Boston Questions Thread--course, racing, pre-race planning

Is there anything special/significant to know about racing this course? Any miles to plan for, to move on, to relax on, etc?Don't go out too fast. Try to maintain your pace through the hills which start at the overpass. Increase your speed over the last 5 miles from BU to the finish. The course looks much faster the first half than the second, is it beneficial to run more even splits or positive split vs. negative split? Just trying to get any cues on how to race the course? Don't go out too fast. Even pacing may be best Looking to run sub 2:30, will be there a good group to run with or is it going to be everyone running their own race/fending for themselves? Plenty of people to run with. Ask around at the start. Don't get sucked into following someone else's race plan. How much/what can I carry to the runner's village? How do I check in/claim my stuff? As much as you can fit in the race bag. You check your stuff at buses as you make your way to the corral Is it going to be a struggle to get positioning in my wave/corral? Again, trying to go sub 2:30. Do I need to get to the start/claim my spot extra early to make sure I'm good? No. The first corral is not crowded Where do I warmup? Any options for somewhere to leave my bag as I warmup or just find a bush to put it behind? In the athletes village. There is not much space to warm up. Jog the mile or so to the starting corral. Don't worry about warming up too much, it is a marathon. Just leave your stuff where you are, not much theft. Don't worry so much

I only have a minute so let me get two areas. If you have a ride, have her drive you to either Hopkinton State Park or Rt 85 in Milford. At Rt 85 the buses from Boston will stop to get you if you ask the State trooper to help you.

The marathon bag they give you is put on a bus that corresponds with your number. Anything you bring will be at the finish area. Weather dependent, you may want to bring some throw away clothes.

Good luck.

Not much to add but will reiterate on not going out too fast. The downhill start will make your MP feel very very easy, but stick to it.

At the village before the start bring a large towel or something to stretch out on and relax/nap. Buy a cheap one and throw it away if you have to. You are in the company of runners and don't have to worry about theft. I had a MP3 player with me that I put in my checked bag with no problems. Wear warm clothes as you will be just sitting around for awhile.

They will announce when to start lining up so just relax and go with it. Hit the pota johns early and often as the lines will get long the closer to lineup time you get.

Can't help on the Hotel to bus planning. Your hotel will probably have a bunch of other runners so just ask around when you check in. One great thing about the Boston atmosphere is everyone is in the same situation and willing to help. We had complete strangers introduce themselves and ask me questions. It was my first time but the other runner and I ended up riding to the buses together and her Mother and my wife hooked up and spectated along the course together.

Good luck.

Sounds kinky

joho wrote:

It was my first time but the other runner and I ended up riding to the buses together and her Mother and my wife hooked up and spectated along the course together.

Good luck.

25 sitting on 25 mil wrote:

Increase your speed over the last 5 miles from BU to the finish.

That would be Boston College (BC), not BU.

BTW, I concur. Even pace is best. Run the Hopkinton-Ashland downhills too aggressively and your quads will be useless later on -- a classic rookie mistake at Boston.

Additional tip: the Sheraton Needham is located only a few strides from the running trail in Cutler Park. Good for a few easy miles on Saturday or Sunday.

http://www.walkjogrun.net/routes/current_route.cfm?rid=4649702D-C00D-4C8B-7C76C66BA5BFD02C

Good luck Monday!

I'm staying in Framingham and not taking the bus. How crazy is the traffic that morning? And is it necessary to get to Hopkinton before 7:30? Thanks

Runners World has a Boston Marathon forum that has a lot of threads you may find useful, including one covering many general logistical angles. Good luck with the race.

http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/races-places/boston-marathon

Oh and get ready for some heat. A couple of the weather models are now showing temps well up in the 80's on monday.

Which models are those? The highest I have seen is mid to low 70s.

Jeffster!!! wrote:

Oh and get ready for some heat. A couple of the weather models are now showing temps well up in the 80's on monday.

GFS and ECMWF

From the Taunton Mass area forecast discussion:

So far NWS still has the forecase as being in the upper 70's

http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=BOX&product=AFD&format=CI&version=1&glossary=1&highlight=off

"MONDAY AND TUESDAY...THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY HERE THOUGH THE MODELS HAVE COME INTO MORE OF AN AGREEMENT ON THIS TIMEFRAME. AS STATED ABOVE...BOTH MODELS BRING THE COLD FRONT ONLY AS FAR SOUTH AS NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THIS KEEPS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND ON THE WARM SIDE OF THE FRONT WITH THE WARMING TREND SEEN OVER THE WEEKEND CONTINUING. THE LATEST ECMWF RUN INDICATES TEMPERATURES COULD BE WELL INTO THE UPPER 80S MONDAY...WHICH WOULD SET RECORDS AT BOSTON/84 IN 2003/ AND WORCESTER /84 IN 2002/. IT WOULD NEAR OR PERHAPS TIE RECORDS IN PROVIDENCE /88 IN 2003/ AND HARTFORD /90 IN 2002/. TUESDAYS TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE VERY CLOSE TO MONDAYS...THOUGH THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR A FEW SHOWERS TUESDAY. WILL BE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THIS FORECAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND."

BS

Questions from another wrote:

I'm staying in Framingham and not taking the bus. How crazy is the traffic that morning? And is it necessary to get to Hopkinton before 7:30? Thanks

What do you mean you are not taking the bus? You will not be able to drive into Hopkinton on race day. Closest that you will get is the state park where a bus will take you into Hopkinton.

I would also add for the OP, relax going through the first 5 downhill miles. The first year that I ran it, I was tensing my shoulders during that downhill portion and it really hurt me later on. Well that and my ludicrous early pace.

Be prepared for quads to take a beating after bc/heartbreak---a lot of people have no problems up to that point but then complain about the beating their quads take from bc to finish(all downhills)

Not sure what you can do about it now though...the day after race you should see all the people going backwards down stairs/hobbling around town.

Boston area resident/runner/racer.

Good luck

mcgato wrote:

[quote]Questions from another wrote:

I'm staying in Framingham and not taking the bus. How crazy is the traffic that morning? And is it necessary to get to Hopkinton before 7:30? Thanks

What do you mean you are not taking the bus? You will not be able to drive into Hopkinton on race day. Closest that you will get is the state park where a bus will take you into Hopkinton.

I'm planning on getting dropped off at the State Park, but I was wondering what traffic would be like in general driving from Framingham to the State Park entrance race day morning.

Wow, thanks for all the help everyone.

My hotel is closer to the finish, then the start. How long does the bus take to get to the start? Is it a normal gig to have the bus pick you up from Hopkinton State Park? I think my biggest concern is just making sure I get there on time.

New questions:

Is there a certain time before the start that I want to make sure I have my bag check done? Certain time I want to be at the start by?

What time do I want to make sure I'm at the runner's village by if I do drive to the State Park vs. taking the 6-6:30 bus?

Is there any parking near the expo on Saturday?

Thanks again, huge relief getting this feedback.

My friend, I would suggest you follow my advice from an earlier thread. Taking a car downtown from Needham and the backtracking on a school bus to Hopkinton High will not help your bladder, particularly if you over hydrate in anticipation of a warm day. Going onto Rt 95/128 to the Mass Pike will get you out there easily.

The walk from the HS to the start line is 10 min. The Village is a place to hang and prepare. The walk from the park is about a mile. If you plan to be downtown at 6,your ride west will get you to your destination in plenty of time.

The expo area is much better for parking than when it takes place at the Hynes downtown, particularly with the Sox opening weekend.

Good luck with your travel and enjoy the weekend.

Same as everyone else has already said, don't plan positive splits. With the weather forecast for Boston I would suggest aiming for a negative split so you don't put yourself in a bad situation with the expected heat. Everyone is also very friendly at the race so ask around in the runner's village and you'll most likely meet some new friends that will help you out.

It's been a few years since I was there, but driving into Hopkinton is not possible close to race time. There maybe some ungodly hour you can get there before they halt traffic. I remember coming in on the bus and seeing the poor schmucks walking along the road begging for a ride from the bus driver -- who WILL NOT STOP for people anywhere along the way.