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Boston Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Boston Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.6 
Organization 4.6 
Spectators 4.9
Number of comments: 418 [displaying comments 251 to 261]
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J. K. from Philadelphia, PA
(4/18/2007)
"Great event despite the weather" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first Boston. The weather was pretty ugly in the beginning, but the rain seemed to ease up a few miles in. I ended up parking at the South Street Industrial Park and taking a bus to the start. I would recommend this option when the weather is bad if you don't mind waiting in your car for awhile. The only downside is that its a bit of a hike to get to the bag drop from where the shuttle drops you off in Hopkinton. The course itself had a nice mix of variety with a number of little rolling hills in the first half, and then the Newon Hills in the second half. It was a nice run through the smaller towns and back roads leading up to the city. Heartbreak Hill didn't seem any more difficult than any other hill; it's just that its place that late in the course with a few similar-sized hills in the miles leading up to it take its toll on your legs. Despite the weather, the crowds were awesome and extremely supportive. It seemed like every kid ot there had a bag of oranges to hand out slices to runners. Don't underestimate the hill training for this race. This race is a must-do if you ever get the chance. | |
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m. c. from Middlebury,CT
(4/17/2007)
"Wet and Wonderful!" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Ran my first Boston this week. The stormy conditions made for an interesting few days. However, we awoke Monday morning with temperatures that were up around 47 degrees vs. the predicted 37-degree temps (although the actual temp dropped a bit during the day and the wind chill made it feel much lower). The rain continued to pound the area right up until the start of the race. After the start there were a few off-and-on moments of rain, but nothing too difficult. The wind was steadily in the faces of the runners... and occasionally cut across when you would hit "open" areas where there were no trees or buildings. Due to the weather conditions, everyone had to throw out PR's for this one. The course is as tough as advertised. It truly does reward the runners than can restrain their pace over the first 10-13 miles... because if you don't, you will pay from mile 15 on to the end. Aside from the difficulty and tradition, the course is not much to get excited about... but that is not what Boston is about. This marathon is all about the tradition, the standards, the spectators, and the volunteers. The predictions were that the spectators would be sparse. Since it was my first Boston, I have nothing to compare it to.... However they seemed to be out in full force to me. In fact, they are partially to blame for getting the runners too excited and running the first half of the course too fast (at least that is what I can tell myself). The organization and volunteers also do a tremendous job. This year the logistical challenges (with the storm) were horrendous, and they did a magnificent job keeping things running as smoothly as possible. After I finished the race, my calf cramped up, and within 5 seconds I had two medical volunteers grabbing me aside to work it out. While they are doing this they are repeatedly congratulating me for my finish and time. The only few areas of improvement required on the logistics are the returning of the bus-storage bags and disbursement of the PowerBar gels. In previous years the bus-storage bag has probably not been a huge issue since the weather was nice and balmy. However, this year, the runners stripped off all their warm layers on the way to the finish and desperately needed warm layers back after the finish. Apparently, my bag was not placed in the right section of the bus and I was told to wait until the other bags are distributed and they will be able to find my bag. This happened to a few other people as well. Meanwhile we are shivering cold, holding up our bib until they can find the bag with our number. It was 40 minutes later that they finally found my bag. They only had two people on the bus trying to hand out bags to 60-70 screaming, shivering people. More people are needed. Even the runners were offering to volunteer. I would also suggest they have someone "audit" the bag sections to make sure each section contains the correct bag numbers. They have about 3.5 hours of sorting the bags before the runners need them. Why not have a person go through each bus to make sure the bags are in the right spot? On the Powergel, my only suggestion is to have more stations handing them out. They only have it on Mile 17. They should have it on at least two or three stations throughout the race (if not more). There are much smaller marathons that hand it out more times. Boston has PowerBar as a sponsor.... They can get more to hand out. The above issues aside, I commend the BAA and volunteers for putting together a tremendous experience under such unpredictable and horrid conditions. I managed to run a qualifying time and will plan on returning next year. Here's to hoping that the rain/chill doesn't. | |
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J. k. from New York
(4/17/2007)
"Room for improvement!" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 4 The 2007 Boston took place in the aftermath of a Nor'easter with overnight torrential rain and strong winds tapering to a drizzle just in time for the 10 a.m. start. The course is great (but very difficult), and the fans enthusiastic. The progression from the quieter outlying areas and small towns into the city with more and more fans is thrilling. The race organizers had a lot on their plate this year, but still so much could be improved. Getting off the bus in Hopkinton there were no signs or announcements about where to go, which athletes village we were in or supposed to be in, where the baggage busses were, where to go for different start corrals, etc. The goodie bag and t-shirt were pretty lame, and the program had about 15 pages of information dispersed and hidden among 200 pages of ads... and the website also not very user-friendly. On the plus side, the seeded corral system worked very well for a smooth start, and the water stations were frequent. I hope the BAA will work to bring the quality of organization up to meet the standard of this venerable race. | |
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D. H. from NC
(4/17/2007)
"Is This the Boston Marathon?" (about: 2007)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 One word: OVERRATED. | |
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Kelly Luckett from Atlanta, GA
(4/17/2007)
"How could some runners be so heartless?" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
| 3 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am a woman who runs marathons (slowly) with a prosthetic leg and am one of the mobility impaired runners who are given an early start in the Boston Marathon. We have to qualify, like other Boston runners, within the time limit for our division. This was my 3rd Boston in a row, but unlike 2005 and 2006, this year there were several extremely heartless runners who yelled at me to "get off the course" as they passed me. I never had that happen in the past two years, so am not sure why this happened this year. These runners should be ashamed of themselves - I qualified, was a registered runner and had as much right to be there as they did. I doubt they'd have the strong character to qualify for Boston with an artificial leg. THANK YOU to the many other runners who said wonderfully encouraging things to me as they passed me; every one of those comments meant more to me than you can imagine. The woman who passed me, stopped, and walked back to me just so she could tell me how great she thought I was is someone I will never forget and is an angel. Fortunately, the positive comments from other runners far outnumbered the nasty ones, and with the encouragement from my wonderful friend BethAnn who ran with me as my guide, I was able to focus on those positive comments and was able to finish my third Boston. The volunteers and spectators at Boston are THE BEST anywhere, and I want to thank them for being there in the crummy weather. The encouragement I received from them went a long way in helping me finish. The Boston Marathon is a wonderful experience - a great (challenging) course, top-notch organization, and the most amazing volunteers and spectators on the planet. Thanks to them, I will be back next year, so those runners who are inexplicably displeased with my presence will have to get over it. | |
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j. h. from boston
(2/11/2007)
"The ultimate marathon experience" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 6+ Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 It's true... Boston is #1! | |
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Keith Barrett from Mississippi
(11/6/2006)
"Tough but rewarding" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my silver anniversary! Yes, 24 marathons in the making and it finally happened. I decided to get serious about my training and qualified in Memphis last December. I had a tear in my right meniscus but it was not going to stop me from fulfilling my dream. The long decline at the beginning would've liked to stop me in my tracks, but I gutted it out and finally the terrain started to roll. My plan was to average about 7:45 per mile and see what happened. As someone else noted, the hills before Heartbreak Hill is what took its toll. I conquered Heartbreak Hill and didn't even know it. I remember about four miles out that I thought you can worry about the pain or shut up and enjoy the last 30 minutes or so. I chose the latter and the experience was awesome. One last thing: I plan to run again next year just so I can run through Wellesley. | |
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Craig Hill from Blacksburg, VA
(10/24/2006)
"a lifetime dream come true" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just hearing the word 'Boston' still gives me 'chill bumps' as I think back to my first Boston experience. I guess it was all the years, all the failures (5) that made finally getting there so special. I'll never forget the thrill of getting to return home to my New England 'running roots' and compete in 'The Boston'. It was a boyhood dream come true for a pretty fired up 50 year old! The rapport among all the runners was incredible. It was as if words were not even necessary. The silent smiles and approving nods seemed to say it all, 'I may not know you personally, but I know about all the miles, all the hard work, and the great price you have paid to get here. So congratulations! Run well my fellow competitor!' Then there was that last special moment just before the start when I just looked around, taking it all in, and gratefully whispered, 'This is the day. Now is the time. We qualified. We belong. We made it to Boston. Thank you Lord' | |
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B. G. from Fairfield Ct., CT
(9/18/2006)
"Experience of a lifetime - just OK as a marathon" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my 7th marathon and first Boston. Like most runners, Boston has been my goal for several years. As an event it was unlike anything else. This is a SERIOUS race. The runners are focused and serious and the organization knows its history and embraces it. But, the truth is, the event is not fun. New York is wonderful celebration of the city, Chicago is Sunday morning block party, Marine Corp has a patriotic and giving flavor. Boston is very self aware of its importance and most runners seem to be too focused on results to enjoy the day. Hey, that is how it seemed to me. This is one tough course. You can read about it but doing it is another thing. Just past half it gets long and uphill and, quite frankly, dull. Yeh, Heartbreak Hill is "famous" but four or five miles before it are the real drain. It is great to see the Pru and know your goal is in sight, and the crowd is very supportive from Brookline to the end. I am proud of my time and unicorn, but once was enough. | |
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T. A. from Carmel, Indiana
(6/15/2006)
"Best Experience of My Seven Marathons!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 7th marathon and it was my best experience of all the marathons! I think a lot of it had to do with going into the marathon with the only plan to enjoy it and run at a comfortable pace and not try to PR, like I had attempted to do in every other race. This is the most difficult course I have participated in but I managed to get my 3rd best time since I didn't go out too fast. I hope that all future races can experience the great running weather that we had in 2006. The whole excitement of being in the Boston Marathon made for a great day. If I had to change anything, it would be one thing: I would be more prepared for the long wait before the race in the Athletes' Village and bring along a blanket or air mattress to lay on. It would be a long wait at the Athletes' Village if you had bad weather. Overall, Boston is the BEST! |
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