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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 141 to 151]
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S. P. from Lufkin, Texas
(4/26/2009)
"Superb" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 2 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 First, the positive: Boston is the pinnacle of marathons! The crowds all along the run are tremendous - the best of any marathon I've run so far. Additionally, the authorities (including police) performed excellently. Boston will always be a great goal for all amateur marathoners. I went to several of the lectures on Sat. and Sun. These were great. I learned a lot and would highly recommend attending them. The pasta dinner was very nice. Last time they had beer, but I did not see any this year! Now for the negative: The expo is very crowded, and really needs to be expanded. The cash register-line to pay at the Adidas section was about 30 minutes long. This is sub-par. Additionally, the restroom facilities in Hopkinton are still not sufficient. I stood in line to use the restroom for 45 minutes. I should have started in Wave 1, but because of this delay, I had to start in Wave 2. Unfortunately, our bus (and several other buses) took a wrong turn so we got into Hopkinton later than expected, thereby compromising our time. It seems that there is plenty of room for more restroom facilities at the Hopkinton High School. Despite the few shortcomings above, I'll be back. | |
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M. J. from Canton, MA
(4/25/2009)
"What to say?" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 i had to go back and re-read some of my old reviews of other marathons just so I could remember what other races lack when compared with Boston. Boston is my hometown, but I ran 4 marathons before I got a chance to run here. I can't describe the feeling of running this course, the fans along the way, and the tremendous volunteers who worked their butts off to make this probably the best marathon in the world. Everything about this marathon is first-class. You feel like a star running it. The feeling I got when I finished was second to none. I do have one tiny complaint: having to walk what feels like a mile after crossing the finish line (take off chip, get medal, get water) seemed like it took forever. I would have preferred staggered tables with some chairs to sit in if you needed a break. Other than that, this is the best race on the planet. Everyone should run it at least once. | |
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C. P. from Kansas
(4/25/2009)
"Boston is incredible!" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 What an amazing experience, running Boston. The course was tough but I loved it anyway! I had heard all about the downhills and they took their toll even though I ran them conservatively. The wind wasn't an issue for me; I found the weather to be nearly perfect. The organization was superb and the spectators... AWESOME! The people lining the course were so loud at times that you couldn't hear the person next to you talking. Thanks to all involved for such a memorable race! | |
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N. R. from USA
(4/25/2009)
"A PR is possible in Boston" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I ran an 8-minute PR in Boston. This was my 2nd marathon. I ran Philly in November and qualified. Run a smart race and you will do fine. The downhills beat you up as early as mile 10, but don't worry; if you run conservatively for the first half, the second half is not bad. The hills are only bad if you are tired and out of gas. | |
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H. M. from Savannah, GA
(4/24/2009)
"Food and Expo needs reworking" (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Everything was great except for: The main expo display (Adidas) was easily overrun, and lines to pay were so chaotic and long I gave up and didn't purchase anything The finish food is pathetic for such a prestigious marathon. A banana and a bagel? Come on! When I finished Green Bay, there were celebration brats, beer, and other food. Sarasota had yogurt fruit cocktails. | |
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T. G. from Wisconsin
(4/23/2009)
"Overrated!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 3 Everyone says you have to run Boston, because it is such a great marathon. I'm still trying to figure out what was so great about it. The lines at the expo to buy Boston merchandise and pick up your race packet were crazy. I have been in shorter lines at Disney World. It was miserable sitting out in the cold at some high school for 3 hours with mile-long porta-potty lines before the start. The course was boring and Heartbreak Hill was a disappointment. For the first 20 miles, it felt like most of the time I was running on a country road, with a few small towns mixed in. The finisher's area was a mess, with huge lines to get your heat sheet, medal, chip removed and baggage. No wonder people were passing out left and right. The only good thing I could say about doing Boston is the cheering from the girls at Wellesley College was awesome and the best part of the course. And it was great that the pasta dinner was free. Others are far more scenic and better organized. | |
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Knud A Hermansen from Old Town, ME
(4/23/2009)
"Extremely well run and unmatched crowd support" (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 2009 Boston Marathon Overall Impressions: The marathon was everything I had expected. It was exceptionally well run logistically and the crowd support was enthusiastic and consistent through the whole course. What an amazing race. Expo & Pre-race: The expo was easy to find and the bib pick-up was very well run and easy. If you are looking for extra pasta dinner tickets, simply ask around to other runners rather than buying extras, since many runner do not attend the dinner (although plenty do). I have rarely seen more famous athletes than I have at this expo. Got to meet Kathrine Switzer, Dick Beardsley, and many others. There are enough free hand-outs here that you should just plan on eating lunch by grazing. Combine this with the pasta dinner and you should be able to eat for nearly free on Sunday. The pasta dinner was also very well run and had plenty of food (and even beer!). It is well worth attending, although the pasta is nothing special. Hotel & Transportation: Stayed at the Mid-Town Hotel on Mass Ave. It was within walking distance of the expo and finish and very reasonably priced for downtown Boston (under $200). If I had gone alone I would have stayed with friends, but for traveling with family it was a great option. It was a quick stop to the Symphony stop on the green line. The green line goes right to the race-day morning bus pick-up. Race Morning Logistics: Staying on the green line made it easy to get to the bus pick-up. I would definitely recommend getting there earlier. Athletes' Village had ample toilets, although after 0830 you were pretty much looking at a 45-minute wait. There were enough bagels and bananas so that you did not need to bring any breakfast. The only thing I wish I had brought was a cheap, inflatable mat to sleep on. The cheap wind pants and top were also nice, since I could dispose of them at the start. There were ample collection bags for these clothes in the start corrals. The gear bag turn-in was also the easiest that I have ever done. You simply turn it into a row of buses as you walk to the start. Water & port-a-john stops: On a friend's advice, I carried my own water bottle so that I could avoid the first few water stops. This was nice for the first water stop, but the water stops were so numerous (almost more than one per mile) and so well stocked with volunteers that it really was not necessary after the first four miles. Course: I used my GPS watch to control my pace in the first half of the race and was able to finish very strong. It was well worth going out in a conservative manner. While the first 16 miles are a net downhill, they do have some rolling qualities to them. The famous hills at Newton are really nothing spectacular, and if you do not go out too fast, they are really not bad. The final downhill miles are a little punishing, but by then I knew how the race was going to go. The zig-zag at the finish is a great touch, as it lets you have a "wow" moment as you turn onto the final stretch. Support: The crowd support is unmatched. I could hear Wellesley College from over a half-mile and for a half-mile after I passed it. | |
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M. T. from United States
(4/22/2009)
"I've done it once... and that'll be it." (about: 2009)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 I feel that they were not prepared for the number of runners. Perhaps an additional wave would help with the congestion. I was not even able to come close to reaching my corral to start in the proper place. The mass of people made it impossible to run my pace. It was very difficult to get to many of the water/Gatorade stops because of the number of runners. I would say that if, Boston is a goal, you should go for it; but leave any hopes for a PR behind. Also... very poor organization at the end. We didn't get heat sheets for about half a mile after the finish line, which was not even marked. Also, there was nobody to help wrap you up in it; they just handed it to you. I felt like I was just being pushed through to get out of the way. The course is extremely tough. Because of the crowds in the beginning, I took every opportunity (few and far between) to run as fast as I could in attempts to regain some time. Unfortunately by the time I got to the hills, my quads were shot because of this. | |
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K. A. from Allston, MA
(4/22/2009)
"This is the Holy Grail of Marathons." (about: 2009)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 At around Mile 3, a double leg amputee blew by me. Mile 5, I passed Rick and Dick Hoyt, running their 1,000th race. Mile 15, I chatted with an arm amputee before we hit the hills. Mile 21, the Citgo sign signaled the end and I was passed by a green line train. Running the Boston Marathon is a one-of-a-kind experience, and you won't find anything like it, anywhere else in the world. The race is superbly well supported, hydration and aid stations plentiful, the course is legendary, and the fans are some of the most enthusiastic people I have ever seen. This was unequivocally the greatest race I have ever run. | |
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M. G. from Arizona
(4/22/2009)
"Great experience all weekend long!" (about: 2009)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Believe the hype; it's real. You can feel the history and legacy throughout. Boston knows how to host and cheer; they embrace you everywhere. The army of volunteers take care of everything; packet pick-up, staging, on-time start, busses, water stops, post-race corral management, reunion area, and more. The crowds are tremendous and they were cheering full-throttle even for us back-of-the packers. Expo has it all, media coverage is extensive, and the entire city is abuzz with race excitement. The course is much easier than you'd think. The Newton and Heartbreak Hills weren't nearly as bad as expected. This year's headwinds were the only challenges to deal with. If you have the chance to run it, do it. It's definitely the "holy grail" of marathons. Thanks Boston, the BAA, and all the incredible volunteers. |
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