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And when I say “Beginner” I also mean me! I’ve only been running for two and a half years and been doing this marathon thing for about a year and a half, so I’m right there with you!
Anyway, with Marathon Weekend here and thousands of runners descending on Boston this weekend, I thought I’d put together a short list that I wish someone had handed me the first time I did a big city marathon.
- Go to the Expo – yes, everybody there is trying to sell you something, however, the expos are very often the place where you can see some of the cutting edge technology related to running before it’s available at your local running shop. If you don’t live in a runner-friendly town like Boston, this might be your only opportunity to put eyes on some really cool stuff and sample different kinds of nutrition. So don’t just pick up your number and get your schwag, do some exploring.
- Tweet-Up – or rather meet-up with runners you have only met through the various running social networks. When I went to the dailymile meet-up last year before Boston, I was afraid it was going to be an awkward, uncomfortable meal, however, it turned out to be one of the highlights of my Marathon Weekend. These meet-ups are opportunities to meet the people you’ve been following online, and talk about running without the fear of the other person mentally checking out on you – runners will listen to your running stories with fascination, unlike our non-running spouses (who, granted, have had to hear the same stories over and over and over again).
- Don’t Mess With Your Food – I made the mistake of changing my dinner and breakfast routine the day before and of New York. In addition, I changed my in-race nutrition as well. Big Mistake. BIG! Nausea hit at mile 6 followed by stomach cramps at mile 13, quad cramps at mile 20 and calf cramps at mile 23. It was a death march, due, I am convinced, to my altered food intake. Stick to what the body is used to.
- Get the Jacket – one of the few things I regret about my Boston Marathon experience last year is that I chose not to buy the official Boston Marathon jacket. After you finish the race and hang the medal up on your wall, that jacket can be a constant reminder that you did something that less than 1% of the world’s population has done. Buy the jacket, wear it with pride!
- Meet Bart Yasso – yeah, that’s right, meet Bart Yasso. The Chief Running Officer of Runner’s World magazine is almost always at the big city marathon expos. He is friendly, accessible and willing to take pictures. Take the time to go shake his hand and hope that some of his running acumen rubs off on you.
- Cab it – if you’re gonna be a tourist (whether it’s here in Boston or any big city marathon), don’t do too much walking. It may feel like nothing at the time, but you’re legs will tell you different as you try to fight your way up Heartbreak Hill.
- Enjoy the Crowd – the crowds at the Boston Marathon are like nothing you have ever seen. Before you even cross the starting mat, the people are lined up. Kids have their hands held high, waiting for a high-five from any passing marathoner. To many of these kids, YOU are just as impressive as Ryan Hall or Kara Goucher. YOU are a marathoner and the crowd at Boston appreciates and respects that. From Hopkinton to Boylston Street the streets are lined with spectators. If you were so inclined, you could run with one arm held high and high-five your way all the way to the finish.
- Don’t Jack-Rabbit – it is really tempting to fly through the first 5 miles of the Boston Marathon – it’s almost all downhill. However, your quads will be taking a pounding that you’ll pay for 12 miles later on the Newton Hills. Running 10-20 seconds slower per mile on the descent will save you 20 – 40 seconds per mile on the climb. Take your time, enjoy yourself.
- Let the Women of Wellesley Lift You – just before you reach the half-way point, you will run through the Wellesley Scream Tunnel. It’s not much of a tunnel anymore since they make the women stay on the right side of the road, but man are they loud (and offering kisses to anyone willing to stop). Obviously, if you are running for time, you don’t want to stop and kiss the girls, BUT I highly recommend running as close to them as possible to feed off of their incredible energy.
- Don’t be afraid of Heartbreak Hill. If you’ve done your training, you’ll get by it. And don’t be afraid to walk part of the hill. JUST. DON’T. STOP! If you can’t run, jog. If you can’t jog, walk. If you can’t walk, shuffle. But no matter what you do, JUST. DON’T. STOP! Once you’re over the Hill, you’re less than a 10K away! You’ve got this! You’ve been training. You can do a 10K in your sleep!
- When you make the final turn on to Boylston, feel the crowd! The crowd support is incredible throughout the entire marathon, but there is something about making that final turn on to Boylston that is almost overwhelming.
- When you cross the finish line, look up at the cameras. Don’t make the mistake I made of looking down at the ground.
- After you finish the marathon, choose where you sit down wisely. You may find that you are stuck there for a while.
- Find the massage area. The massages are free and last year they served chicken broth to those waiting in line. It was the best chicken broth I have ever tasted!
I guess that’s it…feel free to add your own to the list in the comments below. I gotta go. I’m off to the Expo and then a meal with some fellow marathoners! Hope to see you out there!
Run Luau Run 
fabulous advice. I have tears in my eyes reading it. I’m so excited!
Luau may your run be blessed with success!!I hope you enjoy every second of the next 3 days, and when it matters most, run like your hair is on fire!
I am SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SUNBLOCK REMEMBER SUNBLOCK. Even though it is New England and ‘only April’ that sun can be very hot. As Harvey Leonard explained to us in last night’s pre marathon meeting at L Street Running Club (he is a local meteorologist) the sun is just as powerful in April, two months before the solstice as it is in August, after the solstice although the air is cooler.
Have so much fun and yes enjoy every blessed moment. You have worked so hard to get to this point and now it’s fun time!
See you at the finish line at 3:10. I’ll be in the viewing area in front of Marathon Sports. I’ll see if the BU photo journalism student can get a photo of you if you are coming down the left hand side of Boylston St. If not, I know the cameras will be on you!
Have fun and God bless.
Thank you Mary, an excellent reminder! Sunblock is definitely a good thing to have (along with a cap of some kind).
Great advice! I hope you have a fantastic race. I’m so excited for everyone! I made the pre-race and in-race nutrition mistakes that you experienced in the past and man did I pay for it. Ugh. Lesson learned!
Looking forward to hearing how Boston went!!
Have a super time!
Good Luck and sounds like this one will be even better with all the lessons learned from last year!! Have a blast!!!
Great advice! I’ve been reading so much I just hope to remember it all – espec. your cue to look UP at the camera.
Gotta remember that one.
Great advice, and you’re getting me excited for Monday. See you there!
Awesome advice. Good luck to all the first timers coming to Boston! Enjoy everything the marathon has to offer over the weekend! Feed off the crowds and enjoy the ride!
I wish you all GOOD LUCK! I wish one day I’ll have the chance to participate at a big city race like Boston:)
You keep at it and you will some day.
Thanks man! My first-shooting for 333-357 im in Wave 1 coral 9 #8202
Oh man! You didn’t buy the jacket?! AND you looked down at the ground?! Well … at least you learned from your mistakes.
Have a FANTASTIC race, buddy!
I know, right? Lessons learned…hopefully we’ll see you at the Hootenanny!
Good list! I did my first Boston last year and managed to follow most of the rules, though I was not on Twitter yet so no Tweet-up. That would have made the weekend for sure. Next time….
A couple extra guidelines that helped me were…
1. Get the lay of the land upon arrival… figure out where the bus pickup is for your trip to the start in Hopkinton, and put together a plan for how to get there the morning of the race (walk, subway, cab, etc.)… and get to the bus pickup early.
2. I decided to request a hotel room with a microwave and fridge, and then did some shopping at the nearby Trader Joes and Whole Foods. That helped me to maintain a reasonable food intake before the race. Afterwards, of course, eating/drinking anything and everything is half the fun! (and that thought helped power me over the Newton hills and to the finish!)
Have a terrific time, you’ve earned it!
Ooo! Those are both good ones! Thanks Barb!
One more: Stop by the Team Hoyt table at the expo. Pure inspiration!
Without a doubt!
[…] Luau’s Beginner’s Guide to the Boston Marathon Weekend [Run Luau Run] – Some tips for those of you running the Boston Marathon this year […]
I am so thankful to find your blog. I have run ONE marathon and I was lucky enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon when I ran it. I am hoping to get registered when registration opens. I beat my qualifying time by 7 minutes so I will get a head start on some of the people trying to register. I have about a million questions about how to plan the logistics of getting to Boston ( I live in Texas), where to stay (near the finish line? or near the starting line?(should I stay in Hopkinton?) or neither?). Do you have any good resources that I could consult about planning out my trip? Other than your blog, I haven’t found much. Any help would be greatly appreciated
That is a tribute to you that you qualified on the first go – and by 7 minutes no less!!! Wow! Although I don’t have to worry about logistics (I live in Boston), I would suggest staying near the finish. There is a bus that takes all athletes out to Hopkinton from Boston. I would also highly recommend coming to town 3 – 5 days in advance of the marathon if your schedule can accommodate it – this helps you on two fronts: 1. You get adjusted to the environment and time zone and 2. You’ll get to really soak in the Expo and all it has to offer. It is really quite overwhelming. With a 7 minute cushion you should have no problem getting in. Keep your fingers crossed for me – I’m in by a mere 100 seconds! Best of luck to you!
Good luck on your registration. I am still apprehensive about my chances of getting in. I haven’t allowed myself to get too excited about things until I know for sure that I am registered. Do you know how many people they allow to register for this?
You suggested staying near the finish line. The reason I was considering staying in hopkinton, was so I could avoid the bus ride and the long delay. I was also wanting to have extra gear with me during my warmup. Do I have to check in at the Finish line in Boston, or can I drive to Hopkinton and check in there? Is the bus ride mandatory? If I have to do a check-in at Boston, then I will definitely stay there.
I have had quite a few people recommend that I get there early and enjoy the atmosphere.
I think it’s in the 27,000 range. I actually enjoy the bus ride from Boston to Hopkinton…it allows you to talk with other runners or even go inward and reflect a little on your training. You’ll bring your bag of extra gear with you, check it into a bus when you are called for the start and then pick it up near the finish.There is no “check in” other than picking up your number the day or two before the race. Everything else is done electronically. You’re not gonna want to drive back to Hopkinton afterward either…the roads are a mess for several hours and depending on when you finish, certain roads will still be closed. Good luck! Let me know if you get in!
Woohoo! I got in and I am looking for a good hotel that won’t be more than my house payment for that month. I will take your advice and stay in Boston. Thanks for the info.
That’s awesome Steve! Congrats! Enjoy every minute of it! I’m hoping for good news on Monday, but I’m not feeling confident.
per baa.org’s post today, 74 seconds or faster than your BQ time gets you in this year. Quote from the site “Those who had a verified qualifying performance of one minute, 14 seconds or faster than the eligible standard for their age group have been accepted into the race.”
That means you made it as I read it. Congrats.
Hey Steve,
Unfortunately, my 1:40 BQ was based on the 0:59 grace period…I was technically a BQ-0:41. Just motivation to go and get it in the next one! Best of luck to you!