I haven't done Baystate, but did MCM in 2006. It's a good course, but hills and crowds in the early miles might cost you a few minutes. Really beautiful and memorable scenery though, and the finish at the Iwo Jima Memorial is priceless.

I'm thinking of running Baystate in October ... 1/3 of the field BQ'd in 2007 (of course, a high percentage of the runners were there TO qualify, but still). It's that or MCM.

I've run Baystate the last 2 years and plan to run again this year as I try and get my BQ. In fact I train on the course since I live less than 2 miles from a point on the course. The course is run twice over a 10 mile loop with 3 miles early in the race and 3.2 at the end to fill up the 26.2 miles. If you need a huge crowd and lots of people to run with then this isnt the race for you. If you like having a bit of space and not having to worry about being boxed in this is a nice race. It is really flat. There are a couple very small inclines and only 1 hill you have to run up twice that is only a couple hundred yards long. Another advantage is that it is run in Oct and any time is good for the next 2 Boston races. The last two years the weather has been great. Race started in low 40s and warmed into the low 50s with a little bit of wind.