What No Boston Marathon Thread?

[canalrunner]

After the action around the application, it is time to start the race chatter. Last ran it in 2007. For first time am staying close to finish line. Looks like they have moved the expo again.

Marathon
Canalrunner

5k

[purdy65]

Uh.. Yeah! I'm in!

Marathon
Canalrunner
purdy65

5k

[orleansrunner1962]

Nowhere else I would rather be to celebrate my 50th birthday

Marathon
Canalrunner
purdy65
OrleansrRunner

5k

[chunkymonkeymelonhed]

Wishing I was going to be there with you.

You are going to rock Boston Maniacs.

[Robinandamelia]

Marathon
Canalrunner
purdy65
OrleansrRunner
RobinandAmelia

5k

[DJHL]

Did Boston for the first time last year and just had to do it all over again.

Marathon
Canalrunner
purdy65
OrleansrRunner
RobinandAmelia
DJHL

5k

[kaybee]

No Boston Marathon for me this year, but will going down with my husband who is running it. I will do the 5k. I also volunteered for a hydration station for the marathon but won't find out if I got that until mid March. Keeping my fingers crossed - I think that would be a blast.

Marathon
Canalrunner
purdy65
OrleansrRunner
RobinandAmelia
DJHL

5k
kaybee

[Jogger Barbie]

Will be there for Boston #3, which will be the third and final marathon to celebrate my year of being 50. DH is planning to run the 5 K for the second time (he ran the first 5 K back in 2009).


Marathon
Canalrunner
purdy65
OrleansrRunner
RobinandAmelia
DJHL
Jogger Barbie

5k
kaybee
Terrific Whatzit

[ChrisL]

Marathon
Canalrunner
purdy65
OrleansrRunner
RobinandAmelia
DJHL
Jogger Barbie
ChrisL

5k
kaybee
Terrific Whatzit

[canalrunner]

Interesting that the Olympics doesn't seem to be diminishing the quality of the Boston elite field. Would have thought there would be some reduction.

http://http://www.baa.org/news-and-press/news-listing/2012/february/john-hancock-announces-boston-marathon-elite-field.aspx

The other good news is that Samuel Adams is brewing a special batch for the Marathon. Hope they have mine on ice at the finish line. Make that two.

[ian]

Interesting that the Olympics doesn't seem to be diminishing the quality of the Boston elite field. Would have thought there would be some reduction.

I'm not surprised at all. First of all, many of these top runners are not in the Olympic discussion. Second, there's a perfect amount of time (four months) between Boston and the Olympics. Third, these athletes are professionals who need to make a living and would probably do better to win Boston than the Olympics.

[CinC]

Marathon
Canalrunner
purdy65
OrleansrRunner
RobinandAmelia
DJHL
Jogger Barbie
ChrisL
CinC's DH

5k
kaybee
Terrific Whatzit
CinC

[canalrunner]

Only six weeks to Boston!!

Anyone with a weather update? I heard rain and possibly snow with a chance of cloud, wind and sunny periods are predicted over the course of the next six weeks. Temperatures will be mixed with temperatures dropping in the evening and lows occuring overnight. Regular periods of darkness are also forecast.

[Run26.2]

Good luck everyone...enjoy!!

[DJHL]

OrleansRunner wondered if we could pick a spot in the Athletes' Village before the race where we could meet up. I have "borrowed" the image below from elsewhere which I hope is clear enough. There are four coloured dots - green, yellow, red and blue - to choose from.

Does anybody have any preference, perhaps based on previous experience? Last year, I just of wandered around in a bit of a daze soaking up the atmosphere so I am not sure what is a good option. What I seem to remember is that there are drinks and some food available close to the red dot - but I may be completely out to lunch there.

Thoughts - suggestions - alternative spots?

[Robinandamelia]

Great idea!

[purdy65]

Sound great to me, but I have no idea what this all looks like on the ground. Hope I can find the red dot area!

[DJHL]

Sound great to me, but I have no idea what this all looks like on the ground. Hope I can find the red dot area!

Just go to the coffee tent!

I have to admit, when I got there last year, the place was pretty full. I will try and arrive a bit earlier this time.

[DJHL]

Sound great to me, but I have no idea what this all looks like on the ground. Hope I can find the red dot area!

Just go to the coffee tent!

I have to admit, when I got there last year, the place was pretty full. I will try and arrive a bit earlier this time.

You have a good point about what it all looks like on the ground. I have tried unsuccessfully to find photos that might help but no luck. All I can remember from last year was that you had to go past the buses, where you hand your bag in, and bear left behind the main school building. Not sure if that helps.

[purdy65]

I'm trying to come up with a list of stuff I need to bring (or buy there)

So far, I have:

Garbage bags
throw away sweatshirt and pants
shorts - and tights - if the weather is not certain
1 long sleeve tech, and one short sleeve tech.
Hat
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
several pairs of socks
spare shoes
throw away blanket (I really don't want to carry this around though!)
Throw away water bottle
If temps look warm, my fuel belt,
Gels
Garmin
Race day Breakfast (oatmeal and brown sugar) + Juice (I will buy)
Small snack (I usually have dry honey nut cheerios on race day). I don't want to eat anything they are offering @ Hopkinton.

Anything to add?

[orleansrunner1962]

I'm trying to come up with a list of stuff I need to bring (or buy there)

Anything to add?

- Some cash for cab/bus in case you can't hook up with your DH....
- Some form of ID (in case of emergency) -- I have ID attached to my running shoe (sold at RR)

[purdy65]

I'm trying to come up with a list of stuff I need to bring (or buy there)

Anything to add?

- Some cash for cab/bus in case you can't hook up with your DH....
- Some form of ID (in case of emergency) -- I have ID attached to my running shoe (sold at RR)

Yeah, I have a Road ID as well, plus the the emergency contact info associated with the bib (I think I gave it on registration)

Luckily our hotel is right near the finish, so our fall back is to meet back at the hotel.

[CinC]

I'm trying to come up with a list of stuff I need to bring (or buy there)

Anything to add?

- Some cash for cab/bus in case you can't hook up with your DH....
- Some form of ID (in case of emergency) -- I have ID attached to my running shoe (sold at RR)

Yeah, I have a Road ID as well, plus the the emergency contact info associated with the bib (I think I gave it on registration)

Luckily our hotel is right near the finish, so our fall back is to meet back at the hotel.

planning to meet back at the hotel is the best option in all honesty - it's a gong show in the recovery/family meeting area!

[Jogger Barbie]

Anything to add?

My plan (which, FWIW, I also followed for Boston 2009, NYC and this year's ATB) is to wear an old pair of runners until just before I head to the start line, at which point I'll put on my race shoes. At Boston they had a place where you could donate clothes and shoes and I left my old runners there. I may also choose to put on fresh socks when I change shoes this year.

This is partly influenced by the fact that I'm not "in love" with any of the shoes I've got in rotation right now, and it's partly a psychological thing that it's nice to put on fresh shoes just before the running starts.

[Robinandamelia]

Apparently duct tape for the bag to put your stuff in...apparently they aren't that great and known to rip...also some suggest bringing your own small duffell bag and putting it in their bag, but still using the duct tape. I too, am also thinking of bringing a pair of cheap running shoes from walmart to wear and keep my shoes in a bag in case it rains...(i'll decide that when I'm there), so my shoes aren't completely wet before the race....I'd rather do that then wear bags on my feet.