In some ways I don't like Boston the marathon at all, the horrible bus ride, sitting and waiting at the "athletes village" which was just the back of a school and a few other things.
But Boston the town? amazing, I love the vibe of the race and the town.
One thing that hasn't been brought up, I love being around all those fit women
The course kinda sucks. Weather can be hit or miss.
The logistics are beyond awful.
It's an expensive place to stay. Flights are expensive, and very long for people coming from the west coast.
Why is Boston still held in such high esteem? Why not pass the title on to a way better race like Chicago? Better course, great logistics, and Chicago is actually well-known on the world stage. Whereas boston is basically known for Boston cream donuts and the one-hit wonder band. Thoughts on why I'm correct?
Everything in here can be mostly true & Boston is still the goat. It is what it is.
Boston is a hard place to PR for a lot of the reasons you outlined but it's still the most fun marathon out there for really good amateur runners. Crowds the entire way (Chicago can't come close to matching this), competition + packs to run with the entire way, history in every step, & energy that's second to none.
There also aren't a ton of good spring marathons in the US. Most aren't hopping a flight to chase fast times at a European marathon. Find your fast fall marathon & go to Boston in the spring for enjoyment. The qualification system is also an allure. No matter how folks feel about it, a BQ is what's there for people who take running seriously but have no shot at an OTQ. It means something to qualify. To me, I know that someone who qualifies is likely running 50+ miles/week on 6-7 days, with a full-time job. That captures the sacrifice/grind that goes into the sport. I'm always going to respect someone devoted enough to be on that start line.
It is a combination of a major event and a journey. Journey in terms of the course, earning your way in, as frequently pointed out history. If you are looking for a PR, or a time, this is not it. If you are looking for a memorable event, this is a good one. If the weather is not great, even more so. As far as the expenses are, unless you are destitute, the question is not as much how much it is, but what do you get for it
Some great responses here but words don't really capture the magic of Boston. The first time I ran it I thought, wow, this is incredible, I'm gonna do this every year for as long as I can. So far it has been over 15 years. I've done NY, Chicago, many others but nothing comes close to Boston. The depth of the field, the support of the city, the history, the maddening course, the crazy weather, it all adds up to an experience in comparison to which other marathons pale.
I am originally from MA and my goal when starting to run marathons was to get into Boston. I took me three tries to get my BQ and I was pumped for the race. Logistics were easy for me because my dad still lived in Boston and was within walking distance from the finish and the bus pickup for Hopkinton. I got to the bus around 6 am. Got to Hopkinton around 7 am and had to sit around for two and half hours waiting to go to the corrals. I ate breakfast before getting on the bus and brought an energy bar and other pre-race snacks to eat. It was warm that year. About 70 deg at the start and mid to upper 70s for most of the race. My stomach went out on me after about mi 13. I am a morning runner and have never had to run a race mid day. I spent about 2-3 miles going from portacan to portacan. I finally got through it just in time to start climbing the Newton hills. I tried my best to get back into it, but the hills just crushed me. I jogged it in from mi 20. It was my worst race out of the 16 marathons I have done. I never went back and never even thought about it.
People in my training group were absolutely addicted to running Boston. They would go every year and would take Boston over NY, Chicago, etc. The faster guys I knew who ran Boston liked that they could shoot for a 2:40ish time and have plenty of company the entire way. Even in big races like NY and Chicago, the 2:40 crowd thins out to a trickle after the 1/2 way mark. For everyone else, it was mainly the tradition and history of Boston that made it their first pick.
The course kinda sucks. Weather can be hit or miss.
The logistics are beyond awful.
It's an expensive place to stay. Flights are expensive, and very long for people coming from the west coast.
Why is Boston still held in such high esteem? Why not pass the title on to a way better race like Chicago? Better course, great logistics, and Chicago is actually well-known on the world stage. Whereas boston is basically known for Boston cream donuts and the one-hit wonder band. Thoughts on why I'm correct?
I’ll give you the race has had it’s day and gotten too big and caters more to the hobby jogger. Back in the day, before all the other races, it was the place to be. In my opinion, once they started letting in charity runners, it was the beginning of the end. In todays PC world, the people would never stand for qualified runners only.
As a native Bostonian, I do take issue with your other comments. I would say we are known more for our colleges, beaches on the cape, leading hospitals, biotech and until recently as title town for the Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics. If you want to pick a food, go with clam chowder and a band more so Aerosmith.
Why the hostility, are you from a flyover state?
What’s PC about charity? You people and your fear of the PC boogeyman.
I am originally from MA and my goal when starting to run marathons was to get into Boston. I took me three tries to get my BQ and I was pumped for the race. Logistics were easy for me because my dad still lived in Boston and was within walking distance from the finish and the bus pickup for Hopkinton. I got to the bus around 6 am. Got to Hopkinton around 7 am and had to sit around for two and half hours waiting to go to the corrals. I ate breakfast before getting on the bus and brought an energy bar and other pre-race snacks to eat. It was warm that year. About 70 deg at the start and mid to upper 70s for most of the race. My stomach went out on me after about mi 13. I am a morning runner and have never had to run a race mid day. I spent about 2-3 miles going from portacan to portacan. I finally got through it just in time to start climbing the Newton hills. I tried my best to get back into it, but the hills just crushed me. I jogged it in from mi 20. It was my worst race out of the 16 marathons I have done. I never went back and never even thought about it.
People in my training group were absolutely addicted to running Boston. They would go every year and would take Boston over NY, Chicago, etc. The faster guys I knew who ran Boston liked that they could shoot for a 2:40ish time and have plenty of company the entire way. Even in big races like NY and Chicago, the 2:40 crowd thins out to a trickle after the 1/2 way mark. For everyone else, it was mainly the tradition and history of Boston that made it their first pick.
There's another reason why Boston is so great. It weeds out pretenders.
There is a large percentage of the world that doesn't take you seriously as a runner unless you've qualified for Boston. They do not understand race times across various distances. But they do know you need to be decent to run Boston.
If you stay outside of the city costs are way lower & you are nearer to the start. As far as climate & course that is the core of Road racing. You not only race the clock but also the day, the course & the field. But at least Boston has truth in advertising! When you name your most famous attribute "Heartbreak" one does not expect a PR. It is the perfect course for many runners. Bill Rodgers was a great down hill runner, he was made for Boston. When I ran hilly courses, regardless of the distance I finished much closer to the front than I did on a flat/fast course. In my day I would have traded a top five for a fast time.
Run both Chicago and Boston a bunch of times. Much prefer Boston's course and of course weather can take a turn for the worse anywhere. I ran the 2005 Chicago marathon, which was actually shut down mid-race, with runners prevented from finishing, due to the heat. I agree with you on the high cost of travel and accommodations for Boston, but Chicago is the exact same during marathon weekend.
That was 2007.
You're right! I ran Chicago in 05 and 07 (only two times I've run it).
Just ran it for my 4th time. Wasn't going to do it again, but my girlfriend BQed last year and it was a great running vacation for the two of us.
1. the course doesn't suck. sure- it's challenging, not a PR course-but i like the variation.
2. the logistics are worse for NYCM. Sure, the weather normally sucks (I ran 2018) compared to our winter races in AZ. Weather is always perfect.
But here's what I'll add to the Pro's: For the whole weekend in Boston- the town is covered in colorful race jackets. Everyone is leaned out- looks like a scrawny runner. Half the people walking around are either runners, volunteers or family of runners. You are surrounded by 'your peeps'. Boyleston is closed off. Everyone is out in the back bay and along the Charles River doing shakeout runs, or the Saturday BAA 5K. The whole town is about the marathon for 4 days. You don't get that in NYC- where the crowds along the course are even more massive- but you walk 1 avenue away from the race- and it's like it's not happening. I got a free beer at a bar the evening after the race- for having run. We marathoners got to get on the plane out of Logan on Tuesday before the 1st group. We felt special.
Now the negs: Pricey (travel, lodging, entry). And- you don't get much for it. They cancelled the free pre-race dinner (I used to love that!). You get a decent t-shirt, but no other swag. The bussing to the start was a zoo this year- all messed up. We waited an hour, some people waited 2 hrs. There was no food in Athlete's village. No bananas or bagels. I seem to remember that from years past?? And there's never enough porta potties. You spend all your time in AV just waiting in line. Which is sometimes a muddy mess. There's no drop-bag from the start. Years ago they gave a nice insulated poncho at the finish... but now, just a cheapie space blanket... which the wind blew up so it didn't work. They did have warming busses tho- that was nice.
When I compare that to what we got at the Mesa marathon (run by the Revel people I think) last year (for half the price!) Dye-sub shirt, double-walled mug, running socks, gloves, heaters at the start, food at the start, fireworks, a proper drop bag, free space blanket at the start, 3x the number of porta potties (NO LINES), race after-party with free beer and pizza, and a band! Our running club even was given a spot for our tent at the race after-party where we set up a little party spot, and the race gave us $5 for each of our club entries (and a discount) which we spend on post-race munchies. Granted- the Mesa marathon isn't particularly scenic- but they did a great job and you got a lot for your entry fee. Boston- gives you the right to buy a $30 jacket with a $90 logo on it.
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