Forums >Racing>2015 Boston Marathon Thread
Important Dates
February 1st. Deadline to submit an improved qualifying time (to move up wave/corral).
Mid to Late March. March 13th. Bib numbers will be assigned.
Early April. Bib number pick-up card and runner booklet mailed to runners.April 20th. Race day! 119th Boston Marathon
Meet Ups
Poll re Interest in a RunningAhead Saturday Pasta Dinner: http://www.runningahead.com/forums/post/151b7c6315834fe08fc6ca9c07d93aa2#focus
The Course
Map and elevation: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/event-information/course-map.aspx
On the Course: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/event-information/along-the-course.aspx (Details on water/Gatorade, food, toilet, finish area, and ponchos).
Race Specific Pacing and Training Advice
BAA: http://www.baa.org/programs/training-programs/marathon-training.aspx
MyMarathonPace.com: http://mymarathonpace.com/
Pace Bands: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5umeoic9d89hovc/Boston%20Marathon%20Pacing%20Info-2%20%282%29.xls?dl=0
Travel and Hotel
Official: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/event-information/travel-and-accommodations.aspx
Places
Expo at John B. Hynes Convention Center - Getting There: http://signatureboston.com/Attendee/Directions.aspx
2014 Spectator Guide: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/event-information/~/media/Files/BAA/Races/Boston%20Marathon/2014_spectatorguide.pdf (Includes maps of start and finish areas, and the "T")
History
BAA: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/boston-marathon-history.aspx
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon
Media
Boston Marathon Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheBostonMarathon
Boston Marathon Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/bostonmarathon
Unicorn Television: http://vimeo.com/unicorntelevision
The Jacket
Men: http://www.adidas.com/us/boston-marathon-anthem-jacket/S87656_310.html
Women: http://www.adidas.com/us/boston-marathon-anthem-jacket/S87742_470.html
Qualifying Times & Seeding
2016: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/qualifying/qualifying-standards.aspx (Must be run on or after September 13, 2014).
Recent Wave/Corral Cut Offs: http://community.runnersworld.com/fileSendAction/fcType/0/fcOid/107136731612777806/filePointer/107277470013264761/fodoid/107277470013264639/imageType/LARGE/inlineImage/true/Boston%2520Marathon%2520-%25202015%2520Corrals.JPG
RunningAhead Runners
*If there's information you'd rather not have posted in the forum since it's public, I can note "PM" for private message.
My blog is JT Running DC. It's awesome. Guide to Washington DC Area Running Routes. Guide to the New York City Marathon. Guide to the Boston Marathon. Guide to Running Gear. Guide to Running Clothes.
heyitsben
That sounds great! I'll be running my first one this April and would love to hear anything from people who have run it before!
Imminent Catastrophe
There's also the Boston and Beyond group.
"Able to function despite imminent catastrophe"
"To obtain the air that angels breathe you must come to Tahoe"--Mark Twain
"The most common question from potential entrants is 'I do not know if I can do this' to which I usually answer, 'that's the whole point'.--Paul Charteris, Tarawera Ultramarathon RD.
√ Javelina Jundred Jalloween 2015
Cruel Jewel 50 mile May 2016
Western States 100 June 2016
I see that's a private group. Is it active?
I also see you have to email to be added. Are there any "barriers" to membership or is this just a feature of private groups? Sorry for the basic questions, I'm just not familiar with how private groups work here.
I'm sure a Boston 2015 thread will be very popular. Have more confidence, Julia. You're one of the most knowledgeable and sincere members of this site. If you think a thread is a good idea then most likely it is.
I am like a moth to a flame with Boston--I keep going back even though I get burned every time. As a local its tough to sit it out when come spring it's all everyone talks about. So I'm running in 2015 but it won't be my goal race for the spring. Right now it looks like Boston will be a tune up race for VCM.
Runners run
I'm sure a Boston 2015 thread will be very popular. Have more confidence, Julia. You're one of the most knowledgeable and sincere members of this site. If you think a thread is a good idea then most likely it is. I am like a moth to a flame with Boston--I keep going back even though I get burned every time. As a local its tough to sit it out when come spring it's all everyone talks about. So I'm running in 2015 but it won't be my goal race for the spring. Right now it looks like Boston will be a tune up race for VCM.
There's a small part of me that is starting to think I will never be happy as a marathoner until I conquer the hills in Newton. And by "conquer", I just mean "manage not to blow up during".
And, thanks for the kind words. I know Thanksgiving was yesterday but I'm grateful for RA.
I'd be interested in the Boston Thread too. Running my 4th in April. Long time Running Ahead member but never posted before.
uʍop ǝpᴉsdn sǝʇᴉɹʍ ʇI
I qualified but missed the cutoff by 20 seconds. Now I am bitter.
I thought this was it:
http://www.runningahead.com/forums/topic/2efc46d746184260a4b87cce4b777dda/0
Mostly harmless
I just qualified for 2016 but I'm interested. I can thread stalk for the next 18 months while I wait.
"It doesn’t matter how often you do it or how much you accomplish, in general, not running is a lot easier than running." - Meb Keflezighi
I updated the thread. (I'm not 100% happy with the table but I have to go for a run).
Any suggestions for Boston specific training plans or pacing suggestions? I couldn't think of much in that area.
I might just stalk this thread too, I had planned to be running 2015Boston, and ran a great marathon in Columbus last fall to qualify, but then life happened and medical expenses came up and when registration time came....there was no way to pay for it. . I was pretty bummed but I am going to try again this year, so maybe 2016 will be my year.
2015 will be my 5th. I don't know how it ever came to this. The course does not suit me so I don't think I'm going to put all my Spring eggs in the Boston basket.
I think I'll have a decent bib number but for 2015 I'm probably going to run from wave 2, corral 2 so I can enjoy a less crowded Boston for once. It was pretty bad this year from the back end of wave 1.
I'll probably keep running as long as I have a qualifying time and don't think I'd run it if I wasn't qualified.
This will be my 7th time running Boston, not all in a row. I first ran it in 2001. I took a break from it from 2009 until last year and things changed a lot in that time. Part of the change was the increased security in response to the bombing, but part of it was that it was just so much bigger. The logistics are much more complicated now, which is another reason why I don't see myself ever making Boston my spring goal race again.
Last year I took the buses from the common out to Hopkinton and hung around the "athletes village" until my corral was called. I think this year I am going to sleep in and get dropped off somewhere in Hopkinton and just walk to the start--skip the athletes village altogether.
As for training, I wrote up a training plan based on Pfitz 18/70 with VCM as the goal race and Boston coming in the 14th week. I'll add mileage whenever I can but I didn't want to commit to the 18/85 plan. The nice thing about that is the first week of the plan is not until 1/19 so I have some time to build back my base and get healthy and not obsess about training until the darkest days of winter are past.
My training has always been heavily Pfitz influenced but this will be the first time since I think 2004 that I follow a Pfitz plan almost verbatim (except for that little marathon tune up race on 4/20).
I think I'm happier with the table now.
This will be my 3rd Boston. I ran in 2012 and this year. I thought I would be "one and done" after 2012 but after the bombing, I wanted to go back. I was on the fence about running it this year but some friends convinced me. Besides, between running, work conferences, and friends who've moved there, I've actually visited Boston more than any other American city and the town is growing on me.
My goal spring marathon will actually be RnR USA in March so I'm actually already a week into marathon training. My goal for either marathon is sub-3:20. I've done Pfitz 18/85 for my previous marathons. I modified it this time to add some longer speed workouts. I haven't been doing a lot of speedwork during my marathon cycles and I think it's showing in my race times.