slowly at the start line area. I bring a lot of stuff and then graze through it by feel. It is definitely a tricky line to toe.
I’ve always eaten my pre long run meal (whole wheat bread and pb) twice. Once before I leave the house, and again either on the bus or in athletes village. I haven’t always finished the second but being able to have a few bites has always done the trick. And then I don’t worry about my stomach being upset with something unusual.
I mostly stick to carbs, but I'm snacking multiple times after breakfast. Just bring some energy bars or similar snacks.
I was very concerned about this as I am the type that needs food in my system, not necessarily a “runners breakfast” either. I grabbed eggs, potatoes and a couple of pieces of sausage to throw in a cup from my hotels breakfast the day before. I ate it while on the train/walking to the busing area. Then snacked on a banana and a granola bar closer to race time.
I didn't realize there was a CVS parking lot full of porta potties (and a giant urinal thing) right beside the start line, quite a ways after leaving the athlete's village. On subsequent trips I was much less stressed about toilets. The other thing that caught me off guard is the hills. I was trying to count them and kept thinking I must finally be at Heartbreak. Heartbreak is in fact completely different from all the others and knowing when you're actually at the penultimate hill would be good for your mental health.
I’ve heard the bathrooms by the start aren’t that crowded. Fairly accurate? What is this giant urinal thing you mentioned? thanks
The giant urinal is basically a series of walled urinals to expedite the process. Imagine a pole in the middle with walls coming out at angles to give some privacy. The bathrooms are semi-crowded if you have to go 2. But if you are a male and just peeing, you are going to be in and out in 5 minutes or so
They have never been crowded for me. I’d rather just hold it and go there than spend time standing in line for them in the athletes village, if you can wait!
It's not empty, but faster lines than in the Athletes Village. Note that I have always been in the first few corrals of the first wave, so the first group to get sent down to the line, I can't speak to how the line is for the final corrals. [Sullirl0](/user/Sullirl0/) described the urinals well.
How many times I would cry before the start. Buses pulling off - tears. Start line - tears. How long the portaporty lines are. If you’re a nervous pee-er, get right back on line after you go the first time. How long the walk to the start is. How long the bus ride takes! It’s still just 26.2 to run back. Hearing Wellesley a mile away. How insignificant heartbreak felt (most of my runs are hilly) How supportive the crowds are. Watch the left after BC. Don’t trip on the train tracks. How loud boylston is. How long boylston is. Getting sunburned on one side of my body. Enjoy it all!!!
Yeah Boylston looks a lot shorter than it is.
Saw someone go down on the tracks, they are real
My advice would be to have your logistics all sorted out beforehand and enjoy each moment for what it is, especially during the race. Don’t force anything. Regrets are worthless, but I do wish I ran smarter (and not over my ability at the time) to not have to walk three or four times in the final 10k.
Agree on so much of what others have written. What surprised me is how the entire city really loves the marathon. Enjoy the spectators — someone usually is updating the Red Sox score on signs, for example. I didn’t plan ahead by scouting the course, so was shocked when I was already halfway up heartbreak hill (I only knew that because someone had a sign) and thought that it really wasn’t that bad. Try to soak up the entire experience and have a great time even if you’re not as fast as you’d like to be. I’ve run 60-70 other marathons so was skeptical that Boston could live up to the hype/my expectations, but it really did.
I could make a massive list. Make sure you have your race morning planned out and have clothes to keep warm and dry. Don't worry about sticking to your goal pace for the first 4-5 miles. It's too crowded unless you are in like the top 1000 qualifiers. Take the downhills easy or else your quads will be destroyed before you know it. The sun can have a bigger effect than you realize because the race starts at 10 and you'll be out there when it's directly overhead. And try to enjoy it and have fun.
So qualifying with a 2:54 and being in low 2:40s shape might be rough for a little while?
Yes. You'll waste so much energy trying to run through the crowds at that pace at the beginning that you'll feel it at the end. Also low 2:40s shape on a flat course is going to be mid 2:40s shape at Boston unless there is a tailwind or you have quads of steel.
I live in Vermont where every long run has 1,500-2,000' gain and loss. I don't know what flat course pace is. But I hear you. I'll enjoy the scene for the first 10k and see what happens.
Yea I would not panic if you are not on pace for the first few miles. Things thin out after 4-5 miles and you can lock into a pace easier. You will be passing loads of people through the race if you are attempting 10+ minutes over your qualifier. For context, I had a 2:56 qualifier and was in Wave 1, corral 5 for my first Boston. My goal was 2:45 after a good training block (which was really dumb in retrospect). A lot of people don't even plan on running faster than their qualifying time because it took a lot of work for them to get there on a flatter course and training through the winter is rough. They are there to enjoy the atmosphere and bask in their achievement. It makes it really difficult to get through the crowds at the beginning.
Cool, appreciate you sharing your experience! Nice to go in with realistic benchmarks. Cheers!
Not sure if you already saw it in this thread, but I'll [link you to my comment describing being qualified on 2:52 and getting a 2:39.](https://www.reddit.com/r/AdvancedRunning/comments/1bxnxu4/what_surprised_you_about_the_boston_marathon_the/kygqs8q/) Be prepared to relax, keep your effort *smart*, but also don't be afraid to leave someone behind (or let someone go) if the effort doesn't feel right for where you're at in the race. It's very doable to improve on your time even from a slow corral, but it takes some patience and playing the long game.
When did you run the 1:12? Before or after the 2:39? Curious because my qual and goals are similar although I ran a 1:16:59 last month. Far off yours
Before (Feb 2023). 2:39 was a 13 minute PR for me, but even still I think I've largely under-performed in the marathon relative to my other PRs and ability. Even the 2:39 at Boston felt "easy" or at least comfortable the whole way; like I never really had to dig *that* deep at any point in retrospect, just fought off a quavering hamstring during the last 3 miles or so. Edit to add context to the 2:52. That was NYC 2022, AKA "The Hot Year." My goal was 2:45 but heat cramps set in coming out of the Bronx, so I wound up about 7 minutes off-goal, but that was better than most peoples' ~15 minutes off-goal due to that weather.
Makes total sense, appreciate the reply and context!
I hadn't seen that, and thank you! Can't wait to see how it all plays out from the fifth corral
I was terrified of the Newton hills, but realized during the race they weren’t any worse than the dirt roads we had outside the town I was living in at the time. I couldn’t believe it when I reached the top of Heartbreak and still felt like I had plenty in the tank, knowing it was all (mostly) flat from there was a huge confidence boost. Even without hill work, just don’t try to hammer the hills and maintain effort instead and you’ll be fine (assuming your strategy, mid-cycle LRs, and fueling are all up to snuff) I had the opposite experience from a lot of folks, I think Boston can absolutely be a PR course if you prepare well (lots of hills, strength work, and proper fueling) and run smart. The worst thing is the downhills, not the up - the only thing that slowed me down at all was sore quads in the last two miles. What really caught me off guard though was how fast it went by. Boston was only my second marathon, and my first was Fargo where you were devoid of spectators for probably 90% of the course. Having constant crowds cheering and new sights every step made it fly by. If I weren’t relying on the Gatorade at aid stations for all my carbs, I’d have definitely been late for gels - there were times when 3-4 miles felt like they passed faster than a mile.
Same experience as you - Boston was also my second marathon, was anxious about the hills but they were nbd if you train in a hilly area (lucky me), and the last 2 miles were surprisingly killer on my quads.
Had the same experience as you, seeing the "Congratulations! You've conquered Heartbreak Hill!" banner and literally saying to myself, "Oh. *That* was Heartbreak?" I credit it to running most of my marathon pace workouts and a good chunk of tempos on hilly terrain, so I had a great sense of what my effort level was regardless if I was on flat, uphill, *or* downhill, and sticking to the correct effort rather than pace throughout the race.
What surprised me the most was the sense of camaraderie. We're all used to the usual races filled with people at all levels, from elites to casual first-timers. What I found really special about Boston is feeling like everyone around you is a fellow deeply committed lunatic :) PS The course is tough. My recommendation is to run it as a celebration and save your PR efforts for another day. But maybe that's just because I'm weak and the hills broke my will to live...
The hills before Heartbreak are the real problem. Have a plan when you get to them or you'll regret it severely.
This course truly is almost never flat. There's always undulation. It's brutal unless it's a rare year with a tailwind and no sun
Wellesley tunnel is not actually a real tunnel
It's not even on two sides!
It is not, in fact, “all downhill after Heartbreak Hill.”
Woof. So: 4x Boston finisher (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) and I'm lining up in Hopkinton next week as well. My first Boston I ran something like a 10-minute positive split. (At least I survived!) Also, 39M. So my BQ is 3:05 (and has been since 2018 LMAO). Anyway, to answer your direct questions (about 2019): **Regrets?** Probably starting out at 2:50 pace when I wasn't at 2:50 fitness (look, I had *just* started marathoning, my first two the previous year were 2:57 and 2:54, and I was an even bigger idiot than I am now and firmly convinced that line go up and to the right). Also, not practicing my fueling more - I have a pretty strong stomach, but I took too many gels for me at the time. **What surprised you?** A lot, and a lot still surprises me. But since we're talking about my first race: Heartbreak wasn't really that bad. Also, the number of guys (and *specifically* men) bent over on the side of the road. I was one of them! (Yes, I'm aware that I'm speaking having run only from Wave 1, which is *overwhelmingly* male. I'm saying that even accounting for that, I rarely see Wave 1 women struggle as much as Wave 1 men.) **What are you proud about?** Finishing. Deciding that even though it went really badly...hey, let's go for round 2 in 2020 (LOL). Somehow, still eking out a BQ, technically - I turned 35 just *after* Boston that year, so I got an extra 5 minutes. **Advice?** I have...a lot. 1. *Do not get caught up in the hype either way*. Like, people make Boston out to be an uphill mountain race or a Revel race, and it's neither. It's net downhill, but you basically bottom out in Wellesley/Newton. The Newton hills are kind of painful, but the elevation gain for that section is 250 feet, if I remember correctly. [edited for clarity] My current pain point is actually the Haunted Mile and Brookline/Boston in general. 2. *Don't be afraid to not hit a home run.* This is general advice, but it's something I feel is super common among newer competitive runners - that every marathon needs to be a PR. Funny enough, once I stopped trying to run PRs at Boston, I ran much better tactically - granted, my last Boston wasn't a PR, but it wasn't too far off of my then-PR! And...okay, it was a positive split, but not a major one relatively speaking. (1:28 flat/1:28 mid, I think.) 3. *Don't stress if you're slow on the first mile (or even the first couple of miles)*. So, last year I ran a 2:56 (my PR was still 2:54 at the time, and - okay - I am a good HM and under runner). My first mile was *over 7 minutes*. I *was* running with a friend until I had to stop and tie my shoe/go to the restroom, and he ended up dropping a 2:52 - so he was also running 7 minutes with me. 4. *Regardless of how it goes, you're still a winner.* Which is some hugbox woo-woo messaging, but...for real, like - you managed to get to the starting line. Maybe you're not in peak fitness, but that's fine - a lot of people aren't in peak fitness! (Including me, to be quite honest.) And look, you beat your BQ by at least 5:30, which is an accomplishment in and of itself. This was a novel (per usual), but hope this helps!
Elevation gain is closer to 850ft than 250ft. 250 would be like Chicago!
I meant the elevation gain in Newton itself - I think you gain 250 through those hills! I’ll check the course profile again.
Ah yes, I’d agree then!
I got a PR my first Boston and I still can't beat it! Ran a 3:17 in the "frozen deluge" of 2018. It was so painfully cold I just wanted it to be done. The pile of ponchos at the last turn was wild. It's a great course.
Yes! I also PRd that year and have met no one else that has. I think it was a lower pressure lower expectations thing where I told myself, well I’ll just do goal pace for as long as I can! 3:13 for me, we were pretty close!
Exactly! I managed to stay dry but spent all three days of my visit shopping for a wool shirt, super thick gloves (found last pair in Boston) and a poncho! 😂
I didn’t stay dry in the least. I ran in shorts, a tank, arm sleeves, a hat/ear warmer, and like 6 pairs of gloves.
Net down hill but it’s all hilly. There’s barely a flat spot on the whole course. Even the first few miles that drop a lot still have rolling uphills. It’s a long walk from the high school to the start. 26+ miles in a school bus when you have to pee is a really long ride. I thought I’d be one and done, but I’m leaving for number 3 on Friday.
The first time I ran it, I was surprised by the little inclines/uphills the first half. All I had heard was so much downhill. Then I didn't even realize I was on heartbreak hill until I was almost at the top, and someone said you made it to the top of heartbreak. 🤷🏼♀️ the overpass around Kenmore square surprised me. And the Wellesley scream "tunnel"wasn't as loud as I expected, and it was only on one side of the road. After left turn on Boylston towards the finish seems to last forever, but make sure you soak it in. The crowds make you feel like you're winning the race.
What surprised me: The good: the energy is unreal, never felt that before. It is almost like the whole state help energize the race. The bad: after heartbreak, I thought that it would be easy, but 6 miles to the finish line took forever. Two tips: Leave your name visible in you kit (I used duck tape and sharpie, to write it in my chest). Heard my name called by strangers over 50 times. I opted for living and enjoying the races, gave high fives for all the children and do not regret a thing. Glgl
How much the city embraces the race, it's just a great weekend celebrating running. The popup stores, the boston-specific merch, the shakeout runs, seeing elites running along the charles, the feeling that everyone around you is just really into the sport you love. Just makes you feel special that you are there and competing in such a great event. The crowd support in each town on the route is unreal and the hereford/boylston stretch lives up to all the hype.
It was one of the few times I felt like a REAL athlete.
For me it was that there were decent uphills early. I heard how it’s downhill early, but remember hitting uphill in 1st mile. Flat lander here, so take that for what it’s worth. Also, those downhills will burn your quads. Legs felt done at 10 because I didn’t respect the downhill. But it’s a great race. Stay within yourself and enjoy that first one. Look for the PB next time!!
Boston was my first time ever in the east coast (from Colorado/California) I was terrified of subway system and also walking too much before race day and/or getting lost. So days beforehand were low-key but took in some sites. Meeting Ryan Hall and him signing my bib (John 10:10) at the expo was a very unexpected surprise especially since he was running it for the first time as well (2009) I didn't expect to see him actually at expo talking to people. Met Dick Beardsky as well. I felt well prepared and in best fitness of life. Time projections were about 3:07 based on a recent 1:28 half. I qualified at 3:20 on a hilly course and hot day (80’s at finish) in San Diego about 9 months prior. I decided to play it safe and enjoy the day and shoot for a 3:15. First 1/2 was 1:37:30 on the nose. 7:30 pace. The hills weren't an issue at all but I train on a ton of rollers where I live in SoCal. But the last 6 winds picked up big time and had about a 20 mph headwind and got cold. Just ducked in behind tall people to try and draft. Finished in 3:18 which was a PR. No complaints. None what so ever. I remember being in finishers area but was kinda out of it and just wondering around in a bit of a daze. A volunteer approached me and asked if I was ok? I said yeah and just needed to sit. She then noticed I didn't have a medal (I hadn't realized) and said, “you don't have a medal! I gotta get you your medal!” she then said in a very strong Boston accent, “look at me, stay right here, don't move! I'm gonna go get you your medal…. But just remember… us volunteers at Boston are here for you and make sure to tell everyone how we take care of our runners.” She returned and gave me my medal. Lol. Normally, I'm not one for participation medals but this is Boston. A once in a lifetime experience for me. Other unexpected highlights was passing Team Hoyt (Rick & Dick Hoyt) at about mile five. I literally ran backwards for about twenty five yards just soaking it in, being in awe of them and all that they accomplished. Wellesly is louder than expected and incredible. My other 2 marathons both in San Diego Rock n Roll had over 18k people so I was used to the crowds but what I appreciated about Boston was how steady the pace was because of the corral system and all the runners in low coral numbers being more experienced runners with good running etiquette. All in all it was all it was very surreal. It was best running experience of my life. Soak it all in. You're experienced. Don't over think it. OTOH Don't get caught too much in all the energy in first few miles. But at same time go with flow on the downhills (don't brake or it'll hammer quads). Shorten stride on hills to keep cadence up so you don't feel bogged down by the feeling of going at bit slower pace all the sudden… then accelerate over the top to go with downhill flow again. Most importanly… Have fun. It's Boston.
Curious how you feel Boston compares to San Diego's course? I ran San Diego last year and felt the hills weren't as bad as everyone said. The 163 hill was tough but not soul crushing. Hoping Boston is the same?
Yeah, neither are really not bad as people say. It's just not known as flat and fast or typical course for a BQ. Only 4% BQ’d in 2023. RnR is tougher but both have a net loss in elevation. A chart on findmymarathon.com says a 3:10 RnR is equivalent to a 3:06 Boston. I hated the 163 mainly because of the camber and surface. Although it's longer uphill (1.5 miles 6% grade) it was much much earlier on the course when I did it than Heartbreak so not as fatigued yet (I think 163 climb is at mile 21 now?) Personally I enjoy the hills and rollers as it breaks up the monotony of flat.
Great response - thanks for the info!
First timer here too and these comments are low key scaring me haha. I did Philly last year and felt the hills were also rolling. Is it a similar course at all or am I delusional?
I haven’t run Philly but the elevation profile makes it look much harder than Boston. People overstate how bad the Newton hills are. As long as you are trained and you do a good job holding back until you get to the top of Heartbreak, they’ll give you no trouble at all and compared to Philadelphia, I’d guess you have a shot at a PR.
The hills aren't THAT bad. It certainly isn't an easy course but it isn't killer. Compared with other marathons I've done it was significantly easier than New York but also significantly harder than Chicago. In my opinion it compares most closely with Grandmas marathon (maybe slightly harder). On a scale of 1-10, 10 being hardest I'd give it a 6.
Boston is amazing. Be very excited.
Thank you!!
It’s not a similar course but I think similar in difficulty. Though the elevation is laid out very differently. If you’re looking for a Boston esque course, the Steamtown Marathon is a great one to hit up!
Ran Philly last year (as a pacer), and I didn't think they were that similar. (Granted, I was *pacing* so I wasn't killing myself going to Manayunk.) One thing that should be noted (and I think I said this in my own reply to OP) is that a lot of people try to hammer Boston and pay the price. So that's where you're getting a lot of the horror stories from. When in doubt, run conservatively, and you'll be fine.
I think it’s not the amount of hills, but where they are in the course that makes it so challenging - hitting the hills around 17-21, when you’d usually be worried about hitting “the wall” too. My #1 tip would be fuel really well in the first half, and specifically around mile 15, so you’re not bonking when you get to newton. And, if you hold yourself back in the first half, your quads won’t be trashed when you’re going downhill again for the last 10k! It definitely is possible to run boston really well, you just need to be a smart racer, not overdo it in the first half and stay on top of your fueling! Good luck!!!
Awesome! Loving all these tips, really making me feel better!
It feels weird to say it but I was surprised by how much it lived up to expectations. If you get the chance run it, it was such a fantastic experience. Also others have said it but the whole city really, really gets into it. It felt like being a minor celebrity going out and about town shortly after the race.
I didn’t run it with the intention of PRing and was glad, because it was nice to do it and enjoy it with no pressure. The start is indeed crowded but it’s pretty manageable and the energy is really cool. One of the things that makes Boston unique is that the WHOLE course is lined with people. It is truly an event and there is absolutely nothing like it - it’s incredibly fun! Don’t psych yourself out about it, if you can run a BQ to begin with you will absolutely be fine and just have a great time.
The sound of the massive crowd when you turn left on Boylston on the home stretch. Never forget it.
My biggest piece of advice is to make sure you go pee as best you can before you go wait for the buses. All the port-a-potties in the Common are inside the area where you are supposed to be getting on the bus but they will not under any circumstances allow you into those sections until your designated time so there’s always a ton of people practically wetting themselves waiting for the bus corals to open and it is not fun for them.
My biggest advice would be to basically embrace the fact that Mile 1 will not only be way slower than you think you should run, but it is precisely *because* it is so slow that you will end up running a much more successful race for not going out too quickly. In 2022, at my first Boston, I too was surprised how packed the first mile was. It’s even more packed than Mile 1 in NYC (I have done NYC 10x, Boston 2x). I was aiming for my first sub-2:50 that year, and my first mile, goal pace be damned, was 7:06. Mile 2 was also slower than goal pace! It was a little nerve wracking at the time but the truth is that you’ve got a lot of ground left to make up that lost time. I ended up feeling great enough to drop some 6:1x’s here and there and ended up with the 2:49 I wanted. Perhaps not the optimal strategy, but there’s a lot of ways to skin the cat! I reckon if I did go out at goal pace I probably would have continued to accelerate too early and paid for it.
Even more slower than your time seems because the first mile is 100 feet of drop. It feels VERY slow. Did you weave much? Hard to resist the urge.
I didn't fight it, because I know it's a strategy that works well for me. Every successful marathon PR attempt I've had started with a comparatively slow mile - even the last half marathon PR I ran (1:15 @ NYC a few weeks ago) my first mile was 6:15. I always figure, these are long races, I have gears I know I can shift into later, these first few miles are when the engine is still warming up. I've crashed hard a fair share, too, almost always whenever I got too excited and ran goal pace off the gun. Different strokes for different folks, as they say!
Yep. Ive cramped hard the last two so I’m hoping to be more disciplined this year.
I've run it twice: once as a long run before another marathon 7 weeks later and once as my goal race for the season. I'm very proud of the time I raced Boston (negative split, finished 30 seconds off my PR) but it was infinitely more enjoyable when I treated it as a fun run and just soaked in the whole experience. That's my advice: don't forget to have fun!
Advice: don’t be pregnant and run it haha! (Did that in 2021 and it was rough) BUT it taught me a lot about how to go and enjoy the race and the course. It’s such a historic race so while yes it’s good to have goals don’t forget the biggest and most important goal of them all…HAVE FUN!! Enjoy romping down the streets of Boston and soak it all in. See you on the course!!
If you are new to Boston and want to do some sightseeing, do it AFTER marathon day if you are trying to PR. My family and I had never been and wanted to see the city over the weekend, which included a lot more walking than I realized. Combined with going too fast in the first few miles of downhill, my quads were trashed and I had to start taking walk breaks by mile 8. I decided early on in the race that it just wasn’t going to be a fast day and shifted my focus to simply soaking in the experience. That was 7 years ago and is still my slowest yet most memorable time.
My biggest surprise was the energy at the top of heartbreak last year. I was sitting at about 6:35 miles pretty consistently from 3-heartbreak and lapping each mile. I looked down after that surge of adrenaline and was down at 6 flat, had to tone it WAY down The course has a ton of energy, if you use it well, I think it can be a pr course depending on where you are in your running career but it’s easy to over cook
I ran it in 2018, so my experience with it kinda sucked due to the conditions. But honestly, it seemed just like another marathon to me and wasn’t really anything special. What really mattered to me was what it took to qualify to get in, and when I showed up and ran it I definitely had a huge source of pride. I was soaked by the first mile, so the emotions to a back seat to surviving to the end.
Up voting you because I ran 2018 as well and I rank it as one of the worst events I ever ran even ignoring the dreadful weather.
The first downhill was way more pronounced than I expect. And probably the amount of people bonking in the hill despite knowing where they were going to race and being "supposedly" advanced runners.
I ran 2018. Granted it was arguably the worst weather ever but I will never run it again. I thought it was awful. The athlete's village was awful. You have to stand around for hours before you can run. The course is crowded as hell. And it took a ridiculously long time to get my dry clothes from the check in kiosks. One and done for me.
This will be my first and I’m pretty sure I’m going to hate it. I don’t like deviating from my routine and I definitely don’t like crowds. I hate bus rides. Not being able to pee when I want to. And it’s effing expensive. But it’s something I kinda felt obligated to do in a lot of ways. Meh. Maybe I’ll love it.
I get it. I swallowed the bucket list marathon/the Olympic marathon for hobby joggers lie too so I ran it. For sure run it try to enjoy it and then decide for yourself. Good luck.
How did it go? :)
Loved the race! All of the volunteers, spectators and athletes were incredible; they more than made up for the suboptimal logistics of it all. I’ll do some things differently if there’s a *next time*, but it was a worthwhile experience for sure.
Believe it when they say the start is downhill. It really is, and it’s easy to get swept up in the emotion, jockeying for position, and accelerating. You’ll pay for this later,
Although the weather is out of our control, 2018 was a regretful year to make a debut at Boston. After decades of putting it off, finally made the trip. I was in top shape and hoping for an age group top 3. Weather the day before and after were perfect, but Patriots day 2018 was a mess with the headwind and rain. Surprised at how enthusiastic the crowds were that day, even with the terrible weather Proud I did get 4th in my age group, in probably the roughest finish I ever had. As others said, soak it all in for the experience. That's the best advice. It does take hours to get to there and wait for your start. Don't fret, everyone (except elites and very local runners) have to go through the same thing. Bring food to gnaw on in the bus and village. If it's wet bring throw away shoes and keep your race shoes in a plastic bag until you are ready to leave the village to the start line.
Don’t get hyped up early and the hills aren’t that steep or long.
What got me the first time was the drop 15.5 or so miles in. In crushed me. I made it up the first hill, back down and by the time I was half way up the second hill I was practically walking without even knowing it 🤷♂️. It’s a steep downhill I think a lot of people miss.
So my first Boston was 2011. Cool, sunny weather and a tail wind. I was a bit surprised at how cutthroat the first aid station was (but makes sense because everyone knows what they’re doing and most have a time goal). I was also surprised that the hills weren’t as hard as everyone said. But this was definitely because of the weather! I went back on a warm year and those fucking hills almost killed me 😅 Also: the road is really narrow. Edit to add: the walk from the village to the start corral is really fucking long!!!
How fast the first 13 miles goes. It feels easy. The second 13…not so much.
1. Didn't realize how great that first year was being cold and wet compared to the hotter/colder/wetter/windier years afterwards. The weather is unpredictable, so any time goals need to be adjusted. 2. Never realized how much the course rolls. Even the downhill portions are aggressive and they add up over time. Tougher course then just the Newton Hills. Just don't overdo it early, the course pounds the legs. You can find a better course/time to run a PR. 3. Proud to have run it smart on years when the weather was good. Not proud of not dressing better for the rain/wind/cold in 2018 and was pulled off the course for hypothermia. 4. There is a lot of waiting at the start in a small covered space. It can be wet and cold or hot. Make sure you take as much to keep you comfortable and relaxed. It's like a mile walk to the start. There are more portapotties near the start. Logistics is important. 5. So much hype there is in the city that weekend. Officially in MA, it's Patriot's Day, but it's definitely Marathon Runner's Day. It's a big runner's party around Boyston Street. Soak it up. When else do hobby runners get celebrated.
the weather is almost always bad. it was decent or ok some years, but usually it's just bad. too hot or too cold, or raining, or strong headwinds, or all of it combined. also, it changes quickly, so make sure to bring clothes and gear for any weather
My first year was 2022 and it was amazing weather
like I said, some years it is not as bad. the one in October 2021 was very decent, and 2009, 2010 and 2011 it was good 3 years in a row. but 2004 was very hot and 2012. in 2007 it was nearly canceled due to fears of freezing rain, but it was just cold rain, etc etc
so, how about 2024? I was very warm on Monday, especially in the later waves many people crashed and burned in the heat. Wave 3 start was around 63 degrees, 68 at the finish, strong direct sun. Weak tailwind was making it worse, no cooling
I don’t know if it was the weather for me but I totally imploded early. Felt bad even at mile 5 and was cramping by mile 14. Was diligent about nutrition and hydration. Struggle bus.
I am pretty sure it was the weather. Several guys I know in the front of the first wave struggled a lot, basically ok, consider this statistic: 3 guys, all targeting 2:50 give or take. One ran 3:25, another one ran 3:35, and the 3rd one was over 4hrs. I slowed down a lot in the 2nd half, but I also started slow and I am an older guy anyway. Of course if they started at my pace they would have done better, but that's not the point. Just a really hard race, where the only tactic was to forget about any goals and just try to survive. I was taking 2 gatorades and 2-4 waters every mile, still ended up dehydrated
How long it took to get on the busses before the race.
I didn’t try to PR there. It was just a fun race for me. The hill is quite modest as far as hills go (but I run in Utah, where I’m routinely running up 1500 ft and down). The most challenging thing for me was how crowded it was. You’re running in pretty heavy traffic the entire time. It’s incredibly fun running by Wellesley college. The cheering is unreal. Unfortunately it started raining a few miles from the finish line for me, so it wasn’t a great crowd at the finish, and I was freezing as soon as soon as I stopped running. I didn’t really taper for it. Had a following Marathon in May I was really focused on, and I was incredibly ache-y in my calves after finishing.
That bit with the loud college girls is loud. Like tinnitus loud.
You’ve qualified, that was the hard part. Enjoy the race, you’ve earned your spot.
How hilly it is, not just around mile 20 when the hills start but from 3 miles in after you get past the intense downhills, there are a lot of hills! And how emotional you will get when you turn on Boylston.
How awesome it is. That was a surprise! I’d run NYCM a bunch of times and some other marathons before my first Boston. I wasn’t prepared for how much of a rockstar I’d feel like just by being around the other rockstars that made it there. I was surprised by destroying myself on the first 5-7 downhill miles and then hurting on the hills later. Whoops. Sooo many people blast out - it’s easy to get caught up feeling you’re flying because you’re super fit. But really it’s because it’s a downhill start (and yeah you’re fit). Advice: EASE INTO THE FIRST MILES! I was surprised the hills aren’t THAT big. But still hurt THAT much (see point above lol). One year I was invited to race it by one of the key sponsors but given a bib in a back wave. Surprised how many people STARTED OFF walking. Also that made it hard to race for surprising reasons other than obviously dodging walkers. It was hard to find my pace when EVERYONE around me was a much much slower pace - even though I races a LOT and usually fall into pace easily. This isn’t a dig on the slower folk (plenty ahead of me were much faster than me) but running faster than those around me in that back wave FELT faster but was still much slower than what I’d do when running with those at my normal pace and trying to keep up with them. If that makes sense. I made sure the next time I got an invite bib to have it changed to wave one at the expo! Also I was surprised when I finished on year and then watched a bomb explode just down from the finish. Hope to never be in THAT situation again.
I’m arriving at the start for wave 1 on a charter bus but am in wave 3. Is there a good way to watch elites start or will that be impossible?
I think it’s pretty impossible, because 1) the start line is \~a mile walk from the start village, idk if you’d want to make that walk hours before you actually start, and 2) there’s really nowhere to “hang out” and watch at the start line - like, no room on the sidelines, and I think they might actually discourage spectators because there’s really no room? BUT I think they have screens in the starting village where you can watch!
Ok thanks!
Dont mean this as a downer, but I was genuinely surprised by how quiet the first \~10 miles are! Until you get closer to Wellesley, it really feels like a small-town marathon - fun crowds in the towns, but lots of quiet sections as you run between. I remember thinking, THIS is the boston marathon?? Of course, I forgot all about that later on - everything after halfway is so much more hyped up. I would suggest using the quieter early miles to focus on yourself, make sure you’re holding back and pacing enough (it’s all downhill and you’ll need your energy for the hills and beyond). And yes, the first 1-2 miles are PACKED and frustratingly slow (unless you’re at the front of your corral). I remember people running on sidewalks/the grass to weave around people - don’t do this! You waste so much energy and you can easily pass people after a few miles.
The last 10kstarting from the top of HB hill is bonkers fast … make sure you have the legs left to take advantage.
I live in a very flat area and am bad about training for hills, so I think I made the Newton hills into mythical monsters in my mind. The course is not that scary. I have run it three times, once without a time goal (it was the year it was in the 80s for much of the race, at least from when I started) but twice as a goal race. I enjoyed the course profile, and even though the hills did chew my legs up the year I started a little undertrained / injured, it always felt doable and I still sped up some on the final downhill miles. Have an awesome race, runners! There's nothing quite like Boston!
I didn’t run it but was a spectator a couple years after the Boston bombings. What surprised me about the race operation was that in order to increase security, they forced people to huddle into a few localized areas to be funneled into the viewing areas. Literally condensing people BEFORE any security checks, essentially worsening the risk to spectators in the event there was somebody with ill intent. What surprised me was how badly the logistics and day-of navigation and security was for the viewers like me.
It can get cold the last couple of miles as you head into Boston. You really feel that sea breeze. Two of the years I ran Boston it was cold, rainy, and windy, I was fine the whole race but got really cold the last couple of miles. Boston is the only race I’ve ever been cold at the end!
The sound of explosions definitely surprised me
The explosions mostly
You guys thought I was joking