Boston Marathon tips tend to focus on the race itself. Here, I’d like to share how to make the entire Boston Marathon weekend a better experience for you.
In April 2022, after 16 years of trying to run the Boston Marathon, I finally did it. I ran the Boston Marathon.
The entire experience was dream fulfilling and I cherished every moment.
However, there was a bunch of stuff I was clueless about that had nothing to do with the actual race.
This post is intended to help those headed to Boston for the first time running the marathon and to provide returning Boston Marathon runners with an inside look at what they may add or change to their own plans.
This post is NOT going to touch on the race itself. That’s for another day.
Key Takeaways from the Following Post
- Schedule downtime during the weekend to rest and recover before the race.
- Locate a grocery store near your accommodation and plan transportation accordingly.
- Wear max cushion shoes for comfort and leg support during non-race activities.
- Attend a Boston Red Sox game on Saturday for a unique and memorable experience.
- Arrive early for race day buses and take time to soak in the magic of the Boston Marathon weekend.
Also, check out our other articles in the Boston Marathon Series
- How to Defeat the Boston Marathon Newton Hills | Learn from My Mistakes
- The Secrets Boston Marathon Rookies Don’t Know (But Should)
How Traveling Abroad is Like Going to the Boston Marathon
If you’ve ever traveled to a foreign country, you know the anticipation and excitement.
You’re ready to see all of these places you’ve only heard about or seen online. You want to try everything from the corner coffeehouse rated high online and the bakery with the best croissants in the world. You wanted to experience everything.
Then you arrive at this foreign land, you don’t know your way around, everyone else seems to know what in the world is going on, and all you want is to have a semblance of normalcy.
That was kind of my 2022 Boston Marathon experience which was my first time in Boston.
Now, don’t take that as though the experience was horrible. It was amazing. The other runners and organizers were amazing. The entire weekend was amazing.
However, it was a constant whirlwind.
The goal of this post is to help other Boston Marathon Qualifiers enjoy the entire weekend while also prepping for race day.
Everyone has their own quirks to race weekend preparation so take these Boston Marathon tips and apply them to your own plan.
Top 10 Boston Marathon Tips
There is no way to fully prepare a marathon runner for what is to come on Boston Marathon weekend. But, we can all do our best prep and let the chips fall where they may.
I hope these Boston Marathon tips improve your race weekend.
Tip #1 | Schedule Down Time…& Stick to It
Originally, we had planned to have my wife and two boys come to Boston to experience it. Though I would have loved to share it with them, it was a good thing they didn’t come.
Yes, had they come it would have made the memory that much bigger. However, I could barely keep up with everything by myself. Let alone had I dragged two adventurous and energetic boys.
Though I didn’t perfectly schedule downtime, I knew I was feeling fairly worn out emotionally and physically by midday Sunday (the day before the race).
I ended up tapping out to meet up with anyone as well as going to any more events by noon Sunday. I just sat in my hotel room and rested.
I got lucky being alone, but most first-time Boston Marathon runners bring friends or family.
Make sure to schedule downtime and that everyone is on the same page about it beforehand.
Tip #2 | Before Arriving, Find a Grocery Store Close to Your Hotel or Airbnb
I failed at this but got lucky.
My hotel was about 1 mile from the finish line. Honestly, I couldn’t ask for that much better of a hotel location.
The problem was more so that the closest, walkable grocery store was a Trader Joe’s right on Boylston across from the Convention Center where the Boston Marathon Expo is. That was a bit further down Boylston from the finish.
You can only do so much to try and get your hotel location perfect. Ideally, I would have found a grocery a bit closer.
Why? Twice, I carried a heavy bag of groceries from Trader Joe’s the mile plus to my hotel.
That’s just not ideal.
I should have taken Uber back to the hotel.
The key to this diatribe is to make sure you have a plan for where a grocery store is located in relation to your hotel, when you will go to the grocery store, and a plan to get back to the hotel without lugging a ton of groceries by foot.
Tip #3 | Where Max Cushion Shoes Everywhere
I planned this fairly well as I wore a pair of Saucony Endorphin Speed 2’s from takeoff to Boston until I came home besides race day shoes.
Being that I spent so much time on my feet, primarily Saturday and Sunday morning, having cushioned shoes significantly helped my legs stay as rested as possible.
Whatever highly cushioned running shoe is in your running rotation, make sure to bring them as they will save your legs for race day.
Tip #4 | Lay Out Flat Runner Upon Arrival
I would presume that most Boston Marathon runners will have traveled from far and wide to the center of the running world that glorious April weekend. Boston Marathon tips would not be complete without this one.
Hopefully, the majority of runners did their flat lay runner at home before traveling to ensure they have all their necessary race day needs.
No matter how prepared we all are, forgetfulness can get the best of us at times.
Upon arriving at your hotel or Airbnb for the weekend, the first thing to do is lay out your race day flat runner. Ensure you have every piece of gear you will need for race day. If you’re missing something, you have plenty of time to track it down at the Expo or at one of the many Boston local running stores.
Tip #5 | Knock Out the Packet Pickup and Expo on Saturday
Nothing relieves the stress of any marathon weekend, let alone the Boston Marathon weekend than getting the required stuff done.
Obtaining your race bib, race day bags, and the other items provided to runners as early as possible will relieve a ton of concern and worry. This can bring about a chance to actually mentally relax for a longer period before the race.
Some people knock out visiting the Boston Marathon finish line, visiting with other racers, and getting shakeout runs in.
Though those aspects are encouraged and important, you only have set times to obtain your bib and packet. The other aspects can be addressed whenever.
In a way, I’m begging you to just get your packet done as soon as possible. I’d hate for time to get away from you and for you to waste mental anxiety in last-minute packet pick-up.
Tip #6 | Buy Boston Marathon Apparel Online Well Before the Weekend
For my first Boston marathon, I would log into the website every morning and see if there was some new apparel to buy. Before Boston Marathon weekend, I had purchased the majority of Boston Marathon apparel that I wanted.
However, there were two shirts that I ended up liking when I was walking through the expo. Unfortunately, they were out of my size for both shirts…and I was there early Saturday.
If there is some Boston Marathon apparel that you want to buy that you see on the race website, buy it before going to Boston.
There were definitely people at the Expo who couldn’t find their size in the Boston Marathon jacket and were in absolute tears.
Tip #7 | Go to the Boston Red Sox Game on Saturday
Yes, this has nothing to do with Boston Marathon tips specifically, but it has everything to do with Boston.
After spending a ton of energy Saturday morning post-red-eye flight, I crashed midday. I woke up with like an hour until the Boston Red Sox Saturday evening game.
I had really wanted to catch a game at Fenway, but I was tired and worn out. I told myself I may never get this chance again so I logged on to StubHub, bought a random first-level single ticket, and ordered an Uber.
It was one of the best decisions I made all weekend.
Fenway was magical. The crowd was lively. The energy was invigorating.
Endless random Boston fans and Red Sox workers congratulated me on getting into the Marathon as I was wearing my Boston jacket. Other runners, also wearing their jackets, were made to feel like they were welcome and at home just as I was.
Sweet Caroline was one of the coolest experiences at a sporting event I’ve ever been to.
If you have the time, money, and energy, I highly suggest checking out the Red Sox game on Saturday with your Boston jacket. I promise it will be quite the experience.
Tip #8 | Wear Old Running Shoes to the Start
This doesn’t just apply to the Boston Marathon.
Over the last handful of marathons, I’ve worn down old running shoes to the start. Why? To keep my racing shoes fresh.
Also, racing shoes are usually not that comfortable these days. They are built for racing, not walking around, getting on a bus, or walking around the pre-race location.
Plan on donating them by leaving them at the start. Most races will donate all gear left at the start.
I usually switch these shoes with 30 minutes to go until the start.
Also, keep this in mind for other races. When you feel like a pair of shoes can no longer be used in training, just keep them in the closet to wear to race day to donate in the future.
Tip #9 | Get to the Race Day Buses Early
This was the case for me when I ran the New York City Marathon and the same for Boston.
Though not necessarily just one of the Boston Marathon tips, I felt like this needed to be here because not everyone has run a marathon major.
To say I’m not envious of the Boston Athletic Association organizers is an understatement. You have to get over 25,000 runners and volunteers from the city to Hopkinton. This all has to be accomplished within a few hours.
Needless to say, it’s organized chaos.
Thankfully, I’m always an early bird and notoriously early to everything. My coach said he started to worry a bit as his bus was running behind.
It can’t hurt, save for weather situations, to be early to the buses and subsequently early to Hopkinton.
If you’re a person who regularly runs late, pun intended, do me the favor and get there early.
Tip #10 | Stop. Take It All In.
There are so many memorable moments from Boston Marathon weekend.
My last of the Boston Marathon tips is to do your best throughout the weekend to stop and take in all of the magic.
You worked so hard to be in Boston. This is your victory lap.
Throughout the weekend, I would pause in the middle of the sidewalk or the Expo or pre-race finish lane festival or the walk to the start line. There are snapshots from these pauses that I hope to remember until the day I die.
I would also suggest not living behind the camera on your phone. Yes, take a million pictures. Also, put the phone away and just be in the moment.
Remember how hard you worked to have this opportunity. Now, enjoy it.
Final Thoughts on the Boston Marathon Tips
There are so many wiser and more experienced Boston Marathon finishers out there. Make sure to ask for Boston Marathon tips from them.
Here are some additional resources I found that might be of help too:
Hopefully, these Boston Marathon tips will help you on race weekend. It’s a magical time and good luck out there.
