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Boston Marathon 2012

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Jan 2012
11:02am, 8 Jan 2012
108 posts
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Bunny Chow
This was my one chance to do Boston as I finally got a BQ. Not likely to get another BQ....without giving up ultras and having to slog my guts out with lots of speed training ;-) Entry is pretty steep at USD200 and accommodation in Boston isn't cheap either.
Jan 2012
11:40am, 8 Jan 2012
25,392 posts
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Foxy Davy
Accomodation certainly isn't cheap but with 20,000 runners plus spouses, marshalls, expos folks etc....the hotel trade are rather savvy ;)
Jan 2012
11:43am, 8 Jan 2012
5,853 posts
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BlueWombat
I stayed at the youth hostel when I went ... it was full of runners and very sociable as well as cheap. The only people there who weren't doing the marathon were some Canadians who were in town for a Kings of Leon concert. Recommended.
Jan 2012
12:29pm, 8 Jan 2012
25,393 posts
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Foxy Davy
i had a great Hostel in Chicago :)
Jan 2012
3:17pm, 8 Jan 2012
32 posts
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MajorRunning
I've booked into a hostel as I'm going alone. I stayed there last year when I went sightseeing before NY and was fine. It also means that you can cook your own pre race meals and not have to find somewhere that can serve you all the carbs you need. It's my first Boston as part of my attempt to run all the majors this year.

Personally I think NY is the most over rated race. I have ran in twice as I used to live there but this year overseas entry is $348 apparently police costs have increased??? Aside from having to sit from 5.30- 9.30am on the floor of a car park in Staten Island until the start, the route is boring. Two miles across a windy bridge then round random streets of Brooklyn and Queens past no notable land marks. the half way point you are running over a bridge for a mile with no suporters allowed on. Once in Manhattan the crowds are vocal but 1st Ave is hardly exciting to run down, then you finish with 5miles running round the outside then inside of Central Park finishing at a random point of the park. Then if you start in the first wave you have over a one mile walk taking over 30mins to get to luggage van, as the goody bag only had meat or nut products in so I couldn't eat anything, so you are freezing and starving in the cold November afternoon.

I volunteered there once as well and the first aid at the finish was awful. I was supposed to be there to direct people and ended up having to give first aid to many of the runners as the end who were collapsing at they just had about 10 med students trying to man the first aid tent with one doctor. They certainly miss not having St John equivalents.

That said I hope to run it this year again but I would recommend Berlin any day over NY if you wanted a big city marathon with atmosphere.
Jan 2012
3:52pm, 8 Jan 2012
25,394 posts
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Foxy Davy
Having done 4 of the 5 I would rank them - Chicago,Berlin,New York & London.
Jan 2012
4:47pm, 11 Jan 2012
33 posts
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MajorRunning
I have am starting a website following my attempt to run all the World Marathon Majors this year http://majorrunning.com, if anyone else is writing a training blog about Boston marathon I am happy to link to it if you send me the address.
Jan 2012
5:36pm, 11 Jan 2012
8,653 posts
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paul a
Done all 5 - my ranking would be London, New York, Berlin, Boston, Chicago.
Jan 2012
6:03pm, 11 Jan 2012
25,437 posts
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Foxy Davy
opposite views on both Chicago & London Paul but then life would be boring if we were all the same :)
Jan 2012
6:06pm, 11 Jan 2012
8,656 posts
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paul a
Very true - I enjoyed Chicago, especially the hot weather and it is a great city. For me the course was a little dull and lacked the landmarks and support of London.

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Maintained by Foxy
Entries to the worlds oldest marathon open today - this was full in 8 hours last year !!!

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