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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 361 to 371]
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F. M. from Princeton, NJ - soon Germany
(4/20/2004)
"Thank you Boston" (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Just coming back home from my 5 hour train ride, still having these awesome memories from today's race in my mind. Thank you Boston. Thank you to all supporters along the course with your generosity in providing million of gallons of water, oranges, dry and wet paper towels, etc. along these steamy roads. Thank you Wellesley College girls, you were the loudest and cutest... Yes, it was hot but for my first Boston Marathon - a memory of a lifetime. I even qualified for next year and will be back... Thank you, Boston, for my last weekend in the US for the last 7 years. You made this an unforgettable one. | |
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S. W. from South Florida
(1/2/2004)
"Awesome" (about: 2001)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 It's the Boston Marathon... enough said. | |
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C. J. from Boston
(11/11/2003)
"The Greatest" (General Comments)
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Running Boston is an experience of a lifetime. In no other sport can you have thousands of people cheering just for you. Fantastic. All along the 26 miles the fans are screaming for you. Drawing on having run it 12 times, here are a few pointers for first-timers. -It is a hilly course. Mostly downhill the first 10k, so go out at an easy pace. The crowd, your adrenaline, and the downslope make you want to run like a bat out of hell, but resist it! You will be thankful come Heartbreak Hill. Also be careful of the steep downhill after mile 15. Too fast and you will kill your quads. -You worked hard to qualify to get here, so loosen up a bit and enjoy the race. Now is not the time to PR. Have fun, enjoy the crowds and scenery. Give some high fives. Grab a beer at Heartbreak. I usually stop several times for beer. Makes it more fun and the crowd will love it. -Be prepared for any type of weather. It can be very hot or very chilly, sometimes on the same day. Many years it is warm at the start, but very cool after Heartbreak due to the sea breeze off the stil-cold ocean waters. The temps can drop 20 degrees within a few mile stretch! -You may want to consider taking the tour of the course the day or two beforehand. It will give you a better idea of what to expect. -Try not to leave town that night. Since it starts so late, it can be difficult to get a late flight and driving so soon after the race can be painful. -Have fun!!! | |
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K. B. from Syracuse, NY
(9/12/2003)
"Wow" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first Boston Marathon, and my 7th marathon overall. Boston is as different from other marathons as apples and oranges. First let me say that my Syracuse winter didn't provide for great training, so my time stunk. Knowing that a PR wasn't going to happen let me really enjoy the crowd and the course. The crowd is the biggest, loudest, most involved thing you could ever imagine. I slapped hands with kids for about the first ten miles, it was wall to wall people. The wellsley girls are as advertised; they were so loud that I couldn't hear myself think! Towards the end of the marathon, the crowd was so pressed in that there was only about 4 feet across to run in, it was great. There were plenty of aid stations and I thought the course was very fair. The hills are no worse that the ones at Steamtown. Congrats to the organizers, the bus ride was fine, the tent city at the start was great, and even the finish was ok - confusing, but ok. If you qualify for Boston, do it, and stay in the city; the food and sights are great. | |
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J. R. from Los Angeles, CA
(5/20/2003)
"Unbelievable!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 Boston was my 7th marathon, my first Boston. It was the most amazing experience I've had at a marathon. The crowds are amazing and constant through the entire course. Unlike every other marathon I've run there was never a time where there were no spectators on the course. The energy given off by the crowd is awesome. I had done lots of hill training because of how hilly I heard the course was. I didnt find the hills to be bad at all. The hills I trained on here in L.A. where much steeper. 'Heartbreak Hill' wasn't half as bad as I had anticipated. I felt better at the finish than I have at any marathon. I wasn't sore or tired. I have to laugh at the people who complain about the course. If you've done any research you should know what you're getting into. Boston is the oldest marathon in the world. That, along with the course and it's amazing history make Boston, Boston. There is no other! | |
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Robert Hahn from Houston, TX
(5/6/2003)
"Forget about a PR, just have some fun!!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first time to run Boston, and I was very impressed! Coming from Houston I wasn't used to the hills, so my time was about 15 minutes off my pr. But who cares?!?! I went to have a blast, and Boston delivered! I know that the marathon organizers can't control this, but the traffic in Boston is terrible. (Yes, it's worse than Houston's) We ended up taking the subway, which worked out well. Be prepared for a VERY crowded ride on race day though. My only disappointment in the race was at the finish line. They had meager amounts of food for the finishers. Hey, I just ran 26.2 miles, I need some major grub!! We ended up going to a restaurant in downtown Boston right after the race so that I could get something to eat. Other marathons I've done, like Houston, have everything under the sun at the finish line. Free pizza, beer, tacos, muffins, fruit, cookies, donuts, and soft drinks await the finishers. However, I won't let this minor irritation take away from the totally awesome experience I had while running Boston. I'll definitely be back! | |
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J. M. from houston, tx
(5/6/2003)
"The Ultimate Marathon" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 My Boston experience was amazing. Not only is the marathon one of the best organized marathons ever, but the people of Boston and the surrounding area are incredible as well. The people of Boston are not annoyed by any inconveniences caused by marathon weekend--the closed streets, subways, mobs of people. Instead everyone in Boston is excited and supportive. I'm shocked that people would complain about the difficulty of the course---this is the Boston Marathon, what do you want, a free-ride? I was dreading the 4 hour wait at 'Athletes' Village', but instead I found it an enjoyable experience because the organizers have this down to a science. The only negative comment I have about the race is the number of port-a-potties on the course. Although they are available all throughout the course, there are only one or two at each location. There needs to be about 5 or 6 at every location. All in all, it was an amazing experience--before, during, and after! | |
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R. B. from Minnesota
(5/4/2003)
"Superb Race/Course, Fair Weekend Activities " (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 It's been several weeks since the race and I have now had a chance to reflect on my Boston Marathon weekend. First, the best part: The race is difficult, but truly an unforgettable experience. I would not recommend going to this race to run it hard for a P.R. (too many hills and runners on a narrow race course). Go to this race as a reward for running another race hard. Slow down a little, enjoy the sights and the tremendous fan support and appreciate that you are there because of your prior accomplishments. On the negative side, the Expo Hall is too small and extremely crowded. The organization of the pasta dinner was poor (I waited in line for over 1 hour, was forced to eat outside in cold weather, and was not allowed seconds on pasta). At the end of the race there was very little offered in the way of treats/nourishment and it took over 1/2 hour to get my shoe chip removed, receive my medal and collect my clothes bag. The Boston Marathon medal itself was surprisingly small and unspectacular for such a significant race. However, despite these negatives, this race is still worth all the efforts it takes to qualify to get there. I know that I will never regret saying that I have run the Boston Marathon. | |
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s. h. from alabama
(5/3/2003)
"needs to start early too hot" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The 2nd Boston hills are tough and the noon start is too late. But I love your city. I just wish it started by 9:00, and I hope to come back and see some 50 degree temperatures. Thanks to all the people at the water stops: I would not have made it without you. | |
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T. H. from Westerville, Ohio
(5/3/2003)
"Boston is the Grand Daddy of them all!" (about: 2003)
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Wow! What a great experience! This was my 4th marathon, but only my 1st Boston. The fan support was tremendous and I can't wait to run Boston again next year! All of the crappy weather my fellow M.I.T.ers and I had to endure this winter was well worth it!Boston is the greatest Marathon there is! |
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