Happy Friday!
For this week’s Fit Five Friday I’m sharing my race recap from one of my favorite races – Boston’s Run to Remember!
Boston’s Run to Remember 5-Miler Race Recap
Boston’s Run to Remember is held annually on the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend as a tribute to fallen 1st Responders. Proceeds from the race benefit local youth and community programs supported by our 1st Responders and several local charities, including the Alzheimer’s Association, Cops for Kids With Cancer, Muscular Dystrophy, the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, and Sole Train (a youth mentoring program). The race features both a half marathon and a 5-mile option. In fact, it was my first half marathon ever! It’s definitely a sentimental favorite 🙂
After being virtual for the past two years, I was happy to see this race return, even in a more scaled-down fashion. While Boston’s Seaport World Trade Center has always served as the host for the race expo, this year the Center is under a major renovation so there was no expo. I didn’t really miss the expo, and actually really appreciated the satellite locations they set up for bib pick up. It was nice to swing into a local running store and pick up my bib and t-shirt vs driving into downtown Boston on a holiday weekend! The one aspect of the expo I did miss, however, was seeing the memorial banners with the list of all of the names of fallen 1st responders and some photos that were always on display – a great reminder of what the race is about.
Race Day
With a 7 am start, I was up and out the door by 5:30. My husband J offered to come with me and was a real trooper getting up so early on a Sunday. The ride into the city was easy and we decided to park at the Seaport Hotel, which was right near the starting line. We had parked there for previous races – it’s a little pricey, but you can’t beat clean indoor bathrooms and the comfortable lounge where we could hang out until the start.
About 10 minutes before the start I said goodbye to J, passed through the security barriers, and worked my way up into the middle of the 2nd wave. Following the singing of Amazing Grace and the National Anthem, Wave 1 was off.
Ready to run!
A couple of minutes later, my wave followed. Unfortunately, there were none of the usual pace markers for runners to self-seed so the start was chaotic – I spent most of the first half mile dodging and weaving until I could finally find some open space to settle into my run. I had planned to use the run/walk intervals (6:30 run; 45 sec walk) I’ve been using for the past few months, but in trying to find space in that first mile I decided to just get past the first-mile marker before switching to the intervals.
The 5-mile course winds through the streets of Boston, starting and ending along Seaport Boulevard. The course runs out along the waterfront and then takes runners past Faneuil Hall, through Beacon Hill, then past the Public Garden before looping through the financial district and returning to the waterfront. It’s a great tour of the city and I was happy to be feeling really good so I could enjoy it. With the cluster of runners stretching out after the first mile, miles 2 – 4 seem to click along. I spent most of the race playing leap frog with a team of runners from a local high school and fed off of their energy.
As we made the left turn on Atlantic Ave heading back to the waterfront, I made a final push over the bridge, putting some distance between me and the team. Just then I heard J call my name just as I hit the final stretch towards the finish line.
Recapping Boston's Run to Remember 5 Miler #FitFiveFriday #Bibchat #BostonRunning Click To TweetThere were plenty of volunteers on hand to hand out medals and water. Runners were asked to continue down Seaport Blvd. towards a park a couple of blocks down where they could reunite with family. There were more volunteers handing out snack bags with a mix of granola bars, dried fruit snacks, and Oreos.
Overall this race is always really well done and it was a lot of fun to get back out on this course. As I have often said, if you ever plan to be in Boston on Memorial Day weekend, I highly encourage you to register for this one!
Do you have a favorite race?
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Great recap. I see why you love this race.
And yes I run the Freihofer’s run for women each year.
It’s nice to have one race you look forward to.
I’m glad the race went so well for you! It sounds like a great route.
Nice job! I love races that honor our fallen heroes! Great photo capture 😉
mm. Oreos!
While I had fun at the Cherry Blossom Expo, I could generally do without. Or at least not need to go to get bib, shirt but have the option if you want to shop
I need to put this race on my list
That looks fun! I have a bunch of favorites including NYC Marathon, Shamrock Shuffle, (new) Chicago 13.1 that was just this weekend. And some fun smaller local ones.
Congratulations! Sounds like you ran a strong race and had a good time. What more could you possibly ask for? It does seem like a great race- I would love to run it (on the slim chance that I’m ever in Boston on Memorial Day!)
How great that this was your first half! And I’m with you, being able to pick up a bib at a local running store is a real treat — especially trying to get into Boston!
That sounds like a fantastic course. Although it’s been many years since I’ve been in Boston, this post brings back some fond memories!
Congrats on a race well run & also congrats to J for being your chauffeur!
Yay so glad you got to do an in person race again! Congratulations! I need to add a Boston race to my schedule! I did a Ragnar once but that doesn’t count!
This sounds like a race I’d want to return to every year! I do love the 5 mile distance and it’s fun to do a race that highlights the city. Nice job!
Great job, Michel! I like 5 mile races too but there aren’t too many of them here. I did the half marathon a few years ago and also enjoyed it. And yes, the Seaport Hotel is a great place since it is right next to the start line. When I went I was to stay in a different hotel since the Seaport was booked but a few days before the race I got a call that there was a room available for me. I also can do without an expo. But it mainly because there really isn’t anything I need.