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Jul 7, 2024

Boston Marathon Runner Comments

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Course 4.6

Organization 4.6

Spectators 4.9

Number of comments: 418 [displaying comments 301 to 311]

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P. H. from Gaylord, Michigan (4/27/2005) "Historic and Memorable" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Given the point-to-point course, the transportation was good. The athletes' village was enjoyable and festive. As for the experience, unparalleled. From the children seeking autographs in Hopkinton to the crowds on Boyleston St., a must for any runner. The opportunity to follow in the footsteps of DeMar, the Kelleys (John A. and John J.), Rodgers, Salazar and Beardsley was an honor. If you have earned the right to toe the line in Boston I would recommended it to anyone. It's Boston and I plan on qualifying and participating as long as my legs will carry me.
M. L. from Cleveland, OH (4/27/2005) "The crowd is the BOMB!" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Words cannot describe it. Top to bottom - great experience. I came with my family and all had great times. 2 months post my PR and finished strong on a tough course. If you have an opportunity - DO IT!. I met Bill Rogers at his store - 2 hours after the autograph session was to be over - that speaks volumes about the kind of guy he is (special thanks to his fincee for being patient). Only downside - rooms downtown have 3 night mandatory and are expensive. But welcome to reality and supply and demand. I didn't know enough about the 'T'(subway) prior to coming. It is very easy to understand and get around town. Thanks BAA for all you do (I'll buy the first Sam Adams next year!)
J. P. from NYC, USA (4/25/2005) "Mecca of Marathons - NOT AN EASY COURSE" (about: 2005) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 My first Boston Marathon has finally sunken in and I have to say the event is well-worth it for anyone running this race for the first time. This year's field comprised over 14,000 (of the total 22,000) first-time Boston Marathon runners. So for a lot of us, this was THE moment we had all been waiting for. Course - By far the most technically difficult course to navigate. The deceptive downhill start seems to go-on for the first 6-8 miles. From there, you are treated to rolling hills as you make it through Natick, Framingham, and Wellesley. The scenery consists of Boston suburbia and the notable attractions come from the spectators, who were just fanatical and great the entire time. I've run NYC and I do have to say in terms of per-fan basis, Boston has better fans; NYC just has more of them. Organization - Course organization was good. They really need to control traffic a bit better in Downtown Boston as you head towards Commonwealth off Beacon. Pedestrians, skateboarders, etc. crossing the street just make it hectic for us runners. My biggest complaint with the organization was the proximity the spectators had to the runners. At the start of the race, the atmosphere was like a block party with all the spectators mingling with the runners. While this adds to the enthusiasm for the race, it can get dangerous as well. In addition, transportation to the marathon start was chaotic, but it's to be expected with 20,000 runners. But on Beacon Street, the running lane narrows badly and this is pretty dangerous, especially with people walking across the running lane and such. Spectators - They're Boston fans, which means they are really into sports. I've always admired them for possessing an undying loyalty to sports and teams. But I do have to admit, I did get tired of the Red Sox talk. Overall Summary - The start line was nicely organized. The finish line was ok. Marathonfoto, though, is the biggest rip-off on earth. Their photography work and quality was shoddy for the event. The photos of the marathon runners were highly unoriginal and they didn't even get most of the runners' pix at the finish line. As for the overall marathon, the race is worth the wait. It's a very painful race though and Newton Hills just completely crushes people from 16-21. But after finishing the race, you really do feel like you've done something that day. I would run it again simply because I have ties to the city and love marathon running. But I wouldn't recommend this to any avid runner who wants to come back to Boston over and over again. For the prestige and honor, Boston has it. For the fun experience, NYC has it.
L. S. from Roswell, GA (4/24/2005) "Boston '05 Survivor" (about: 2005) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Qualifying for and running in Boston is like being at the World Series and getting to play. My time was awful, and I ran into dehydration problems, but I still ran the whole race and 'high-fived' thousands of spectators. The five-hour wait before race time adds a difficulty factor that is hard to comprehend unless experienced firsthand. It was where I messed up, in failing to hydrate fully prior to the start of the race. I WILL be back again to redeem myself, but meanwhile, I am still glowing from the honor of having run the path taken by legends such as Johnny Kelley and Catherine the Great.
J. H. from Johnston, Iowa (4/23/2005) "After 109 years you tend to get it right." (about: 2005) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Volunteers, you were just great...standing there on the hottest 70 degree day I'ver ever felt in your blue jackets so that the water stops were obvious from a quarter mile away...thanks. Finish line workers, you made me feel like I really was an athlete. It's nice to feel like you are ten feet tall at the same time that you are about to collapse. And especially to the guy at Boston College, just over the Newton Hills who was yelling, ' 5 miles to go...you have done this 100's of times in the last year,' thanks for giving me a focus for those finishing steps. Not the best time I have ever run but it gave me motivation to keep finding new goals. What more can you ask? I hope I have the privilege to do this many more times. P.S. Congratulations Iowans...100% finish rate.
Roger Dufresne from Derry, NH (4/23/2005) "5 Stars are not Enough to Rate this Race" (about: 2005) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As I said, 5 stars are not enough to rate this marathon. I have run 4 others, including the Marine Corps Marathon, and thought that was incredible (it still is in my mind), but, I have never encountered anything like Boston. I can't tell you how moving the Wellesley girls are - a wall of positive screaming -- so moving it nearly brought tears to my eyes and is still doing it as I'm typing this. The lying, supportive spectators ('it's just a few miles further keep on going you look great' - all this when you feel like crap and most likely looking like it too and 5 - 6 miles away) are unlike any I've yet encountered and I don't know if I will ever again see fans like this. All in all, I guess it really deserves its recognition as the first and BEST of all the marathons. Just wish we didn't have to wait so long in the athlete's village. Keep up the good work! FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE - do it if you can! In fact, I'd like to run this race again!! I have to end it here since I really can't stop thinking about how great it was and I really can't put them into words, so you can see what an experience it was. So I hope my abbreviated comments can transmit the experience to you. AGAIN, A FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE THAT RUNNERS SHOULD EXPERIENCE FOR THEMSELVES!!!!!!
S. B. from Pismo Beach, Ca (4/22/2005) "AWESOME MARATHON!" (about: 2005) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just completed my first Boston Marathon. I read and analyzed the detailed description of the course in the latest Runner's World Magazine just prior to the race. The weather was not as bad as it was last year, but the temp was in the 70?s. What made a difference for me was the fan support throughout the course: water, bananas, oranges, jelly beans, etc. I was able to replenish lost fluids anytime on the course, pour some water on my hat and keep on going. The start is slow because you are in the pack. You will move as fast as the pack. That perhaps helped from going out too fast in the beginning. So you may as well forget about PR. There is no race like the Boston Marathon on my short list of marathons (7). If you arrived at the finish line dehydrated or bonking, it was because you thought you were going to save precious seconds by not taking what was offered on the course. The noon start is odd, but also allows you to have a second meal around 10am. The fans are just awesome. The course is wicked and at the end it is all about quads. You go too fast in the beginning you will give it all (and more) back on Newton Hills. My advice is: go with the flow in the beginning. And then see what you have left on the hills. I passed around 3,000 runners on the Newton Hills, although initially I was frustrated with the slow pace from the start. You definitely want to look good on Boylston St. at the finish line. I'm sure I'll be back next year, because in this marathon you feel treated like an elite runner throughout the course... and that's a great feeling!
r. a. from Louisville KY (4/22/2005) "The Super Bowl of running" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Ok - so it took 14 marathons for me to finally make it to Boston. So I was pretty psyched to be there and the race didn?t disappoint. This is clearly the Super Bowl of running. The expo was huge and a bit of a zoo. The lines for event/logo garb were huge. Folks were throwing money away like triathletes. The pre-race bus thing is odd. Get up at dawn, get on a school bus, ride for what seem like an hour, and then hang out on a baseball field with 20,000 others. It was weird. The pre-race entertainment was pretty lame. Someone from the Sopranos got on stage and made a Woodstock reference which went over like a lead balloon. The hardest thing was to figure out what to eat for a noon race. I am more used to being done by noon not starting at noon. Finally close to noon I made my way to the start line and I finally got to start running. I think the best description of the Boston Marathon is the KY Derby with humans instead of horses. It was quite the party on the side lines. The flashing at the biker bar and the young women of Wellesley were a plus in my book. The downhill course is harder than you would think. The course starts out very rural and goes to suburban. By the time you get to the city of Boston you are not looking at scenery. Post-race was slim but that is the style at bigger races these days. The finisher's medal was too small. I mean, it is Boston; give me a good-sized medal for Pete's sakes!!! I am glad I have run it. Don?t know why folks do it more than once when there are so many other good races to run. But I am proud of my jacket!
Danny Gilmore from Mandeville, Louisiana (4/22/2005) "This one's worth it all!" (about: 2005) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 What a wonderful realization of a dream. Qualifying for and running in the Boston is like no other event in the world. I will never play in the Superbowl, nor compete in an Olympics, but Boston makes you feel like you did just that. The city has a special place in its heart for the runners, and the spectators make you feel special every mile of the way. Whether you are running a PR or struggling to finish, doesn't matter. The crowd and your fellow runners celebrate your victory with you all the way. This race does require special prep and a solid race day plan, along with special attention to course management, or it will be brutal. Go for it - the work required to get here is worth it, and the experience can't be beat.
M. S. from Minneapolis (4/22/2005) "the best" (about: 2005) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Boston Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I tried to get to Boston for many years. I finally qualified and was not disappointed. Everything was 5 stars. The organization was superb. My (right) ear actually hurt in Wellesley. How do those girls keep screaming for so long? The poster said it all. Some finish lines are more important than others. Nowhere is that more true than on Boylston Street in Boston. I hope to be back someday.

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