I will be running Boston for the 1st time in April. I need suggestions on where I should stay. Should I stay near the start or finish? Any suggestions on hotels? (Less than $200/night)
Any insider tips on getting to the start to avoid being there too many hours before the start.
Any race strategy tips on how to run a fast race at Boston.
Any other insider info that would be helpful is appreciated.
Stay as close to the starting line as possible. Have someone drop you off in Hopkington and have them park their car at Riverside station in Newton. Parking is free and you can take the T into Boston. Go to http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/schedules_subway_greenline_d.asp for a map of that line. To get to Riverside, get on Route 95 (formerly 128) from the Mass Turnpike and take the Auburndale exit which I believe is the first exit. Cross 95 going east and Riverside will be on your left. Hotels are pretty expensive at the center of Boston. Better make your reservations now.
There are some decent hotels in Natick at reasonable prices. Do a search in Yahoo and there are several major chain hotels. Natick is 15-20 minutes from Hopkinton and not out of the way to get back to after the race. Staying near the finish is very convenient but you won't be able to get anything decent for under $200 a night.
As far as getting to the start is concerned, the BAA will provide information to you on where you can get dropped off to catch the shuttle bus to the start. The shuttle bus ride is a quick one.
Rather than ramble on here about other information, feel free to email me if you have other specific questions at
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Stay near the finish. Much more convenient after finishing. There are many quality hotels for a reasonable price downtown.
Doug- you better hurry if you want a hotel in the Back Bay where the race concludes...they are booking out fast. A quick search of Orbitz shows that the Park Plaza and the Omni Parker House (both very top-end) have rooms less than your $200 limit. The Back Bay is where you want to be so if you search for hotels on some of the web engines...stick to that area.
No matter where you stay, I would recommend you drive to Hopkinton, park your car at the office park just off of I-95, take the shuttle to the start (about 2 miles) and then take the shuttle back to Hopkinton after the race. It's really easy and you don't have to get up as early as you would if you took the morning shuttle from Boston. I think they close the exit to Hopkinton at 10am, but the traffic gets backed up a little bit, so shoot for 9:30.
As for race strategy, don't "take the bait" and start too fast on the downhills. Patience pays off big-time at Boston. Just enjoy the first 15 and then work the hills and beyond. The last 5 miles can be smoking if your quads have survived all the early downhills. You see, it's not the uphills that get you at boston, it's the downhills that tear up your quads.
Mike,
I am staying at the Howard Johnson's next to Fenway. They have rooms and are under 200. It is close to the finish (not a bad walk back at all) and it is not a big deal catching the bus out in the a.m. of the race (just a short train ride down to the loading area and then on to a bus). It is part of the Boston experience. Plus, you are next to Fenway and a great brew pub for after the race.
I used to live in Southboro, just 6 miles down route 85 from the Hopkinton start. If you could find a b&B there (Apple tree?) or grab a room at the Red Roof Motel, you could wake late and easily get to Hopkinton State park for the race shuttle. The sacrafice would be missing the post-race partying in Boston that afternoon unless you drove back in to the city.
I agree with the advice to hold back early. Jack Fultz once told me, "If you DON'T think you are running TOO slowly through the first 7 to 12 miles, you are running too fast.
G'luck