Boston Marathon: What's the appeal, is it worth it, prestige still warrented for average Joes?

It's a great race with an amazing atmosphere and it's got great tradition. It's one of those things as a runner that's at least fun to do once if you can, a running bucket list item if you will.

I've run it twice and I had an absolute blast both times. It's kind of nice to be in a race where everyone in it is a serious runner, or at least moderately talented, so no fat chick can ever tell you she ran "that one too!"

Is it the best race with the best course... nah, but it's one of the few races where runners are embraced and respected by the city and by non-runners. If you get a chance, run it.

Aren't a large number of slots filled by non-qualified charity runners?

Giddy wrote:

It's a great race with an amazing atmosphere and it's got great tradition. It's one of those things as a runner that's at least fun to do once if you can, a running bucket list item if you will.

I've run it twice and I had an absolute blast both times. It's kind of nice to be in a race where everyone in it is a serious runner, or at least moderately talented, so no fat chick can ever tell you she ran "that one too!"

Is it the best race with the best course... nah, but it's one of the few races where runners are embraced and respected by the city and by non-runners. If you get a chance, run it.

This. And if you legit qualified you'll be at least an hour or more ahead of the charity runners who bought there way in, so the posers won't really be part of your experience with the event.

weakly interacting wrote:

Aren't a large number of slots filled by non-qualified charity runners?

what is a 'large number?' it's usually been 10% or less

there have usually been more 'invited' runners - sponsors and municipalities, etc... - than charity runners

a lot of 'average joes' bust their butts trying to get their BQ

for some it comes easy.

some do it it as the 'end all be all' ..to some it's just an over-hyped megathon

agree with the post above; IMO if you run marathons, you should run Boston at least once

I've run about 15 Bostons since 1978. It is a great race, with a tremendous atmosphere. The crowds are awesome. If you have the opportunity, you should run it.

I'm in my 50's and have run Boston 4 times.

My only reason for ever running marathons again, is to qualify and run Boston one more time.

You have a blast from the time you get off the plane till you get in bed on race night and the crowds are in my opinion the best and most knowledgeable.(Try slowing down on the hills and see what happens)

I'm sure they'll be some letsrun tough guys saying it's no big deal, but that has everything to do with them being tools, but nothing with the race.

The last turn on to Boylston is something you'll always remember.

BAAbaablacksheep wrote:

a lot of 'average joes' bust their butts trying to get their BQ

for some it comes easy.

some do it it as the 'end all be all' ..to some it's just an over-hyped megathon

I guess my perspective might be skewed, as a BQ would be nothing more than a glorified long run. I have no interest in in another over-hyped race. It seems most "races" these days are. Yet, people keep buying into Boston. I want separate what is hype, and what is actual. For the 2:30-2:40 types what's the draw? Sales pitch?

weakly interacting wrote:

I guess my perspective might be skewed, as a BQ would be nothing more than a glorified long run.

So, you aren't good enough to beat the guys up front, but feel superior to others so you feel it's beneath you to take part.

Reality check: You are closer to the charity runners than the front of the pack, get over yourself.

weakly interacting wrote:

I guess my perspective might be skewed, as a BQ would be nothing more than a glorified long run. I have no interest in in another over-hyped race. It seems most "races" these days are. Yet, people keep buying into Boston. I want separate what is hype, and what is actual. For the 2:30-2:40 types what's the draw? Sales pitch?

Just from the replies (I've never run Boston) it sounds like:

-The atmosphere - fellow serious/dedicated runners, the crowd.

- Consider that for many people running Boston, qualifying was a huge accomplishment... possibly even a life goal. Imagine how pumped those thousands or tens of thousands of qualifiers would be on race day/weekend. Now consider what that individual energy would contribute to the entire atmosphere. It has to take the atmosphere to another level, if you care about that kind of thing.

I know several pretty serious runners (2:25-2:35 guys in their prime), and Boston is the only marathon that any of them care about keeping their "streak" alive at.

Also has a ton of history.

For most marathoners in the U.S. it's probably the closest thing to the holy grail of marathoning (like the Trails or Olympics might be for faster runners).

While I advise against Marathon running due to the negative health effects (heart scaring, muscle loss, "runners face",...) I acknowledge that the Boston Marathon is probably the most significant hobby jogger Marathon. You could probably compare it to CrossFit Regionals.

Big difference with appearance though, since the women at CrossFit regionals are athletic:

http://crossfit-games.edgesuite.net/sites/default/files/Games2012_RegionalWorkouts.jpg

compare that to your typical Boston marathon running chick

http://community.weightwatchers.com/LoadDown/Blogs/78/71/81d9b6400c1142cd829a1fcbdf945433_2.jpg?repository=1

uh ok wrote:

weakly interacting wrote:

I guess my perspective might be skewed, as a BQ would be nothing more than a glorified long run.

So, you aren't good enough to beat the guys up front, but feel superior to others so you feel it's beneath you to take part.

Reality check: You are closer to the charity runners than the front of the pack, get over yourself.

I get it. I'm just another hobby jogger. So what. I want to know if it's worth it to drop a couple/few thousand dollars to fly across the country for just another road race.

weakly interacting wrote:

uh ok wrote:

So, you aren't good enough to beat the guys up front, but feel superior to others so you feel it's beneath you to take part.

Reality check: You are closer to the charity runners than the front of the pack, get over yourself.

I get it. I'm just another hobby jogger. So what. I want to know if it's worth it to drop a couple/few thousand dollars to fly across the country for just another road race.

I'll give you a couple/few thousand dollars if you crawl back into your fetid troll hole. Any other questions?

I third what he said.

I've run Boston once and it was a fantastic experience. To add to the marathon, it was my first trip to Boston and it's a great town that all Americans should want to see.

I trained hard and still barely qualified for Boston so it was a big deal to me at the time. Now that I know how to train myself for marathons, the BQ is not that big of deal to me and Boston no longer holds that allure. I might go back and run one day but no biggee if I don't.

It is unique that if you qualify, you are surrounded by runners of your ability which is refreshing.

Done it four times and qualified again this past fall so I'll throw my application in the entry pool when registration opens for 2015.

It's a phenomenal experience. For someone who will never qualify for the Olympic Trials, it's the closest I'll get to participating in a sporting event that has a qualification requirement. My fourth one was just as exciting as my first, and I'm certain that my fifth will be just as great.

2:37 guy here, I've run it twice and going back for a third time in April, so I must like something about it. I will say it's not heads and shoulders above any other marathon I've done, and I've run about a dozen. But as people have mentioned, the the entire town is into it. And you really don't get the sense there's actually a strong undercurrent of frustration that you'll see when big time sporting events invade a city. So that's pretty cool, the locals have a ton of respect for the race it's participants, you really don't see that everywhere. Chicago would be an example where half the town is pissed off on race day because traffic is terrible.

I will say the logistics at the start are annoying for the sub elite crowd. Standing in a long line just to get on a bus for an hour and then a pretty mediocre prerace area is a bummer. I was pretty sure last year was going to be my last, then with everything that went down I couldn't imagine not being there again. So while I'm really happy to have run it, it's still 26.2 miles of running with some pretty tough hills when you boil it down. It's not life changing, assuming no one tries to blow you up.

I guess the other part of the equation is obviously the cost. If it saps your travel budget to the point you couldn't take a real vacation for a year, personally that would probably prevent me from doing it. I like my running, but I also like my vacations. They shouldn't always mix IMO.

And if you like running with company, there's a ton of 2:30-2:40 guys, I'd be willing to bet more than any race in the world.

Like so many others I grew up hearing about the Boston Marathon. When I was younger BR was winning it, then Alberto it was THE marathon.

When I got back into running I decided the BQ would be my goal. I hit it on the 2nd try.

But the marathon experience itself wasn't anything I'd do again.

It was crowded and expensive. I just didnt get much out of it. Maybe if I'd had a really good run I'd have glowing reviews, but that still wouldn't change my two biggest beefs.

Ive qualified a few times since but never really considered running it. Once was enough.

breadcrumbs wrote:

Also has a ton of history. For most marathoners in the U.S. it's probably the closest thing to the holy grail of marathoning (like the Trials or Olympics might be for faster runners).

Exactly. Think about it: virtually every great marathon runner that the U.S. has ever produced has run that race on that course!

Oh, and I should amend that last part of my post. Fukuoka has far more 2:30ish guys. So I'll so most in the country, not world.