|
Apr 2023
11:24pm, 18 Apr 2023
433 posts
|
mattglen_
That was a great read. Good motivation for Sunday!
|
|
Apr 2023
5:36pm, 19 Apr 2023
2,419 posts
|
Big_G
WW, I know there’s plenty of time but I’d recommend booking a refundable hotel sooner rather than later, from a price point of view. Central hotels get eye wateringly expensive. If you want to stay further out I’ve got a tip, but the compromise is it’s 30-40mins out of town on a tube. But I got a hotel for 5 nights for the cost of 1.5 nights and I booked over 12 months ago.
|
|
Apr 2023
6:43pm, 20 Apr 2023
2,421 posts
|
Big_G
Got my 3rd star automatically added to my Abbott account today, so that’s good news.
|
|
Apr 2023
12:55am, 21 Apr 2023
1,014 posts
|
Maccathecracker
Great write up Big-G and well done on squeezing so much enjoyment out of it.
I got to really enjoy a long weekend of sport, inc the Celtics, the Red Sox and "uk soccer" on TV in a bar ( maybe didn't enjoy that bit so much 😭 ) with a brewery tour thrown in for something a little bit different.
Stating the obvious but for me, it's not the sort of course you can zone out on and bang out consistent splits but that's part of its attraction I guess. Even the downhill start had the odd bump in it. Despite wet conditions, the crowd support the entire route was fantastic and you could hear the Wesley Scream Tunnel before you could see it. The four hills appeared soon enough but unless you live somewhere like the Fens, then they shouldn't be a surprise. Not forgetting the course is net downhill overall. The heavens opened on me and wind picked up with about 2 miles to go but by then the Citgo sign was almost in view closely followed by "right on Hereford, left on Boylston", past the memorials and over the yellow and blue finish line. Takeaways, the whole city seems to get behind the event, it came across to me as a really sport loving city. Everyone I met was so friendly, complete strangers saying "thank you for running". With the travel and expense I thought it might be a one and done but having secured a BQ I'm now not so sure.
That makes ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️.
|
|
Apr 2023
9:31am, 21 Apr 2023
2,422 posts
|
Big_G
Macca, it’s true about Boston and the people loving the race. I had so many conversations on the trains and in bars etc, with local nonrunners who were wishing me well, thanking me for being there, etc. I absolutely love London (not just the race but the city itself), but to and from the expo yesterday there was none of that so it is very different to Boston in that regard.
Speaking of the London expo, lots there with Boston jackets on, me included. I was shattered yesterday as was up for something like 38hrs with only a snooze on the flight, but we landed at 9am, and went to the expo to get that done, stayed awake through the day and Garmin says I’ve had 11hrs sleep overnight. Feeling a bit better today.
I went to the Tracksmith store on Wednesday in Boston but they’d sold out of most things. After the expo yesterday, I went over to the London Tracksmith store but decided not to buy anything. It is very nice stuff though. I was tempted with their London vest and shorts, but it wouldn’t get much use as I race in club kit, so I left it.
|
|
Apr 2023
10:01pm, 23 Apr 2023
440 posts
|
mattglen_
London was great. 05:01:14 for me which is gutting to not get the sub-five I was aiming for. But the race went to plan and overall very happy.
I’ll leave London alone now, having done it twice. Berlin is the next realistic star. I’ll make that my annual ballot entry from now on.
|
|
Apr 2023
10:47pm, 23 Apr 2023
2,434 posts
|
Big_G
I had a tough day today. Even in the first couple of miles the effort was too high for the pace, but I got to half way in about the same time as Boston, which was the initial aims and then I was hoping I’d get some kind of second wind, but it never happened. The wheels fell off and I did a lot of walking, finishing in 4:06. I’ve done loads of doubles in the past, including occasionally 2 in 2 days, quicker than these two races, but it just wasn’t my day today. Trying not to overanalyse things, but probably the flights, lots of walking, jet lag etc have had an impact, but even so I wasn’t pleased with the time as yesterday I was honestly thinking I’d get close to or even beat the Boston time.
I did enjoy it though - it’s obviously a great race, but it was a slog for me today 
If I qualify for both again I’d do them again as it has been a great experience.
|
|
Apr 2023
1:41pm, 25 Apr 2023
2,441 posts
|
Big_G
WW, I know you mentioned not rushing for Boston planning, but there’s a post from the owner of the very popular World Marathon Majors Facebook page that has the below. If you want something more affordable, consider Quincy. It’s not as perfect in terms of location but much cheaper at roughly $170pn, but consider if being about 45mins+ from bag drop will work for you, prior to getting on the bus to the start. His long post is below.
—-
The 2024 Boston Marathon weekend hotel rates a little less than a year out are the worst I've ever seen.
The Embassy Suites near the airport that was $300 a night nonrefundable with tax a few days ago is now $370 a night. Want a refundable rate? That's now $406 a night.
The Royal Sonesta in Cambridge, which I booked during Covid for $168 a night for 2022 Boston Marathon weekend, is now $515 a night nonrefundable and $602 a night refundable.
This includes taxes.
If I sort my Expedia search by distance from Back Bay, the per-night rates (not including 17% taxes, which will add another $100 a night once you get above $500 a night) for check-in April 12 and check-out April 16 are $540, $602, $690, $958, $569, $688, $393, $780, $754, $714, $653, $564, $876, $519, $486, $540, $425, $570, $699, $479, $660, $844, $504, $900, $389, $491... well you get the idea.
I can't imagine what the rates will be in a few months or six months from now. They will almost certainly be higher than this, barring a severe recession. A lot of people don't start searching for a hotel until they secure their race entries in September. Which is becoming increasingly unwise to wait until then to start looking. Inevitably, they are going to experience utter price shock.
After I signed up in September 2014 for my first Boston, I found a guest-house room with a shared bathroom arrangement a seven-minute walk from Hynes Convention Center for $150 a night - in December 2014!
Those days are long gone.
The hotels in the Back Bay are very aware that runners a willing to pay a premium, a HIGH premium for a hotel near the finish. And so the hotels have priced themselves accordingly, which I would if I owned or managed the hotels.
The deals once available a year before the race have basically dried up. I'm sure Boston-area hotels that charged me $110 to $170 a night were later kicking themselves for selling me the room at that rate as the market supported $400 to $500 a night. So I think they're determined not to be suckers again and to try to more than offset whatever losses they suffered during the pandemic.
If someone is willing to pay me more for something I sell, then you can bet I'm going to sell it at that price. I may even increase the price to test the willingness of runners to pay it knowing they highly desire it. Many of us would do the same if we reversed our roles with the hotels.
I'm not angry at the hotels.
I congratulate the hotels for finding runners willing to pay $400 to $800 a night for a room near the finish.. The rates will keep going up every year until enough runners balk and refuse to pay. I honestly don't know what that limit is. Because runners are willing to pay a lot for the experience of being able to walk from the finish to their room and not have to board a subway, bus or Uber.
In the meantime, I'm still hoping to find a better deal further out.
The problem is anything affordable - under $200 a night is a crazy commuting distance from the Back Bay.
The best I've found is a reserve-now, pay later $278 a night, which is a 45-minute Orange Line train journey to Hynes Convention Center (which includes 11-minute walk to the station and 12-minutes walk from the destination station). I've booked this as insurance in case the other rates are just as crazy when more Hilton Hotels and IHG hotel dates for Patriots' Day weekend 2024 become available.
I do not intend to book a non-refundable rate where I pay it in advance with no chance of a refund in exchange for a slight discount. Especially since I'm not guaranteed a race entry with my double-dip BQ minus 2:54. I'm willing to pay a premium for flexibility and the opportunity to not be required to pay until later.
I don't see any announcement on Marathon Tours' website when its hotel portal will go live. Last year, it was late May/early June. The rates are typically much less (like 15% or more) than many top-tier hotels now are advertising it as. The only downside is a cancellation fee of $30 for cancellations prior to Jan. 1.
|
|
Apr 2023
2:47pm, 25 Apr 2023
1,015 posts
|
Maccathecracker
I'd echo Big_Gs advice on hotels. If anyone has a decent time buffer then getting something booked the earlier the better seems to be the way to go. I stayed in Somerville through Marathon Tours (you can just book a room through them without any add ons) which seemed to be the best balance between price and distance to centre. As a solo traveller what killed me was waking up in a double bed and seeing an empty double a few feet away.
Unsurprisingly London felt a lot harder from an earlier distance compared to Boston for me. Surprisingly I was only 44s slower than in Boston. I thought the weather might have dampened the crowds a little but they were as packed and loud as I can remember. Loved London too.
|
|
Apr 2023
3:46pm, 25 Apr 2023
5,917 posts
|
Windsor Wool
Thanks both. Should’ve thanked you before tbh G. Thanks!!
When I said in good time I really meant was that I didn’t want you to rush in to giving advice when you’ve had 2 marathons to run, travel and life to lead!!
You’ve certainly spurts me in to action though. Will get on it. Cheers!
|
