| Author |
Topic: Too Soon for a Boston Marathon thread? |
sandijam
Cool Runner |
 posted Oct-28-2006 12:46 PM
   
I know it's early but, for those who have run the Official Boston Marathon, I have a couple questions:1) I've never been to Boston, where is a good, reasonably priced place to stay? Is it better to stay at the start or at the finish? (assuming I have a drive available) 2) Does a Garmin work the whole race? ie. are there tunnels like Chicago or lots of trees to interfere? 3) Are there pace bunnies? Many thanks
sandijam at yahoo dot com
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martacious
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-28-2006 04:49 PM
It's never too soon for a Boston thread!Stay in Back Bay, near the finish. The expo is at the Hynes again this year so it's only about 5 blocks from the finish and you'll be in the city instead of staying 26 miles outside of Boston. You won't find anything truly cheap in Back Bay but you can find better deals now than if you wait until February. Hopefully others will have some good ideas of actual hotels to try. The big ones in the area are the Sheraton Boston, Back Bay Hilton, Marriot Copley and the Westin Copley but there are about 20 smaller hotels as well. I haven't used a Garmin on the course but there is one short underpass near the end. I don't think there is extensive tree cover at any point on the course so I would think that it would work. No official pacers at Boston but you will be corraled with other people that qualified with very similar times so you should be able to run with people going for times similar to your BQ. If you want to run faster than that, you might have to do some manuevering after you cross the start line to move up in the pack. ------------------
Portrait of a Formerly Vegan Runner When I'm not training, I'm blogging!
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bobscamman
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-28-2006 04:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by sandijam:
I know it's early but, for those who have run the Official Boston Marathon, I have a couple questions:1) I've never been to Boston, where is a good, reasonably priced place to stay? Is it better to stay at the start or at the finish? (assuming I have a drive available) 2) Does a Garmin work the whole race? ie. are there tunnels like Chicago or lots of trees to interfere? 3) Are there pace bunnies? Many thanks
sandijam at yahoo dot com
sandijam: it is never too early to start the Boston thread! 1 - Being that I live in Maine and travel down the day of the race I can't really offer much on question #1...sorry. 2 - I just got a Garmin 305, but used my 201 the prior two years at Boston and had no problem what so ever. Even going under the small overpass near the end that martacious mentions is very insignificant and shouldn't bother your Garmin at all. 3 - And once again as martacious mentions no official pacers, but she is right about being near others running or wanting to run at your pace and you shouldn't have any problem. Good Luck & see you in Boston! ------------------
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Bob
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sandijam
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-28-2006 05:30 PM
thanks so much for the feedback. I'd like to try to maintain a consistent pace so it's helpful to know the Garmin will work. I've noticed that hotels are already jacking up their prices and most of the ones on the Boston Marathon website are already full! I'll check Back Bay. thanks for the tip.
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lindz 214
Member |
posted Oct-30-2006 02:07 PM
I have a question about Boston. I just ran Detroit yesterday, my first marathon ever, and qualified!!!!! :-) Anyway, I was wondering...I don't really want to run Boston this coming spring in 2007. Can I run it in 2008?
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spankee
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-30-2006 02:29 PM
A fall BQ qualifies you for two years so you are good for 2007 and 2008. Some suggest that staying in Cambridge--across the river but close to downtown can lower the cost of hotel--and the metro works well. I stayed in Boston South-- a little rough but I survived. ------------------
When all is said and done, More is said than done
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bobscamman
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-30-2006 04:42 PM
I got my Acceptance Card in the mail today confirming that I am in! It says the fastest 10,000 qualifiers will start at 10:00 in the first wave and the rest of the field will start at 10:30. If you improve on your qualifying time you have until March 1, 2007 to notify the BAA in writing. So I'll drop a line to them later this week notifying them of my better time at Bay State.6 months to go! ------------------
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Bob [This message has been edited by bobscamman (edited Oct-31-2006).]
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altair
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-08-2006 09:25 AM
Back Bay is definitely the most convenient place to stay but anywhere on the Green Line is good and after that anywhere on the T (although some areas are definitely nicer than others!). I've trained on all parts of the course and my Garmin has never had any trouble. The underpass is just that -- you go under a 4-lane road so it's quick and you don't lose signal.
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paulmitch
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-08-2006 11:52 AM
Thanks for the info. If everything holds up, will see everyone there.
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bruno28
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-08-2006 03:31 PM
to those of you running, if you registered online, how long did it take for you to get your confirmation? I applied on 10/29. My credit card reflected the pending charge, but then the charge dropped off the credit card. It was no longer pending, it was gone altogether. I don't know if this means that my registration failed?------------------
me
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spankee
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-08-2006 09:31 PM
I received an almost instance response by email recognizing my application and then about 10 days later I received the lovely postcard letting me know I was in. WOO HOO!!! Your name also appears on the list of entrants so that is a ways to check.
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bobscamman
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-09-2006 07:08 AM
bruno28, as spankee said you should have gotten an almost immediate notification via e-mail recognizing your application and then within two weeks you should have gotten the post card from the BAA telling you that you were in. And of course you can check the web site which is updated constantly now with the names of all the entrants. If you aren't in yet, I would try again especially since it appears that you weren't charged the entry fee.------------------
My User Profile "Keep on Running"
Bob
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dcv2002
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-09-2006 08:46 AM
Can anyone give recommendations for a hotel that is on a T-line since all of the hotels around Copley Square are sold out or are extremely expensive. I would like to stay on the Green Line, but was looking at the Marriott in Quincy which I believe is next to a Red Line stop. I haven't signed up yet, but want to reserve a hotel room in advance. I'd like to see how my training goes first, before committing the money.
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altair
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-09-2006 09:01 AM
Quincy is not inconvenient, but if you are willing to spend $$ then you can do better. If you are willing to take chances with a hotel that might not be the best, then you can get convenience without paying a fortune.For example: the other day I was thinking about the Best Western Terrace Inn in Brookline. It's in a more residential area, a block from the Green Line (Comm Ave line). So I looked at some reviews and some were okay, some said the rooms weren't clean. Ditto for the Howard Johnson's in Boston, near Fenway Park. Nice hotels in Brookline include the Holiday Inn on Beacon St and the Courtyard which is right off Beacon St. In Newton the Holiday Inn is right by the Riverside T stop (terminal station for the Green Line). The Marriott in Newton is a longer walk to the T but an easy drive to the Riverside station. In Boston there are too many hotels to list. But a couple that I noticed weren't on the "official" list include the Lenox and the Colonnade, both of which are in the Back Bay.
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martacious
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-09-2006 09:28 AM
The Quincy Marriott is nice but it is NOT at a T stop. They run a shuttle to the T. I second the suggestion that you look elsewhere since there is nothing to do out in Quincy. I would suggest staying at a hotel in Boston, Cambridge or Brookline and having it be walking distance to the T. There's a Holiday Inn in Brookline that you might want to check out. There are also a bunch of hotels that are pretty close to Back Bay such as the ones in the Theater District.If you want specific suggestions, I could get them but it would take a little looking around to see what they're called now since many have changed names/ownership since I was in the industry. Marty ------------------
Portrait of a Formerly Vegan Runner When I'm not training, I'm blogging!
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dhuey
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-09-2006 02:40 PM
No, it's not too early for a Boston thread. I just qualified in NYC for Boston '08 (but not '07), so I'm even ready for a Boston '08 thread!
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dcv2002
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-09-2006 03:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by martacious:
The Quincy Marriott is nice but it is NOT at a T stop. They run a shuttle to the T. I second the suggestion that you look elsewhere since there is nothing to do out in Quincy. I would suggest staying at a hotel in Boston, Cambridge or Brookline and having it be walking distance to the T. There's a Holiday Inn in Brookline that you might want to check out. There are also a bunch of hotels that are pretty close to Back Bay such as the ones in the Theater District.If you want specific suggestions, I could get them but it would take a little looking around to see what they're called now since many have changed names/ownership since I was in the industry. Marty
I got a reservation at the Marriott in Cambridge for three nights. Don't know if I'll need three nights, but got the rooms anyways since it seems things are booking up fast.
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bobscamman
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-10-2006 02:38 PM
I got my second confirmation card in the mail. This one had my better qualifying time of 3:26:50. Hopefully that will get me into the first wave, not that it really matters all that much.Hey Bruno28 have you heard anything yet? ------------------
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Bob
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PacerChris
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-10-2006 02:54 PM
Just registered - finally submitting to my wife's demands that I not race any more marathons for a few months to try and shave a little time off my qualifier! Oh well - it should get me in the first or second corral (2:53) which is all good. I started in the 3rd corral this past year and was on pace right away so I ain't gonna sweat where they put me!Cannot wait - I had the race of my life last year and I have a plan on how to improve my training a little to take that time down a bit, plus my wife got us a great place to stay this year (again - she's a wizard at that!). For you Boston first timers - this is the prize you've earned for hard work to qualify or to raise money for a worthy cause...enjoy it! Now - let's all think hard and pray for 45-50 degrees, slightly cloudy, with no wind.
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dcv2002
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-10-2006 03:00 PM
quote:
Originally posted by PacerChris:
Just registered - finally submitting to my wife's demands that I not race any more marathons for a few months to try and shave a little time off my qualifier! Oh well - it should get me in the first or second corral (2:53) which is all good. I started in the 3rd corral this past year and was on pace right away so I ain't gonna sweat where they put me!Cannot wait - I had the race of my life last year and I have a plan on how to improve my training a little to take that time down a bit, plus my wife got us a great place to stay this year (again - she's a wizard at that!). For you Boston first timers - this is the prize you've earned for hard work to qualify or to raise money for a worthy cause...enjoy it! Now - let's all think hard and pray for 45-50 degrees, slightly cloudy, with no wind.
1. Where are you staying?
2. That was the weather this past weekend in New York. It was perfect. Looking back at the weather on 4/16 in Boston it seems the weather has been pretty good, except for one day in the 80s.
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gagiii
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-10-2006 03:40 PM
1. Reasonable, no, nice yes! I stayed at the NineZero last year. It is right across the street from the bus pick-up area on Monday morning. I had breakfast in their dining room overlooking the runners lining up to get on the busses. Pricey, but the wife did not complain one bit all weekend  2. Don't know GPS, I used a Polar S625x and was very please. 3. No, but see #2 Good luck all, see you there!!! GAG
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MikeBro
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-10-2006 04:14 PM
I have a really speculative question here, one that maybe no one can answer outside a wilda$$ guess at this point.Looking at the 2006 results, it seems that a finishing time right around my qualifying time ended up being around 6,300th place (that sounds funny, doesn't it?). I'm kinda hoping to be in the first wave (first 10,000 runners, leaving the start at 10AM) and have no clue what the chances are. Not even wondering about corrals or any of those finer details. Kind of a multi-part question here:
* Does anyone know how Boston finishing times correlate to qualifying times? Are the finishing times faster, slower, or about the same? For example, someone who finished Boston in 3:30 would have been most likely to have qualified with a time of a) 3:30, b) 3:25, c) 3:35, or d) Question is nonsensical.
* Do people who get in via charity entries get put in the back, and about how many charity entries does Boston usually allow?
* How many marathon runners does it take to screw in a lightbulb? [This message has been edited by MikeBro (edited Nov-10-2006).]
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bruno28
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-10-2006 04:31 PM
Hey Bob and Spankee,
Thanks for your responses.Bob,
I still haven't heared anything. I even emailed them too. I got an initial email saying that they recieved my registration request amd it gave me a confirmation number, but like I said the charge totally disappeared from my CC. I check the list of entrants everyday and my name has yet to be added. I'd just register again, but my wife will kill me if we get charged the fee twice because I wasn't patient enough. Hey Mike Bro,
I think 3:30 was the cutoff for the two waves. I worked at water station 18 last year and that's what I think I remember the station leader saying. The charity runners are in the second wave and have different colored bibs. ------------------
me
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martacious
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-10-2006 05:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MikeBro:
Kind of a multi-part question here:
* Does anyone know how Boston finishing times correlate to qualifying times? Are the finishing times faster, slower, or about the same? For example, someone who finished Boston in 3:30 would have been most likely to have qualified with a time of a) 3:30, b) 3:25, c) 3:35, or d) Question is nonsensical.
* Do people who get in via charity entries get put in the back, and about how many charity entries does Boston usually allow?
* How many marathon runners does it take to screw in a lightbulb?[This message has been edited by MikeBro (edited Nov-10-2006).]
Finish times are generally slower. Although some people run well, or even PR, at Boston that's not the case for most. Many runners have worked so hard to get to Boston, they want to experience it and savor it. Sometimes that means slowing down to high-five a few of the thousands of kids lining the course or kiss a screaming Wellesley co-ed or against their will as they come through the Newton Hills. Charity runners are in the last corrals, behind all runners who BQ'd. There is a third group and those are police, doctors, John Hancock employees and other connected people who get numbers through the BAA. From what I've heard, they are not always in back, regardless of their athletic ability. None, marathoners don't have time to change light bulbs!
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altair
Cool Runner |
posted Nov-11-2006 10:34 AM
1. I agree finish times at Boston tend to be slower. After doing the hard work of qualifying to be there, a lot of people prefer to savor the experience rather than race full-out. Plus qualifiers are often on easier courses.
2. Bib colors represent waves, not whether you qualified or not. Last year blue was first wave and red was second wave. Each corral has about 1,000 runners -- except for the last corral which contains all of the charity/invitation runners. Boston has thousands of them. While I'm sure there are some high-profile invitational entries that get seeded higher, most of them end up in the final corral.
3. Screwing in a lightbulb is upper-body work. If it doesn't make you go faster, why bother?
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