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 16 years I've participated in Boston, I have researched several resources as they arise each year. Here I share quick bullet points to reivew. I usually review it myself race week for my visualization then again on the shuttle bus ride to Hopkinton. My 2025 strategy wasn't ideal with a 4-minute negative split. My 2026 strategy had an 8-minute negative split. Ideally, the Boston course should be about a 1-2 minute positive split. This means I left time on the course in the first half. However, my body has not been able to reach its peak marathon form for 13 months (post EVM 2024 marathon PR at age 40). I have been struggling with reoccurring hamstring injuries and I know exactly why -- I raced LAM too soon after my Kilimanjaro Speed Climb climbing 15,000' to the summit in 17 hours where others do it in 6-8 days. I have not given my hamstrings enough time in between goal races to fully heal and it has been a huge struggle for 13 months. I'll share more on how I navigated this reoccurring injuries in the last 13 months and 5 goal race road and mountain races during this time. I did have to pull out (DNS) of Chicago and EVM last fall 2025.
I would never recommend starting a race injured; however, Boston sometimes makes us do things we probably shouldn't. Thank you for reading and if you find it helpful, please share this link 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 pups 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.
My 2025 Boston Fueling:
5:30am wake up - 1 bottle Electrolit
6:30am - 1 Maurten solid
8am shuttle - banana, PB, bottle
9am athlete's village - 1 solid
9:30am to corrals - pickle juice, Vital4u, Maurten 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
2 RNWY protein packets (includes 10g creatine)
Total 1900 Calories
My 2026 Boston Fueling:
5:30am - wake up 1 bottle Electrolit
7:30am - shuttle line 1 honeystinger
8:30am - shuttle ride 1 Maurten bar + 1 bottle Electrolit
10am - corral walk: Chargel, pickle juice, colostrum, IQ bar, vital4u, Electrolit
Start - Maurten 160
Mile 7 - Maurten 160
Mile 12 - Maurten 100
Mile 16 - Maurten 100 CAF
Mile 20 - Maurten 100 CAF
Mile 23 - Maurten 100 CAF
Finish - 2 RNWY protein packets
TOTAL ~1700 Calories
My 16 𝐁𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬:
2010 3:28:32 (7:58) 40°/51°
2011 3:33:36 (8:08) 44°/53° - tailwind year
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
2026 3:26:32 (7:53) 44F/49F, 56% RH - tailwind year
Thank you for reading and your support throughout this journey! See you at Boston 2027.
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