If you're looking for the cliff notes of Boston tips, here I share a few quick ones to review. There are a great amount of videos, race reports, and in depth race weekend articles. Over the 15 years I've participated in Boston, I have researched several resources as they arise each year. Here I share a brief notes section as I wanted to be a little more strategic again in my approach to race the Boston course this year. My strategy wasn't absolutely perfect this year with a 4-minute negative split. Ideally, it should be 1-2 minute positive split. This means I left a little on the course in the first half. However, my body also is not in its peak form as I have been struggling with recovery and injury since my Kilimanjaro Project and racing LAM too soon afterwards. Therefore, I wanted to review how I was going to strategically approach this course given my body's limitations and injured state. I would never recommend starting a race injured; however, Boston sometimes makes us do things we probably shouldn't. I will be adding to this list in coming years. Thank you for reading and if you find it helpful, please share it with a friend. I'm grateful to share my experiences. I am grateful to be able to run another year for my Papa Dog and my Max in the sky.
Hydration starts mile 2 for every mile.
Water and electrolytes provided at every aid station.
Aid staggered both sides of street: first right then left.
Aid staggered both sides of street: first right then left.
Pinch cup, drink, pour over head, don't stop/walk in front of aid.
Mile markers, 5K timing clocks + K markers.
Maurten fueling stations miles: 11.8, 17, 21.5.
Non-caf and caf at each one.
Loss 1275’, gain 815’, net 460’.
First 0.6 has 139’ loss.
600 m finish stretch on Boylston.
Newton Hill grades: 2%, 4%, 2%, 4%.
Newton Hill length: 0.7, 0.4, 0.6, 0.5.
Most well executed is even or 1-2 minute positive splits.
Marked with blue line to mark the measured 26.2 distance.
Hug all the corners efficiently to run the tangents.
Course Segments:
Mile 0-4: sharpest downhill, stay conservative Mile 5-10: steady, cruise it
Mile 16-21: main hills, manage it
Mile 22-26: full send
Towns:
Hopkinton
Ashland
Framingham
Natick
Wellesley
Newton
Brookline
Boston
Last Checklist:
Pack throwaway clothes for athlete's village.
Include throwaway gloves + buff if colder start.
Pack extra nutrition for the wait in athlete's village.
Pack mylar to sit on in athlete's village.
Take bottle with you to corrals to sip.
First hydration aid isn’t until mile 2.
Walk to corrals from athlete's village is 0.7 mile.
Last portable restrooms and urinals right before corrals.
Put name on bib if you want to be called out.
Put protein in your gear check bag for after. Takes awhile to exit finish area.
Take Boylston left turn wide for best race pics.
2025 Weather start/finish: 52/62°, 36/26% RH
My 2025 Boston Fueling:
5:30am wake up - 1 bottle Electrolit
6:30am - 1 Maurten solid
8am shuttle - 1 banana with PB + 1 bottle Electrolit
9am athlete's village - 1 Maurten solid
9:30am to corrals - pickle juice, Vital4u, 1 Maurten gel 160
Mile 3 gel 100
Mile 6 gel 100
Mile 10 gel 100 CAF
Mile 13 gel 100
Mile 16 gel 100 CAF
Mile 19 gel 100 CAF
Mile 21 gel 100 CAF
2 cups every aid station/every mile: 1 electrolytes, 1 cup over head
25g RNWY protein 1hr after finish + 25g RNWY protein 2hrs after finish (includes 10g creatine)
Total 1900 Calories
My 15 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬:
2010 3:28:32 (7:58) 40°/51°
2011 3:33:36 (8:08) 44°/53°
2012 3:32:30 (8:07) 71°/93° *record heat
2013 3:21:17 (7:40) 40°/55°💙
2014 3:29:46 (8:01) 40°
2015 3:25:30 (7:51) 43°🌧
2016 3:35:42 (8:14) 65°/72°
2018 3:44:07 (8:33) 38°🌧💨*record cold
2019 3:30:51 (8:00) 55°/65°, 75% RH 🌧
2020 4:05:14 (virtual) *with Max
2021 3:38:42 (8:09) 59°/70°, 91% RH 🐶
2022 3:27:43 (7:55) 44°/48°, 55% RH
2023 4:42:35 (10:47) *pacing dad
2024 3:28:51 (7:58) 58°/70°, 86% RH
2025 3:25:57 (7:52) 52°/62°, 45% RH
Thank you for reading and your support throughout this journey! See you at Boston 2026.
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