The Boston Athletic Association has added a 10k race to its competition offerings. The Inaugural…read moreBAA 10k was staged with the professionalism and precision you would expect from the group that organizes one of the most famous marathons in the world. While the weather was lousy (95% humidity!), the race was excellent. The Course: The course begins on Charles Street between the Public Garden and the Common (if you've run the Tufts 10k, it's the same start/finish). The course goes out to BU on Commonwealth Ave. and Bay State Road, then features a hairpin turn at the 5k mark to return via Comm Ave. I never realized until I ran this race, but Comm Ave is pretty dang hilly along the BU campus. They have a timing mat in advance of the finish line that allows the emcee to announce runners as they cross--pretty cool. I don't know if they announced me because I was too busy looking for a place to lay down and die (see: 95% humidity). The course also featured a few hallmarks of what I consider a well-organized race. Every mile was marked and featured a digital clock with the gun time. Water stations were plentiful and increased in frequency toward the end of the race. The race was completely chip timed. And they staggered the start beautifully to prevent course over-crowding. People self-selected into gates by anticipated pace, then the gates were released in three waves four minutes apart. This is the first race I've run with a hairpin where I did not have to walk the turn due to crowding. The Extras: If there's one place where the BAA 10k loses points, it's the post-race festivities. They did have bagels, bananas, and other snacks for runners, but on the whole there wasn't much to see and do after the race. In fairness, the reason to race is not to get a bunch of free crap from advertisers afterward, so I won't knock stars for that. I will say I wish water were available closer to the finish line, especially given the weather. The t-shirt, on the other hand, is fabulous. It's an Adidas performance shirt that has the texture of a Smartwool. Love it. The $40 entry fee was worth it just for this t-shirt.

The BAA 10k is a fun run around Boston. It starts in between…read morethe public garden and Boston Common, just like the BAA 5k. It runs all the way down to Boston University, makes a u-turn and runs back to the start. THE DEAL: if you sign up for the BAA 5k, 10k and half marathon, they give you a special Distance Medley medal and bibs for each race.

Fantastic experience (mostly, I'll get to the one sort of bad part) this marathon was everything…read morethat everyone said it was. Amazing crowd support the entirety of the course. The city embraces this race from the start of the weekend till the day after it's over, just walking around town the Tuesday after the ran so many random people congratulated me for completing the marathon. The fan experience and expo events going into race week were solid. The course has some rolling hills in the first 10-12 miles but nothing too bad, I didn't think Heart Break hill was as bad as everyone made it out to be, but once you done a bunch of small rolling hills & you get to that would part around the time you're close to hitting the wall I can see how it feels brutal to some people. Very easy to get to the shuttle bus area in Boston Commins/Garden via the T (metro subway) the only grip I had was with the boarding process which many repeat runners of this event said they changed from previous years. It ended up taking an hour from our listed arrival time to actually board the bus then head over to athletes village. We still arrived at the village with plenty of time to spare to make it to our starting corrals, & actually it wasn't entirely terrible that it took so long to load the bus because Boston Common felt a little warm from the sun we were waiting in despite it being 45° at 9am, when we got to athletes village it was 39° and windy so spending an hour less at the village ended up being a plus.. If I ever got the privilege to run the Boston marathon again I'd totally do it in a heart beat.

Patriots Day. Hopkinton to the Boston Marathon finish line. Wellesley College Scream Tunnel. The…read moreNewton Hills. Fenway Park. Citgo sign. Heartbreak Hill. Right on Hereford, Left on Boylston. Unicorn. Abbott Marathon Majors Six Star achievement medal. I had the privilege of running the Boston Marathon not too long ago and it was one of the most amazing race experiences I ever had. The city is all in! The days leading up to the marathon are filled with events, pop up shops and events, and marathon mayhem. There is so much to see and do its almost marathon overload. I was almost exhausted before even getting to the start line. I was on an adrenaline rush the whole time I was there. I would not change a thing. The course itself is challenging but very doable as long as you put in the training and are aware of the cutoff time to complete the 26.2 miles to earn an official time and forever be in the record books as a Boston Marathon finisher. The day I ran it was sunny and warm which was just right for me, while others struggled with the warm conditions. You never know on race day here as weather can get hot, or be cold and rainy. Prepare for anything, which I did. Oh, and the crowd support is wonderful. The locals really appreciate the runners. The granddaddy of marathons it never disappoints. Historic and iconic.

Chalk another one up for the Somerville Road Runners, a non-profit (maybe?) that consistently…read moreprovides us novice runners with opportunities to shed our Nike Plus and strut our new tech shirts. The Gobble x 3, or the "Turkey Trot" for those in the in, is the annual Thanksgiving morning 4-mile race, a.k.a. an excuse to load up on mashed potatoes and pie without guilt. The course is great--the largest hill is at the front end, all the better to warm up fast and glide through the cold air, and every subsequent hill is rewarded with a downhill slope, including a final glorious descent to the finish line. It's understandably not as costumed as the Halloween Superhero 5K, but everyone loves a little whimsy, so throw on that turkey hat with pride. Register early, as it sells out quick (2500 person limit); the $25 registration fee will include a warm long-sleeved tee-shirt that, when worn, will cement your status as a Somerville elite. P.S. Go easy on those Starbucks employees. They're not nearly as grumbly as they have reason to be, considering that they have to work on Thanksgiving amidst 2500 stretching runners. Tip generously, even if you're just in there to use the bathroom.

One of my favorite races! The Somerville Road Runners do a bang up job with this one. It's…read moresupremely well-organized. I recommend picking up your race packet the day before at Marathon Sports, but even if you do it race day at Harvard Pilgrim in Davis, it won't be a problem. The results are posted almost immediately at the race itself and online shortly after. The Gobble x 3's got an interesting, challenging course with a downhill finish, and I appreciate the digital race clocks at each mile marker. The race is fully chip timed. This year, they moved to the timing strips in the bib, which was so convenient and easy (nothing to return!). My only suggestion for improvement would be to charge a bit more for the race entry fee so they can provide tech shirts. I do like my long sleeved Gobble tees, but any serious runner is going to avoid an all cotton top for running. I'd love to have a souvenir to inspire me on my training runs for next year.

If you're looking for a Race, don't use this organization. I will never run a race sponsored by…read morethis Spartan. I recently ran the Golden Gate Trail Classic- 50mile. First, Spartan threatened they would raise the price about 6 weeks before the event. So I made sure I registered before that. 1 day after they were to raise the price, they lowered it 40%. I complained with multiple emails. (You can't call them, they don't have a CS Ph#.). Waste of time. I guess more people are on to this company and their shakey race organization. Only 63 people registered for this event. I finished the race, & feel good about that accomplishment. But I have a bad opinion of this co.. They didn't even try to appease me by offering something back on the extra I --or the other early registration idiots-- had to pay.

Ordered a climbing rope from their shop, after a 3-week delay waiting for it, Spartan's shipping…read morepartner sent me a message saying it had been "Delivered", but it hadn't. Numerous emails to their customer service department were ignored and moved to "Case Closed" by someone named Kristen. They won't refund my money.

Predatory refund policies (in EXTREMELY fine print in a two page waiver). Beware. Will cancel your…read morerace MONTHS in advance for non-COVID reasons and not fully refund or give a complimentary entry to another race.

Eddie O's races are the best. Most of the races take place in Cambridge, hence the name of the…read moreorganization. However, in recent years he has started adding some creative races in the Greater Boston area that are quite fun as well. His website gives a great preview to all the fun that takes place at the races. You can sign up through the website using Race Menu. A few days before the race, you pick up your bib number and t-shirt. I can't remember a time where I've picked up a bib number and not seen Eddie there greeting people and getting to know race participants. The t-shirts are fantastic, super soft and end up being a part of my summer casual wardrobe. Race day is well organized, especially as he has a few races under his belt. All the necessary items for a successful race are there: 1. Bag check - still recommend packing light and running with keys, license, etc. There are plenty of volunteers helping with bag check station before and after the race. 2. Water stops along the way and snacks at the end. Eddie has done a good job creating sponsorship opportunities and getting water, bananas, and energy bars in the hands of runners. Usually he has some pizza show up as well. 3. Volunteers along the race route provided encouragement and directions at major intersections. The roads of Cambridge are blocked off, so you can run freely and safely. 4. Dance-off (how many other races have a dance-off)....which is influenced by the most important thing..... 5. And that is the BEER. Eddie has brought in wonderful local craft brewers who keep the beer flowing for hours. Cambridge Brewing Company, Night Shift, Notch, Slumbrew, and Pretty Things are all regular contributors to the imbibing. I've been running these races since the first Oktoberfest a few years ago and they've only gotten better over the years. As of now he has the following races scheduled: 1. Freedom Run - near Galleria around Memorial Day 2. Sasquatch Trail Run at Middlesex Fells/Stone Zoo in July 3. Big Bad Wolf - 5 mile race in Ipswich 4. Oktoberfest - Cambridge Brewing Company in Kendall Sq. in early October 5. Yulefest - Harvard Sq race in early December The race themes usually lead to some inventive costumes from race participants. Overall, it's a great race experience and if you are looking for some fun 5Ks to run during the year, look no further.

This is a great summer 5k! The course is very flat, and the after party is second to none! The DJ…read moreis incredibly entertaining and there is a great selection of local craft breweries on hand to help you hydrate after the run. The director even gives you parking passes for the Galleria when you pick up your bib early so you don't have to worry about paying to park during the race or while you pick up your bib and shirt!