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    Boston Marathon

    4.5 (49 reviews)

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    Marathon Finish
    Julia S.

    Participants Perspective - Expo... A lot smaller than I expected especially comparing it against other races like Chicago Marathon, Philadelphia Marathon, Kansas City Marathon, and Disney Marathon to name a few. - Morning of race aka start line and shuttle bus... corral and coordination was seamless. They did an extremely good job coordinating and organizing everyone to get on the bus, which corral to go to, there was plenty of port-a-potties, and people for bag check-in. Another heartfelt mention is all clothing that was disposed goes to charities for the homeless. - During race... The marathon organizers had medical tents, hydration stations(Gatorade and water), and hydration stations at least every mile. Spectators were providing orange slices, banana halves, water, booze, twizzlers, and other goods. From start to finish there was never silence since of the spectators were constant and/ or the crowd of the other runners who were joining you at this monumental race. I trained for this race so I didn't find Heartbreak Hill to be a challenge and saved my energy to never stop while conquering the hill. There was no confusion on where to turn and plenty of volunteers to help the navigation. Plus there was constant police presence to make you feel safe. - Post race... Food from finish was a pre-packages bag( Hawaiian roles, Gatorade, water, banana, Merton solid protein bar, and small bag of Cheez-It's). Wheelchairs and medical assistance was strong and present to assist when needed. Plenty of to non re-entry of finish line was wonderful. The There was 2 free drinks for runners of all distances which was nice. Spectator Perspective - Expo...My other half has been to several of my race expos and this one felt organized and official but without as many vendors as some of the other large races. - Organization... Other half felt like this had intense security. There were also lots of blocked off streets that weren't clearly designated so it was hard to get around. On the other hand, the trains were running for free along the course so it was easy to make it to the viewing area even with major delays. - Information provided by race committee made it possible for spectators to find runners easily. The app worked great even with all of the people and service interruptions. The only complaint is that is was impossible to find out what streets were closed until you came upon the blockades.

    Owen R.

    I've stayed at the Charlesmark Hotel (scene of the Boston bombing). Sad remembrance of a horrific occurrence that disrupted an American institution. As a former marathon runner, Boston is the ONE, the goal for any serious runner. I always love seeing the finish line on the pavement.

    The finish line of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street
    Bruce K.

    Back around 1990, I briefly worked for a bank in Wellesley Hills that no longer exists. I happened to be working the day of the Marathon and even back then, it was a big deal. A decent police presence, though back then it was less "security" and more "traffic management." A steady stream of runners all day and into the afternoon. Very cool. Nowadays, the Marathon still follows the same route but the security is much more intense and the runners are more intense too. The Boston Marathon is a huge deal as it should be. It's not just the world's oldest annual marathon (inspired by the success of the 1896 Summer Olympics), it is definitely one of the most challenging. The weather is always an unknown, making even more interesting. I haven't managed to be in Boston on Patriots Day in many years but perhaps soon I'll get back and see the race again in person.

    the finish line
    Ellen L.

    +++review #2100+++ i'd give this race 10 stars if i could! the boston marathon, the cream of the crop, the "unicorn" that every serious distance runner dreams of and chases for years, sometimes a lifetime. i consider it an honor and privilege to have been able to participate in the 123rd running of the oldest marathon in the world on april 15, 2019, which was also my first world marathon major. the expo took place the fri, sat & sun preceding "marathon monday" and it was hands-down the best race expo i'd ever attended! security was tight, not surprisingly, ever since the terrorist attack in 2013, but it moved pretty quickly for me on fri since i went early on in the day. i picked up my bib & tshirt, took a few photos, then proceeded to spend about 4 hrs walking thru the actual expo area, shopping for boston marathon 2019 memorabilia, strolling thru the vendor section, trying new products, sampling some food and drinks from race sponsors. i walked away with a slightly full tummy (skipped lunch since i wasn't expecting to be at the expo for so long!) and a much thinner wallet! unfortunately, i had been injured on and off during my training (15 weeks leading up to race day), so i didn't try to go for a personal best, instead, i just tried to take it all in and enjoy being at this grand race. i tried to think of it as a long, scenic run, in a new place, with 30,000 new friends. race-day weather was less than ideal, high 60s-low 70s and humid, with scattered rain (pre-race), and heavier showers (last hour of the race, for me), but i just took it easy, and grabbed water at every single aid station so that i wouldn't be dehydrated. the volunteers did a fabulous job with the aid stations and i appreciate the race organizers adding extra stations when the forecast called for warmer than usual conditions. the long bus ride from boston common to hopkinton allowed me time to rest and nap since i didn't sleep that well the night before (to be expected for a big race). i wasn't quite expecting to walk ~1.5mi after unboarding the bus until i reached the start line, but that's what my watch told me (in between using the porta-potties and wading thru the crowd to reach the start). i had studied the course well and knew that the first 16 miles were net downhill, feeling "relatively easy" which is good considering most of these miles were in the rural areas of boston, with less fan support. mile 13, the halfway point, marked the "wellesley scream tunnel" with a crowd of girls screaming, cheering and giving kisses to the runners. i knew there'd be 4 challenging sections from miles 16-21, called the "newton hills," but i just took them one at a time, until i finished heartbreak hill, which really wasn't that bad...i didn't even know i ran heartbreak until i saw the signs saying that i'd passed it! shortly thereafter, i saw my husband on the side, so i ran over to kiss him which gave me a boost for the final 5 miles of the race. speaking of which, this is when the rains came and i was definitely tired, sore, and questioning whether i'd have to stop and walk, but i told myself, one more minute, one more mile, and i let the crowd, volunteers, and other supporters lift my spirits to keep pressing on, as the wind increased and rain fell heavier. as i made the final 2 turns on the course, with less then 1/2 mile to go, i ran as hard as i could, sprinting thru the finish, and crying tears of joy when i finally finished. it was certainly a magical moment in my running career. post-finish line volunteers handed us space blankets, water, bananas, and a small bag of refreshments. i loved that the bananas were already partially peeled back for us, and they had stickers to hold the space blankets in place. despite the rainy, gloomy weather at the end, the atmosphere was simply amazing, and i can now say that i'm a boston marathon finisher. it really is everything runners say it is, and more. if you are able to qualify and race in this event, do it, since it might be a once in a lifetime opportunity, one that you will remember for the rest of your life.

    Dancing with pat the patriot well rehearsing the flash, a mob Valentine for Boston!
    Lynn J.

    Being a survivor of the 2013 Boston Marathon, Its fitting to write my 300th review for this event. I live a block from the marathon finish line And watch 2 million people pour in annually. This year, for the first time, I'll be running it To raise money for the US Pain Foundation, and awareness for all those who live in chronic pain, as I do every day now, due to my permanent injuries. The deal: I'm training everyday, through my pain, To inspire others who love in invisible pain, like me. My Yelp Friends can donate a $1, or more, here: http://tinyurl.com/lynnjulian

    Amy K.

    Running is a unique sport. I don't know of any other sport where the average person can compete along with elite world-class athletes. And Boston is unique in that it's the oldest marathon in the United States and the only one that requires a qualifying time to enter. For me, it's like the Olympics of the marathon, and I'm rewarded for my hard work by getting to run in this world renowned event. When I started running, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would qualify for Boston. But once I did, after several attempts, I vowed that as long as I qualify, I'm always going to come to Boston and run on the 3rd Monday of April. This year it was my fourth year in a row, and I've already made plans to come back next year. It's not about "winning" or having a fast time for me, it's about experiencing all that is the Boston Marathon, from riding the yellow school bus out to Hopkinton, to slapping hands with the children lining the course, to sharing my experience with the 20,000+ other runners out there. If you qualify, you have to go. That's all there is to it. Consider it your reward.

    Funny
    Shawn P.

    The Greatest Story Ever Run .... I saw that quote on a poster while there .... I got into the Boston Marathon under the Lance Armstrong Foundation's LIVESTONG TEAM as a fundraiser for Cancer Research. I was contacted 9 weeks prior to the race and I had never run a full Marathon before and I was more than intimated by the prospect. Never the less, I went and all I can see it was next to graduating from Georgia Tech, the most physically, mentally taxing thing thing I have ever done all with being the most satisfying and listed among my proudest achievements. And like most things I have done that were great, I did not do it alone - THE CROWDS IN BOSTON ARE AWESOME !!! Without the people lined up from Hopkinton to Boston I would have never finished - the energy is so palpable that I never used my ipod!! The cheering, the sign, the little kids wanting to slap hands with me ( and I am a nobody ) - the music " Rocky Theme and Chariots of Fire " played on little boom boxes on people's lawns. I totally cramped up and pulled a hamstring muscle at mile 17 miles and starting crying not from the pain but because I thought I was going to have to quit after running further than I ever had in my life - 3 random strangers came from their porches and help me stretch out while i called my doctor on my phone - wiped my face, gave juice, oranges, candy and wanted to take a picture with me and then sent me on my way - Only in the Boston Marathon - 5 hours later I was a Marathoner and a Boston Finisher - this review is for the volunteers and the Boston Crowds - I love you and I will return !!!

    Marty E.

    This a great race. I feel like every marathoner should run this race. This year the weather was the worst it has been in a while. However I feel they did their best to support the runners.

    The exquisite taste of that first beer after finishing the Boston Marathon.

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    Without the people lined up from Hopkinton to Boston I would have never finished - the energy is so palpable that I never used my ipod!!

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    RACE - Run Against Cancer Events

    RACE - Run Against Cancer Events

    3.8(8 reviews)
    1.6 miWaterfront, South Boston

    The Super Sunday 5K was the 1st RACE event I ran in…read more I enjoyed the race course, and was very happy to see some friends along the route once the 5 mile course joined back up with the 5K runners. I even set a PR - shaving 4 minutes off my 5K time from an early January race! As others have mentioned, yes, drivers were jerks, but I don't fault RACE for that. I agree that we could use more detail cops on the route in the future to prevent traffic from driving the course. The volunteers & officers that were there did a great job, especially dealing with some unruly jerk drivers. The party crowd post race was so unmanageable, that I left instead of fighting to get in. I'd even paid an extra $10 to get my husband a guest pass for the party, but it was 11 AM, and we didn't want to fight our way in to get him a beer. (I don't even drink beer, so that aspect of the party was not motivating me to run any faster.) But, I'd still run the RACE Super Sunday 5K again. I just wouldn't buy an extra party pass, since I know I wouldn't use it.

    I'm a fan. I ran my…read morefirst race ever with this organization and it was a smooth experience. I had to interact with someone on the team to change my registration to another date because I could not make the first one - and their service on that was amazing. Much appreciated. The staff at the event itself were cheery and encouraging, and made this a fantastic first time race experience for me. I plan on recommending their races to anyone who wants to run a race in Boston.

    Suffolk Downs

    Suffolk Downs

    3.7(35 reviews)
    4.6 miEast Boston

    This is a review for the concert experience…read more The place is rundown. The paid parking needs to be bought in advance ($37) for an unpaved, unlined lot. One way in. Security was as expected. Checked all bags. Once on the grounds, there is absolutely no shade. 3 food truck options and the sausage guy. For shorter lines walk all of the way across the fairgrounds. Beer sales stopped at 9:30 PM Such potential wasted, as great bands show up. The venue needs to do better and put in a tiny bit of effort.

    I did not expected this…read more My friends and I were there for other reason(Phantom Gourmet Food& Beer Phest). After we stuffed ourselves with humongous quality of food(1lbs burger, 1lbs hot dog, 12 bones of rib). Because of that, we finished our objective in a matter of 30min. Now what? Then we decided to step outside and check out horse racing outside. We didn't know crap about horse racing. Out of boredom, we just randomly picked the horse and predicted which horse to win. Then after one of my friends predicted winning horse consecutively, we could resist the urge of betting. So we did. Some loss, some win. Regardless it was fun. Funner than I expected. Because I hate gambling(casinos to be exact). The pamphlet was very descriptive. For each race, it has reviews of horses and tells you which horse is likely to win. So if you want to go for probable victory, you can follow those reviews. Otherwise, just pick the name you like. You can enjoy only from reading horse's name. They all got very funny names - Miss Glitter Girl, I Testify, She's on fire,etc. Now there are only a few weeks left for racing. I probably go back in a few weeks to enjoy this.

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    Suffolk Downs - Spooky Screen treat box

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    Spooky Screen treat box

    Cambridge 5k Oktoberfest

    Cambridge 5k Oktoberfest

    3.0(1 review)
    1.3 miKendall Square/MIT

    The Race company and director's at Cambridge 5k hold a number of races in the Boston area. Each…read morehas a theme and is unique for it's party atmosphere after the race. I've done the Oktoberfest race for 3 out of the 4 years now and have loved the atmosphere of the after party for the number of breweries they bring to the area. This year, the race was moved into technology square to a move private setting that wasn't as packed from it's previous location by Cambridge Brewing Company. This meant a new course and new feeling for the after party and unfortunately in my mind both were disappointing changes. Positives: - After-Party was roomy, you could sit on sidewalks, grass or stand under a tent if you liked. - Police presence on every turn on the course was AMAZING. - Food at the after-party from Jacob Worth was a great bonus, loved the unique german food and the gift cards they handed out. - LOADS of beer (see below for further explanation) - Lines were MUCH better this year. You could get beer, checked bags, much more quickly this year. -Checked bags were in a parking garage. Sounds funny but it felt secure and DRY if the rain came down. - Dance party and prizes were of course one of the best parts of this race. The Disappointments: - No one could hear the start of the race, all of a sudden we were running - Race clock at mile 2 was 5 minutes behind and terrible for those pacing themselves. - There was only one water stop, this is a beer race people don't tend to be as in shape as for half-marathons. - Course was 3.3 miles and not 3.1, more importantly the new course was extremely windy in the final stretches so you couldn't find the end of the course. People also tried to cross the final stretch to get bags and it was not safe or fun for those sprinting the last few feet. - Beer. I paid for this race for the beer selection not quantity. The amount was amazing but where was Notch, Nightshift, etc? It was only Cambridge Brewing company this year and it was extremely disappointing not to be able to try other companies. Overall, I broke my no 5k rule for 2014 for this race and I'm not sure that was the best call. Although you do get bang for your buck for sure with Amazing friends and company, the things that really set this race apart from the others was the beer fest after the race and without it, it's not the same.

    Samoset Resort

    Samoset Resort

    2.0(1 review)
    0.7 mi

    We have been owners and have enjoyed coming to our Samoset timeshare condo for a few decades. The…read moresetting is storybook - viewing the whole breakwater, it's lighthouse, Owls Head lighthouse, the ferries traversing the bay, seals hauled out on the rocks, and lobster boats heading out to fetch a favorite dinner. To own this timeshare is all about location, location, and location. We have loved coming every year and intend to continue for many more. Rockland has great restaurants (especially Archers) and a number of inviting shops and museums. The unit itself has a comfortable bed, ample storage, and nice furniture. That being said, we sadly report the decline in the units themselves. It seems like each year, the assessments increase and the quality decreases. When we arrived this year, a lightbulb flickered and needed replacement. Next morning, the tub was clogged and needed maintenance. When we took out the trash, there were no extra trash bags. The kitchen takes the prize for the worst designed kitchen ever. Apparently they installed refrigerators that were too large and the door could not open, so they put the doors on backwards. They the microwave doors could not open without hitting the refrigerator, so it is impossible to open a microwave door fully - which leads to a terribly dangerous situation taking out microwaved hot dishes sideways and spilling. I presume their kitchen designer has by now been fired. WIFI is slow to non-existent, blinking off and on at whim. If you are dependent upon WIFI during your stay at the Samoset, do not come. It is worthless. Fortunately, I could use a mobile hotspot, but anyone with a normal laptop is doomed to spend hours trying to make it work. I wanted to set up my Alexa, so I could enjoy my music. Neither the front desk nor the tech support could get it working, so I endured a week without music. I have never had this problem at any hotel or motel, but somehow the Samoset WIFI had a virus - and by the way, it's the only time in years my email got hacked. The heater, which sounds like a motorcycle racing uphill at high speed, goes through a vent in the bedroom which is poorly finished to a tiny vent in the Living area which looked like it was installed by the bottom of the class of a tech school - crooked, unfinished, and sloppy to look at. Very amateurish. In the bedroom, try to plug in a power strip and you will see a single plug with multiple boxes plugged into each - a dangerous and even dramatic safety concern. There are insufficient outlets in all rooms and some are overloaded with three in one plug adapters. The toilet works ok, but flushing is a fine art. Hold down once, and it won't go. Hold down ten seconds, and it doesn't go. The secret seems to be to flush the handle for 3.5 seconds, and it will finally flush. And then, there is the rug. Ugh. Ugly. Awful. And so, as an owner for many decades, I would still return, for the location and view is unbeatable, but the units themselves have declined to the point that the Samoset is no longer worthy to be considered a Gold Crown resort, by a longshot. It has become, sadly, in the words of the Germans, ersatz.

    Boston Marathon - races - Updated May 2026

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