Hello! I finally have my Boston Marathon race recap post ready! This took longer than usual because I took videos as I ran and wanted to have the final recap via vlog for ya. If you ran Boston this year or in the past feel free to link up your recap so we can chat about different perspectives and experiences and results.
1. Scroll to the bottom of this post for my Boston Marathon video!
2. Link to your Boston Marathon recap below!!
Boston Marathon Recap and Results
Pre-Race Boston Marathon…
The race starts in Hopkington and ends about 26.2 miles away in Boston. That means it’s ‘point to point’. So, you have to take a bus to the starting line. It starts relatively late for a marathon – my start was 10:50am. Runners wait in the Athlete’s Village until it’s time to head to the start.
Me: “You brought pizza?!”
Him: “Everything tastes better in a pizza box!”
We had a lot of time to just wait for the race to start and hung out on the bus. I brought oatmeal, a banana, cereal in a baggie and Spark to fuel before the race. I also brought the Boston Marathon race guide, sunblock, a throwaway shirt and tons of nervousness.
Once I was nice and nervous it was time to head to the start line!
Boston Marathon Starting Line & Athletes Village
It was hot this year so having something to wear before the race wasn’t as important as other cold weather years. But you get to the start so early it was chilly. The organization donates all the clothes left at the start.
I was excited and nervous! There was such a buzz around the entire city all weekend. Being at the start took it to another level.
Time to start the Boston Marathon!
Boston Marathon Race Course
I heard a lot of warnings and suggestions about the Boston Marathon race course. It was very intimidating.
Things I heard about the race course before race day:
It’s downhill the first 6 miles
Wellesley is around mile 12 – tons of girls from Wellesley College come out to CHEER
Mile 16 to 21 are rolling hills – make sure you have something left for this part
Heartbreak Hill is at mile 20/21 (this varied from person to person)
Boston Marathon Finish Line
The last mile is amazing. I was really struggling in the last few miles. I walked some of the hills. My neck and shoulders were aching so bad. I didn’t want to walk the last mile but wasn’t sure what I had left. But the crowds were so loud and just being on that legendary course pushed me to the finish. I ran the last mile with a big smile. It was so special and awesome and I tried so hard to try and remember it.
* Boston Marathon race recap and course information video at the bottom of this post. *
Boston Marathon 2017 – finish 3:58:10
Boston Marathon Post Race Party with Hyland’s
Check out the post-race party fun here.
Hyland’s Powered Boston Marathon Team
Huge THANK YOU to Hyland’s for putting this team together and supporting our journey! The 12 ladies on the Hyland’s Powered Team are super amazing and inspirational.
The Hyland’s Team for the Boston Marathon included:
Dorothy – Mile Posts // Jessica Leaonard // Court – Court Ney // Beth – Mellebeth // Candice Huffine // Run Like a Hijabi // Alison Desir // Ilene Fabisch // Miss Lesley Runs // Moyenda Knapp // Nancy Heydinger – and check out this awesome story about her journey here
AND Jessica’s boyfriend proposed at the finish line of the Boston Marathon!!!
Boston Marathon Recap & Results VLOG
Boston Marathon Race Recaps
If you ran the Boston Marathon – this year or in the past- and want to share your recap you can link it here. Click on “Add Your Link” in the blue box…
Hi there, congrats on an awesome experience! Sorry if you’ve addressed this before, but I was wondering what kind of running belt you wore for the race? It looks comfortable and roomy.
Thanks!
It’s from Stayfitrunning.com – use discount code runeat for 15% off.
Congrats on the run 🙂
Just as an FYI, it’s Hopkinton…not Hopkington.
Thanks! I’ll fix it.
Congrats! I have so much respect for marathoners! My kids and I were cheering around mile 16 (Newton-Wellesley Hospital) with very large cow bells, we had a blast!
Living in the Boston burbs, the Boston Marathon would be my dream, but I’m sticking to half marathons for now 🙂 Doing the B.A.A. Distance Medley this year, it was great to run the 5K on Saturday of Marathon weekend in the city…so much energy!
Awesome recap!
Also, just watched your vlog – the weather in LA this year was way better than Boston. Most people I know ran significantly slower. Shoot, I was 18 minutes slower than my goal pace. The other people in my running group where similarly off (one guy was going for 2:52, ran 3:11. Another I think was shooting for 3:15-3:12, ran 3:34). I think that’s why you saw the difference between the two – Boston’s weather is a fickle B. I mean, I had a better training cycle for Boston vs CIM, and I ran 15 mins slower. It’s hard to swallow, but what can you do.
The girls in Wellesley are awesome, right? That was actually the point where I broke out of my fog/funk that I hit in mile 5. That heat kicked my ass.
I keep waffling about what I want to do when I finally decide to run a marathon. I’ve done a bunch of 13.1’s, but I’m terrified of the time and commitment needed for a full. I do know that when I finally get the balls to do this I want it to be a big race. I’ve always thought Boston or NYC would be fun, but now I’m leaning towards Chicago since that’s where my family is from and I’d have a cheerleading squad. Or maybe I’ll just chicken out and stick to 13.1.
You’re awesome for running Boston!
Everything was awesome! Love it. Hey, so could you have slept in a little while longer and caught a shuttle at 8 or 9am? I think I think I’d go crazy waiting for almost 5 hours.
Never in my life have I had the desire to run a marathon, but all of the awesome Boston reviews/recaps make me think maybe one day I need to put it on the table. I’d definitely have to pick a race where there are lots of 5+ hour finishers, because running alone for 6 hours sounds terrible… but it does make me think about it.
I go to graduate school with Caroline Heydinger- Nancy’s daughter. She is the NICEST woman you’ve ever met and was so excited about her mom running again. Thank you for posting her story! It sounds like you had such a great attitude About the race and had a fantastic experience. You’re looking very fit as well!
Ah! I love that! Thanks for reading Zoe 🙂
Congratulations on an Amazing Race (pun intended)! Well done! You look so fit and slim. Care to share your secrets on training for a marathon and not gaining weight? That seems to be my biggest issue when training for long distances.
Yeah, it’s so frustrating that training for a marathon makes most people gain weight! What the heck?! I think I have a post on it somewhere I’ll look for… but before I find that I suggest making sure you’re hydrated and refueling well after (and the day after) a long run so you’re not staying in a hungry place.
Congratulations that looked amazingly fun! Wow no pain the next day? Do you take meds after or is your body just used to the distance by now?
Yeah, I think my body is pretty used to the distance. I felt like my legs were tired but not sore.
Thanks so much for the recap! And congrats! I hope to get a BQ this year….or at least next year so watching your video is very inspiring.
Congrats! I think my dream race is the first one I do post-baby! I’m easing back into running – running a few days a week, lifting, and doing yoga, but the day I complete 13.1 or 26.2 will be really cool.
Very cool! That is a big hill to climb – super inspirational to do a post-baby race <3
Congrats Monica! Loved the Boston post, it was nice to see Vegas make an appearance at the end:)
Ha! I know he has some good timing 🙂
Congratulations! Thank you for sharing this experience with us!
Thank you for following along! I appreciate it 🙂
Congrats on an amazing race! I know this is off subject but you are looking awesome and super fit! What is your secret? (other than running)
Thanks! It’s a combination of trying to eat healthier and doing Beach Body workouts a few times a week.
Hi, I really want to know if this lived up to your expectations and whether you now have peace having run it. Or are you still desperate to qualify? I traveled all the way from Australia to run it last year as a qualifier, and while the overall experience was worthwhile, the time the race starts and the course (elevation profile) both suck in my opinion. Definitely a one and done for me, and not just because of how far I had to travel to get there. It was my worst time for a marathon – 30 mins slower than my qualifier, which was disappointing given my training – I ran a half marathon PR a couple of weeks earlier and a marathon PR on a flat course 8 weeks later.
It lived up to the expectations! But yeah, I’m still desperate to qualify. I don’t need to run the race again – I agree it’s a hard course and the late start time is challenging (I’m a first thing in the morning runner). I just want to qualify for myself but probably wouldn’t be able to afford running Boston because of the flight/hotel/entry/etc.
Good luck, with your natural ability you will definitely get that qualifier.
Congrats Monica! Amazing finish time, I tear up reading about the crowds & how they helped you finish the last mile, one of my gf also ran she was about 15 minutes behind you & just loving listening to the stories. I hope to one day experience the same, even if it’s just to watch live!! You’re looking FAB btw 🙂
Thanks! Congratulations to your friend!!
yay congratulations again !!
Thank you Krista 🙂
I ran Boston 3 times. Your assessment is accurate by my experience as well. The hills are not bad, just the timing of them are. And I agee, the Citgo sign is deceptive, you have about 6 miles left to run when you see it.
I’m glad you agree, especially because I’ve only done it once and it’s hard to remember every single thing. Yeah- the hills, timing! And a few people described the Citgo sign to me and said when you see it you know you’re almost there… I was like “Hey!?! that is still far!!”
So fun reading about your experience! I might never get to run the Boston Marathon so it’s nice to know your personal journey through it.
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
If you want to run it – you should go for it!!