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Boston Marathon Runner Comments

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Course Rating Course 4.6 
 
Oranization Rating Organization 4.6 
 
Spectator Rating Spectators 4.9 
 
 
Number of comments: 418 [displaying comments 51 to 61]
More Comments: [ < 1 .. 4 5 6 7 8 .. 42 > ]

 

D. K. from PA (4/22/2012)
"Great marathon. But still just a marathon." (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 3 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 5


Third Boston...Probably not possible but it would have been nice to start 1 hour earlier with the heat.
Course gets 6 stars for history & challenge. Fans get 12 stars for the non stop screaming and passing out of food & drink. The spectators were spectacular. Thank you to the Moms & little kids passing out frozen treats and to everyone with a garden hose & ice. I really think those made the difference for me. The race did a good job of having extra misting tents and fire hydrants running. Really would have liked to have seen a tractor trailer of Popsicles everywhere on the course. Don't want to drink Gatorade for a while.
The post-race food potato chips, buns and a cup of fruit cocktail in a bag?
Missed the pasta dinner as last year the food was luke warm and the free can of beer just seemed not quite enough.
Expo still very crowded and very fun, but seemed a little smaller this year.
A great experience that I wouldn't repeat or recommend when it is above 80 degrees.

 

B. B. from New Jersey (4/20/2012)
"BAA and Boston did the best they could do" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 6+ Boston Marathons
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


My 17th Boston and obviously the warmest one. 2004 may have been just as high on a thermometer but this one was warmer at the start, a touch more humid, and had very little breeze while 2004 had a nice cooling breeze all the way home. The BAA and their volunteers and the spectators did an awesome job to have the runners survive the experience. My personal worst by 45 minutes in a marathon but I never thought I wasn't going to be able to make the trip due to everyone on the side of the road trying to help me get there. Boston showed its strength in adversity.

 

J. S. from Vineland NJ (4/19/2012)
"Awesome Race" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 4-5 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my fourth Boston Marathon since turning 60 years old and it was a challenge! We had a lot of fun....support was fantastic throughout the entire course.....will definitely try to qualify again...

 

T. S. from Maryland, USA (4/19/2012)
"A brutal yet remarkable day" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 4-5 Boston Marathons
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Surviving the heat became the focus at this year's race, and most of us did, in large part due to the absolutely remarkable support from the BAA and the fans along the course. Even the runners understood the idea of working together. While I would never want to do it again, I am glad to have been a part of this historic day.

 

Bill Fine from Franklin, MA (4/18/2012)
"EPIC!!!!" (about: 2012)

2 previous marathons | 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


Everything everyone ever said about this and more. The heat made it SOOOO hard, but the spectators pulled us through with their enthusiasm (particularly the BC kids!!!), hoses, and ICE! Hats off to the BAA for their organization and the volunteers manning the water stops. Also, a shout out to the Natick and Newton Fire Departments for the misting tents....SOOO nice! Just an amazing race!

 

L. B. from D.C. (4/17/2012)
"Really hot weather" (about: 2012)

11-50 previous marathons | 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


This was my first Boston Marathon, and it was a very good experience. My only disappointment that I struggled in the heat. Start time temperatures were in the 70s, and it got even warmer during the race.
Boston has top notch organization and an army of volunteers at their disposal. It is amazing how well Boston manages a race of this size. Just bring some patience. Thank you to all of the volunteers at the aid stations and unofficial aid stations.

 

M. M. from England (3/15/2012)
"Fantastic race but avoid the pasta party" (about: 2011)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 3  ORGANIZATION: 4  FANS: 5


This is a hard race to get into. I did it in 2011 and now it's even harder to qualify for so I doubt I will ever get in again. The organisation/crowds were superb. So is the city for that essential post race beer! I would not go to the pasta party again though as it was quite poor, with luke warm food and beer. It was held in what felt like a concrete bunker...quite strange. A great tick in the box all in all though.

 

S. S. from Philadelphia (9/14/2011)
"Awesome Experience" (about: 2009)

4-5 previous marathons | 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


After running this, I think I know what professional athletes feel. Unparalleled fan craziness and turnout along all 26.2 miles. The course is tremendous, varied and scenic with a 5 mile downhill finish. I beat my PR by 6 minutes and had gas left in the tank at the end. I was actually dissapointed the race was almost over at miles 23-26 vs. counting down the minutes in others.
The logistics of the race start can be tough, but taking a cab to the start avoids that. The expo was a mob scene. Everything else was so great, I decided to re-qualify and am running it this year again.

 

Xavier Jimenez from Seattle, Wa (7/13/2011)
"wind!" (about: 2007)

2 previous marathons | 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 4  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


not my best time, wind was brutal, rain soaked, feet soaked w/n 5 minutes of start. bucket list = check

whole family cheered me on, wife pregant w/ first child running to greet me on heartbreak hill helped save the day!

:-)

 

J. M. from Cincinnati, Ohio (5/11/2011)
"An Extraordinary Community Celebration" (about: 2011)

6-10 previous marathons | 1 Boston Marathon
COURSE: 5  ORGANIZATION: 5  FANS: 5


We have all heard that this race has something special. Describing it with mere words can be challenging. Instead, I'll just offer a few poignant moments in time.

You feel that special something, "electricity" perhaps, as you stand in the middle of the crazy race expo getting a book signed, as you sit in on a Boston Legends panel and as you hear the race spoken of with reverence by other runners.

The course has the most intimate feel of any big-city race I've ever run. You can smell the grilled food, and see the families having a picnic in their front yard while the kids play in the inflatable jump-ups. I have never seen so many spectators offer such a wide variety of their own stuff: oranges, candy, water, tissues, paper towels, bananas and more. Quite simply, I felt an overwhelming feeling of caring and fealty.

My enduring gratitude for all of the amazing college students, children and running enthusiasts who made April 18th a day to remember for a lifetime.

 

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