The race itself was amazing. Great crowds the entire way. Plentiful aid stations The Newton Hills are certainly hill but to anyone who trains hills, it is easy. I can't wait to go back again. Expo was lacking so I was glad I didn't need anything. I stayed at the Hilton Park which is a great location and also rode the Maniac Bus to the start which was perfect.

My first Boston and it was amazing! The course was one of my favorites. The aid stations and course support was 5 stars!! Challenging course but the crowds of spectators will keep you going strong to the finish!

What can I say, it's my hometown marathon! Crowd support for all 26.2 miles cheering us on all the way to the finish line!

It appears that since Bank of America has become the sponsor of the Boston Marathon, the prestige and quality of the race is declining. The jackets are no longer embroidered. The Boston Marathon print on logo on the jackets is so poorly done that in only a few washes, the logo begins to fade. The medals no longer have the silver cutout unicorns, and the medal ribbons are now affixed with velcro. The jackets and medals have always been a defining characteristic of this most prestigious race. Now the Boston Marathon is becoming “ordinary” due to the poor leadership choices of Bank of America. The fans and course are great as always, but the impact that Bank of America has had on this most famous race has been nothing but disappointing.

Once again it was a warm day for the marathon! Wind mainly in our backs so didn't feel any cooling effects. But plenty of water stations and gels were handed out as well. Excellent volunteers and spectators galore!

Boston is the best experience ever starting with the crowds, city and organization of the race. Cheers!

OK, maybe it isn’t the easiest way to get from Hopkinton to downtown Boston. Or the fastest. (Not for me anyways.) But surely that run is the BEST way to do it! Kudos and thanks to the outrageously enthusiastic spectators all along the route, who helped make this an epic day for me, and for nearly 30,000 other runners. This marathon is something special!

The highly prestigious Boston Marathon does not disappoint! The crowds and volunteers are especially amazing. The ONLY pain point was the shortage of porta-poopers in Athlete's Village. The lines were painfully slow. Bonus points, however, for the urinals! Not good for pooping, but fast and efficient for peeing!!

WOW - my 1st and probably only Boston Marathon ever was pretty amazing! It was unfortunately a very warm and sunny day last Monday but that's not the organization's fault - that's how the dice rolled that day. The crowds were amazing as you ran from town to town from Hopkington all the way to Boston. That finish line.. truly incredible. The only other finish line that remotely matches that is NYC imho. 5 stars down and 1 more to go!

This race is special. As one of the oldest marathons, they really know how to put on a race. It’s a celebration from beginning to end. It’s the one to run!

I think it goes without saying, but run it if you can. ‘24 was my second Boston, and first as a qualifier. It was a great day and a new PR. To qualify for a spot, and then validate it with a PR, was an amazing experience.

Given this is not only a major, but one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, I’ll spare you my race report in exchange for some public service announcements:
1) pick up your bib and consider skipping the expo. Any and all brands that may compete with the official merchandiser are banned, thus making the expo a waste of time IMO. Visit the many pop-ups in Back Bay instead.
2) there are ample aid stations, but it’s still a major marathon that is crowded throughout. For those who wish to walk a bit at aid stations, please collect fluids and clear the volunteers before starting to walk. The aid stations got more crowded/difficult toward the end of the race.

Definitely a GREAT experience. It's my 3rd Boston and it feels special in each one of them!
I was taking it easy because of another marathon only 5 days after Boston; but regardless of how fast I run Boston, I’m always so grateful to be here. Following the footstep of 127 years of running legends and so many histories!

Great support, VERY crowded expo with only Adidas shopping area, but it's an Abbott World Major so you expect crowded. Finish are provided lots of no traffic photo ops starting on Friday, Boston does an outstanding job providing course support and the whole community comes out to cheer, even for the Wave 4 people. My experience as a charity BIB entry was still amazing, just had a later start!

Boston is special, that's the bottom line. Well organized with great crowd support. Tip: take the private Maniac bus to the start, well worth it!

No area does it better than the towns along that iconic route. The weather wasn’t the best yet supporters were out in full force making this marathon a 26.2 mile celebration.

Fun race, well organized, enthusiastic crowds, 10 year anniversary of the bombing so there were some ceremonies.

Rolling hills course. Perfect support from the water station, medical tents, and crowd. The expo was too small for 30K runners they need to move it to a bigger venue. Weather was rainy and cold but tolerable. I was one of those runners that didn't get a medal because they ran out; however, they promise to mail me one. Would I do it again, hell yeah!

What else is there to say except Mass does it right and makes Marathon Monday a state holiday! Great race, great history, and this year (ha!) great weather!

what else is there to say about this race? Net downhill, the desire to start way too fast, and those uphills that come after you've spent so much energy running downhill. But it's a state holiday, the crowds are awesome, and so is the history of the area and the race!

Hardest marathon I've ever run. I also think I might have run with Covid. I tested positive when I got home on Tuesday. Luckily recovered quickly.

Love everything about this race from the great crowd support to all the volunteers. Finishing on Boylston St was overwhelming with the electrifying crowd. Only thing I didn’t like was the starting time, was too late in the day and body was not use to running that late.

This was an epic experience for me - even better that I expected. I ran the 5K (Saturday) and the Marathon (Sunday), and was deeply impressed by how well the event was organized and executed - from set-up and tear-down of infrastructure, to managing the crowds of runners and supporters. Excellent!
Yeah, let's do it again.

Hands down, simply the best atmosphere from start to finish that I've ever experienced!

Great to be back. Best crowds. Great course. So well organized. I just love it:)

I ran this race and got my Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal upon finishing… I had so much fun running this course… The race started downhill but as we know for every downhill there’s an uphill… My friends a d I didn’t push the pace… We enjoyed the course by taking pix/videos and posting to Social Media… The crowd support was amazing… There were people cheering throughout the course… There were Military personnel strategically positioned along the course just in case someone tried to do something CRAZY… There were medical tents strategically positioned along the course as well as hydration and nutrition stations… If you’re fast enough to BQ or if you can fundraise like I did… I highly recommend running this race.

I ran this race and got my Sixth Abbott Wold Marathon Majors Star/medal after finishing. This race was soooooo much fun, despite the challenging course… The race started out with downhills but as we know for every downhill there is an uphill and boy were there a lot of uphills… The crowd support was AMAZING… There were people cheering throughout the course… Medical tents were strategically located along the course… Porto potties were easily accessible… As was hydration and nutrition… Military Police were strategically positioned along the course and atop rooftops just in case the inevitable occurred… If you’re fast enough to BQ or if you’re able to fundraise like I did… I highly recommend running this race…

What's not to like? I'm a back of the packer and this is an amazing marathon everyone should do whether BQ'ing or for charity. Don't listen to people who look down on charity runners. There are fewer of you and it's a more rare thing than BQ'ing.

Well organized with COVID precautions. Always a great race.

Not as epic as the real deal! Still an accomplishment for my 16th consecutive Boston Marathon finish. My first time completing a marathon on a smoky 400 meter track.(106 laps) in South Surrey, British Columbia. The great thing was four of my MM friends completed with me. 59 Bostons and 1,626 marathon finishes between the five of us. Hope this craziness clears out for Boston 2021. Stay well my friends.

Not as epic as the real deal! Still an accomplishment for my 16th consecutive Boston Marathon finish. My first time completing a marathon on a smoky 400 meter track.(106 laps) in South Surrey, British Columbia. The great thing was four of my MM friends completed with me. 59 Bostons and 1,626 marathon finishes between the five of us. Hope this craziness clears out for Boston 2021. Stay well my friends.

Excelente. Plataforma com interação perfeita, validação no sistema muito boa. A melhor prova virtual que corri em 2020. Comunicação com os corredores pré e pós prova sensacional.

Nilson Lima
Uberlândia - MG
Brazil

My 17th Boston and 80th Marathon in total. Despite the weather warnings early in the morning and the previous day, Boston 2019 was great. We got on buses in pouring rain but it stopped in time for our Wave's start. The crowds were awesome as always and I enjoyed a beer at the bottom of Heartbreak Hill. Boston residents are so friendly and I want to go back many more times. Even though I had the slowest finish time ever due to a ski injury and double vision.

Boston, again, is great. Not just the whole elite vibe, but the logistics they do a great job with. Really good expo - lots of good panels/seminars. Buses to start are spot on. Plenty of tent space, and this year wood planks from the sidewalk minimized the mud trudging. Urinal portapotties were a great addition to drop the wait considerably. Lots of food and drink available in runner's village. Buses set up for bag drop/retrieval made it easy via 10 Windows per bus rather than one opening per truck.

Main drawback was that the water stations were too short -- too many people crowded in and cut off ability to get water on desired side. Pre-race dinner is nothing special, but good enough. Little reason to bother with post-race party.

My first Boston at 62 years young. It was an absolutely amazing experience.
The crowds, the excitement and the runners from all over the world. I will never forget this race. I finished in a slower time than I usually run but I took in every moment.

I did it! For me this was my 6th Star and that made it even more special. The rain held off and in fact it got hot and I got overheated around mile 8. I slowed down and cooled down and enjoyed every mile. The course support was amazing and the cheering and high fives kept me going. I ran for charity and appreciated the comfortable charter bus with a bathroom for the ride to the start and it stayed there so we could take our time getting ready and walking over to the Athlete's Village. The expo was heaven for this shopper and I bought to my heart's content. I definitely recommend running Boston.

Overall a success. I passed the half in 2:00:30, right on plan for a 4-hour run. Then the heat got to me. I ended up with 4:15. Not what I had expected given my recent 3:49 at Austin, but actually !43! minutes faster than 2017 which was also warm, and my best Boston time by 15 minutes. So I’ll take that as a success!!

All week I feared the rain. The heat was unexpected and hit me hard. When the rain finally came around mile 24, I rejoiced!

The Boston Marathon is always well organized but occasionally unplanned issues present. The mud in the Hopkinton Athlete’s village when it rains is unfortunate. The head and humidity in the 2nd half of the race (after training in 30 degree weather for months) lead to a cramping and dehydration despite the highs being in just the 70’s. The Expo was mobbed this year on Sat/Sun which was disappointing, beyond this it represents my Christmas in April. I love everything about the days leading up to the race and the communities that make up the course. I have qualified fro next year so I will be back for my 4th!

There is nothing like Boston!

As one might expect, the BAA puts on one stellar race. All aspects of my race week experience were superb. The volunteers at the Expo and on race day were all friendly and helpful. The logistics were amazing. Buses ran on time, information about the race, bib pickup process etc was provided quickly and accurately. Crowd support on race day was like none other that I've ever experienced - including others like Chicago. Would definitely run this one again.

Like all other traditions, regardless the number of times you run, it will continue to amaze.

Perfect day other then being a little hot when the sun came out. The BAA did decide to let wave 4 go with wave 3 which caused a bit of chaos, but other than that, I have no complaints. The BAA knows what they are doing and are a class act at putting on the best marathon in the world.

It was windy and raining, then it was sunny and humid, then it was windy, cold and raining. While the weather didn't know what it wanted to do that day the race was as incredible and as well organized as it's ever been. People cheering for you EVERYWHERE!! Plenty of water stops, medical staff, and fuel provided on the course. It's a day to remember.

The race organizers did the best they could given the incredibly bad weather, so kudos to them for their efforts. What really amazed me is that fans would stand out there to cheer for the runners, long after the leaders had passed. At first I swore I would never come back and repeat that miserable experience, but upon reflection I think I'll go back next year to experience it under better conditions.

I won't lie folks, it was wet, windy and cold out there. I started slow and felt good throughout. I said countless thank-yous as I ran and just kept smiling. I was especially encouraged by the spectators who toughed it out for hours in the cold rain. And I am thankful beyond words to over 200 people who donated to support my fundraising efforts for the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. With your support, I raised $16,695 for cancer research this marathon season, with a four-year total of just over $45,000.

It's Boston, there isn't a lot that can be said that hasn't already been written by thousands of people. The weather that day was miserable. I was cold and wet but the spectators were incredible, the volunteers were amazing and it was an epic experience.

This was my first Boston. Yes the weather was crazy and the worst I've seen. The athletes village was a mud pit and was the worst part for me. But at the finish and later that night I realized how much I loved it. It was the most amazing time I've ever had. I am hoping to qualify again in July. I'm still basking in the whole experience. I'm glad I was able to be a part of this years epic weather that will be remembered for years to come!

Boston is amazing. While I did not do the time I wanted in my first Boston Marathon, I finished, which for me was quite a task given the weather that mother nature challenged us with. :) But Boston is Boston and it was an honor to be there. I hope I can qualify again, so that I can go back and maybe the weather will be just a smidgen better than this year!!! That would not take much...as we had just about everything from 20-30 mph headwinds, cold temps, and driving rain, sometimes sideways rain. :) But it was Boston. :)

Ugghh!! I've run 47 (marathons/ ultras) and this by far was one of my toughest! The weather was absolutely atrocious! Strong winds, heavy downpours of rain, freezing rain at one point- i was freezing! I started the race with frozen feet (forgot to bring a change of shoes so my feet were wet at the start) and didnt fully warm up until the 10th mile!
As always the crowd support was amazing! Despite the weather folks still came out to cheer and encourage the runners-- making the race special and an absolute pleasure to be a part of!

There are few if any other marathons on the planet where you can spend four plus hours running in cold, wind, and at times torrential rain and cross the finish line thinking I would do it again tomorrow.
The rain turned the runners village into a mosh pit of mud and puddles soaking my feet before I reached the starting line. Once on the course the crowds were down somewhat but they were as enthusiastic and supportive as ever. The volunteers along with the police and military who stood out there in those conditions for hours providing support and security were In my view the heroes of the day.
The weather did nothing to diminish the crowd as the runners turn onto Boylston Street and head to the finish line. They were loud and supportive as they encouraged the runners to push to the finish.
So...
Yes it was cold...
Yes it was windy...
Yes it was pouring rain...
Yes I would do it again tomorrow!

The marathon is always on Monday, Patriots Day! Packet pick up is easy, the Expo is awesome with. I liked the pasta dinner (pre and post race dinners included in race fee).? Don’t let the course map fool you.it looks downhill but it’s HILLY: and not just heartbreak hill...those hills start at the beginning of the marathon and continue throughout the entire race. The race and hotels are expensive. Lots to see and do in Boston! The crowd support is better than any major race in the States. Whether you qualify or raise money for charity (I’ve done both), this is a once in a lifetime experience so consider it! They also have a 5K that same weekend on Saturday that is very popular (donate have to qualify, but have to sign up the day registration opens).

Although I ran my PR in Boston in 2011, then and this year as well, I felt asthough this race is not the be-all-end-all that everyone else feels it is. Coming from Canada, my registration fee was over $300. The cost of hotels was astronomical, and when it comes down to it, the course is too narrow/congested and not scenic. The race expo was a gong show, and especially after training through a Canadian winter, the weather this year was brutal. I trained for a sub-3:40 with A TON of hill work, but I'm terrible in the heat and walked every damn hill in Newton. Lucky to finish in 4:00 feeling like I was going to vomit most of the way.

But one thing Boston has over every other marathon is the spectators; I was so grateful for their support/ice/popsicles! No city comes close in these terms. This city loves it's marathon and even though it's not for me, I'm still glad I got to run it twice.

This is my third time running the Boston Marathon, and there is a reason why it's "Boston!" Boston is where I felt and ran my best race (not time) in 2013, and where I experienced my worst race ever because I got sick a couple of days before, ran out of energy, cramped and had to walk most of the last ten miles in 2014. However, the race, runners and spectators were still off the charts every time. 2017 was no exception as a hot race day brought out supportive spectators with hoses, towels, extra water, food and cheers. If you get the chance, it's a marathon you will never forget no matter your time.

Great crowds, an exiting race and well organized. However, the race course is too crowded. BAA needs to cap the runner field at 20,000 rather than 30,000.

Running the Boston Marathon is the pinnacle event for marathoners worldwide. It's the Superbowl of running and being able to run with world-class athlete's is an added bonus. The race is well organized, volunteers and spectators are plentiful and extremely helpful. The course is challenging which adds to the appeal of this event. I highly recommend this race to anyone who has qualified because it is an event that needs to be experienced.

Race lived up to all the hype I have heard over the years. Temp and humidity was not my friend but after over a month on the sidelines injured just before the race, I considered a finish a win. Spectators were unbelievable. Expo was way too crowded after the 5K on Saturday. I waited outside the expo in line for over an hour just to get in to get my bib. Has to be a better way to cut that wait time down. So many people that it was impossible to look around the expo. Pretty much the only thing that wasn't first class. Should have a qualifying time for next year and will for sure be back.

This is the modern marathon that begat the others around the U.S. and the world. As a time qualifying race it's always an honor to get to run this race. The temps this year were in the mid 70's but felt hotter. The race also is pretty hilly despite being net downhill. The famous hills of Newton for which there are three from miles 17-21 are a challenge. Coming home into Boston with the big deafening crowds is always a joy though you probably are feeling real bad. Good solid finish this year smiling.

If you BQ, make sure to run Boston. The organizers do a great job with the logistics and the crowd support in all the towns is wonderful. Top-notch experience. Dream come true.

First time in the 3rd wave. In 10 years of running halves and fulls, this was the most I've been bumped, elbowed, and had my heels (clipped) stepped on. Most people apologized but this was a very crowded race for the 1st 4-5 miles. Overall a good experience.

Boston is the best. This is a scientifically proven fact. The STEM field is peer reviewed and passes all scrutiny.
S- spectators are enthusiastic to no end. You won't find a greater crowd.
T- towns that roll out the red carpet for days and treat each runner like a rock star.
E- enforcement. Who knew there were that many men & women ready to serve & protect us?
M- marathons with gigantic smiles...you'll never be a collective group with so much in common.
Ah yes, Boron Oxyen Sulfur Founded Oxygen Nitrogen. B. O. S. T. O. N.

It's always an honor to run Boston and 2017 (my 4th time) was no exception. It was a beautiful sunny day with lots of fun at the start and at the finish. However, it was not an ideal day for running due to the heat. The expo and pre-race dinner were nice as usual, but the lines to get in to the dinner were long and slower than in past years. I like that we could take beer to go, especially since there's no beer served after the marathon. I missed not getting a lanyard in our race packets this year.

You can't beat Boston for the experience and for the crowd support. It is always an emotional experience for me as this was the 6th time that I have run Boston, and I was there during the bombings in 2013. It is always well organized, with the corrals starting exactly as scheduled. The included carbo loading dinner the night before is also a very positive experience and a great way to interact with runners from around the world.
The only negative comment is that slower charity runners who do not finish the race in six hours do not receive an official finish or a finisher's time.

The Super Bowl of Marathons kept up to its usual greatness. !! See you again next year !!

My first Boston marathon. It truly exceeded my expectations. Steve Walters hosted my visit (he ran Boston the prior three years) and showed me the ropes. I was shooting for a nice sub-5... just run slowly and soak it all in. The energy along the course with the runners and spectators completely pegged the meter. Lots of the event was a beautiful blur. I ran fast even though there were the crazy Newton Hills. The last half mile on Boylston is unlike any other race. Steve tells me that my BQ time from last September's Tunnel Lite also fits the Boston 2018 qualifying window. My bag is already packed. Cheers!

Amazing atmosphere in the city. Very well organized throughout race weekend. Good Expo. Fun pasta supper in City Hall. Seamless transportation to race start (on school buses). Well organized and large race village with plenty of porta-johns. Amazing support along the whole course. well organized finish area.

It was my 9th Boston Marathon and the first year that I stayed in Hopkington. It was wonderful to sleep later and go to athlete's village at a reasonable time. The tradeoff is missing all the shared excitement of staying in Boston. But for $140 a night...it was worth it. The race was a hot one and my 2nd slowest ever but as always, the course, the spectators, the cheers, the organization all impressed. Back next year for number 10!

This was my third Boston and first marathon as a member of Marathon Maniacs. A hot day on the course for the runners but a beautiful day overall. Living in the Boston area and being part of the running community this is always a big day and 2017 was no exception. Boston is a marathon like no other and I was very grateful to be a part of it once again.

Water stations every mile, med tents every mile for the second part of the course. Best spectators in the world.

Amazing race atmosphere! Beautiful course, top notch volunteers, and awesome spectators made this a race I will remember for a lifetime!