Boston PR vs overall PR

2:55 PB (in Berlin)
2:56 was my best Boston (out of 6 times - the other times were all ~3:05-3:11).
Also did Detroit 5 times, all 2:57-3:02. Funny that if i look at all the non-Boston marathons I've done, I've been super-consistent with my times. But Boston has been less so (by comparison, anyway), although I did have that one great one (for me).

Boston PR: 2:34

Overall PR: 2:26

PR: 2:49:10

Boston: 3:08:55

Caveat: I didn’t train as hard AND I did two days of walking tours with my family before the race AND I didn’t heed the advice to run the first half under control.

I’ve run 15 marathons with 6 of them at Boston.

PR - CIM 2009 - 2:53

Boston - Ran 2:55 twice, one of them was the course record year with the tailwind, so after my PR. One was right at 3 hours. One was 2011 which was hot, ran 3:11 (1:28/1:43). The other two were my first and last times around 3:14-3:15, not in great shape for either of those.

Since I can’t really train for the hills where I live, I think Boston is about a 4 minute harder course for me than something flat. Even the tailwind year probably just brought me back to even.

Figure 5-10 minutes slower than your current PR.

Boston Pr +3:20 over Chicago overall PR.

I have found the comparison calculator on https://findmymarathon.com/ to be pretty good.

Chicago 2:51:05

Boston 2:58:55

I have run 36 marathons, including Boston 4 times. My second fastest was in Boston one year, and my PR was 2 minutes faster later the same year. It was on a course with about the same overall net downhill as Boston, but almost all a gradual downhill, no uphill. My age adjusted PR was in Boston 2 years later. I do try to be in top shape for Boston.

PR on a flat course of 2:55, Boston last October: 3:10. I underestimated the first half and fell completely apart.

Hoping to go under 3 next week but I'm not giving my hopes up. I did go nuts with elevation this winter so hoping that will translate to something decent.

I ran my 2:35 overall PR at Boston. However, had I not gone out too fast in Chicago the fall before when I was in about the same shape, I think I could have run 2:34 or best case 2:33. So all things being equal (which of course they never are), I think Boston runs a minute or two slower than a course like Chicago or Grandmas.

I'm ~2:00 slower at Boston. I've run it twice recently (2018, 2021) & was definitely in PB shape for both of those races. 2018 was less than a minute off. 2021 was 2:00 off of a slightly faster PB. Ran almost identical times on less than ideal weather days. I wouldn't be shocked to see lots of PBs at Boston because so many race it & have good training leading up to it. But it should be a little slower than a fast course on a good weather day. Only exception is a year like 2011 but those years don't come around too often & then you know there's a tiny asterisk next to your time.

I'm curious about your background. You're consistently very generous with practical, well thought-out advice.

As for Boston, my best there was seven minutes slower than my PR which was set on a similar course less than five months prior (2:47 vs 2:40). I've been kicking myself ever since because I was in my best-ever shape. AND it was a perfect-weather day -- cool with light tailwind -- but I just ran easy and had fun. Even stopped for a beer at a spectator's unofficial beverage table. Greg Meyer and Joan Benoit were the winners that day.

what happened in 2011?

That is awesome! I've used that site for years to print pace bands. Had no idea about their comparison tool.

It told me 2 minutes slower for Boston 2021 when I compared my Fall 2021 race on a flat course. Boston was just a few degrees warmer than my race, but both a pretty good temps.

2:30:25 at Columbus 2019, Boston 2021: 2:32:01

Came into '21 with a 69:38 half but it all came off the rails with 4-5 to go due to slight issues.

Hoping to make Boston my PR this year.

PR: 3:03:54

Boston PR (of 15 Boston's): 3:06:42

Someone asked about Boston 2011. That was a serious tailwind year. I ran injured that day; my Boston PR is from 2010 which was a more accurate year overall for Boston times instead of the rosy 2011 times.

2:27 - Boston 2021

2:22 - Houston 3 months later