2017 Boston Marathon - 90+ Runner, Volunteer and Spectator Recaps

The Boston Marathon has thousands of stories to inspire you. If you were a runner, volunteer or spectator and wrote a recap, please share your link in the comments (posted after approval) and we'll add your link to our list of recaps.

90+ Boston Marathon Recaps (listed alphabetically by blog or website)

Boston Marathon Recap – 2017

allisonbarr.wordpress.com/2017/04/24/boston-marathon-recap-2017/

#257: 2017 BOSTON MARATHON RECAP - Another Mother Runner
anothermotherrunner.com/2017/04/21/257-2017-boston-marathon-recap/

My Boston Build-up as Told on Instagram - Esther Atkins on AthleteBiz
athletebiz.us/blog/my-boston-buildup-as-told-on-instagram/

O&P student completes third Boston Marathon - Baylor College of Medicine
bcmfamily.bcm.edu/2017/05/02/op-student-completes-third-boston-marathon/

The Boston Marathon Story - By Jill Geer on AthleteBiz
athletebiz.us/blog/the-boston-marathon-story-by-jill-geer/

To Boston with Love (Part 2) - The Bed Rest Book Club
thebedrestbookclub.com/blog/to-boston-with-love-part-1

To Boston with Love (Part 2) - The Bed Rest Book Club
thebedrestbookclub.com/blog/to-boston-with-love-part-2

Boston Maathon Recap - Bite My Words
bitemywords.com/2017/04/24/boston-marathon-recap/

Double the Fun: My Boston Marathon Adventure - Blind Beer Runner
blindbeerrunner.blogspot.com/2017/05/double-fun-my-boston-marathon-adventure.html

The Greatest Reward: Meeting Brafton at the Finish Line - Brafton
brafton.com/blog/life-at-brafton/greatest-reward-meeting-brafton-at-the-finish-line/

Krys Zybowski Of Avon Finishes Third In Handcycle Division Of Boston Marathon
courant.com/sports/hc-boston-marathon-krys-zybowski-0418-20170417-story.html

“Prove It” by @Bromka
medium.com/@bromka/prove-it-9256eefbd16a

80-year-old Calgary runner logs another fine Boston Marathon finish - Calgary Herald
calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/fortney-80-year-old-calgary-runner-logs-another-fine-boston-marathon-finish

Left on Hereford, Right on Boylston - Carolyn Elizabeth Mueller
carolynelizabethmueller.com/khakishorts/2017/4/21/left-on-hereford-right-on-boylston

Meet the Canadian who ran the Boston Marathon 8 months pregnant - Chatelaine
chatelaine.com/living/boston-marathon-pregnant-runner/

Boston Marathon Recap - Jordan Rose
dashingwhippets.org/2017/04/19/boston-marathon-recap-jordan-rose/

Boston Marathon Recap - Sammy Creath
dashingwhippets.org/2017/04/20/boston-marathon-recap-2-sammy-creath/

Boston Marathon Recap - Chris Weimar
dashingwhippets.org/2017/04/21/boston-marathon-recap-3-chris-weimar/

Boston Marathon Recap - Dave K Jaer
davekjaer.com/index.php/2017/04/20/2017-boston-marathon-recap/

The World's Dumbest Coverage of the World's Best Marathon® - Dumb Runner
dumbrunner.com/boston

Boston Marathon: Oakland Twp. runner gets better with age - Detroit Free Press
freep.com/story/sports/2017/04/16/boston-marathon-oakland-twp-runner-dot-mcmahan/100508878/

2017 Boston Marathon!!!!! - Girl Goes Running
girlgoesrunning.blogspot.com/2017/04/2017-boston-marathon.html

Boston Not Yet Worth - Girl Running Crazy
girlrunningcrazy.com/2017/05/04/boston-not-yet-worthy/

‘Totally surreal experience’: Edmonton woman with rare disorder runs Boston Marathon.
globalnews.ca/news/3401567/totally-surreal-experience-edmonton-woman-with-rare-disorder-runs-boston-marathon/ 

Boston Marathon - Hannah Spicher

hannahspicher.exposure.co/boston-marathon

April Race Recap - Heat Sheets
heatsheets.com/april-race-recap-boston-marathon-illinois-marathon-presence-10k-glass-city-marathon

How running the Boston Marathon helped me let go of my anxiety
hellogiggles.com/how-the-boston-marathon-helped-me-let-go-of-my-anxiety/ 

The Boston Marathon - An Honest Conversation - Huffington Post
huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-boston-marathon-an-honest-conversation

Guiding the Way: On the Streets and in Life
ibm.com/blogs/age-and-ability/2017/04/25/guiding-way-streets-life/?platform=hootsuite

What It's Like to Run the Boston Marathon - Iffley Road
iffleyroad.com/blogs/journal/what-its-like-to-run-the-boston-marathon

What Running Boston Marathon Did to My Health - Inside Tracker
insidetracker.com/what-running-boston-marathon-did-to-health#

Make it Your Moment - JH Extra Mile
jhextramile.com/makeityourmoment/

Long-time Spectator, First-time Runner: Karen McGill’s Journey to Boylston - JH Extra Mile

jhextramile.com/long-time-spectator-first-time-runner-karen-mcgills-journey-to-boylston/

Doug Laufer Boston Marathon - KOAN News Radio
koanewsradio.iheart.com/onair/colorados-morning-news-6691/doug-laufer-boston-marathon-15746220/

La Jolla-based company helps legally blind runner finish Boston Marathon
lajollalight.com/news/sd-running-marathon-blind-20170425-story.html

Boston Marathon Recap - Laura J Kline
laurajkline.com/2017/04/19/boston-marathon-recap/

Boston Marathon 2017 Recap - Legally Liz
legallyliz.com/2017/05/01/boston-marathon-2017-recap/

Week of Boston - Little Runner Girl
thelittlerunnergirl.com/2017/04/week-of-boston.html

Boston Part II: Weekend Activities - Little Runner Girl
thelittlerunnergirl.com/2017/04/boston-part-ii-weekend-activities.html

Boston Part III: The Big Day - Little Runner Girl
thelittlerunnergirl.com/2017/04/boston-marathon-part-iii-big-day.html

Boston Part IV: Post Marathon - Little Runner Girl
thelittlerunnergirl.com/2017/04/boston-part-iv-post-marathon.html

Boston Marathon 2017 Race Recap - The Lone Runner
thelonerunner.com/boston-marathon-2017-race/

Boston Marathon Review - Long Run Life
longrunlife.com/boston-marathon-review/

For Team Middlemiss of Dracut, marathon 'was such a special moment' - Lowell Sun
lowellsun.com/news/ci_30954732/team-middlemiss-dracut-marathon-was-such-special-moment

Boston Marathon - Hot, Hilly, Amazing :) - Magic of Running
magicofrunning.com/blog/2017/boston-marathon-hot-hilly-amazing-

My First Running of the Boston Marathon - Marathon and Spring
marathonandsprint.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/my-first-running-of-the-boston-marathon/

Eye Contact! - Mary Rasmusen Coaching
maryrasmussencoaching.com/single-post/2017/04/28/Eye-Contact

Thoughts from Team MTF about their Boston Marathon experience - Massage Therapy Foundation
massagetherapyfoundation.org/archives/2707

Spectating the 2017 Boston Marathon - Mastering Running
masteringrunning.com/blog/2017/4/19/spectating-the-2017-boston-marathon

The Boston Marathon - Megan O'Brien
meganobrien.tv/new-blog/2017/4/20/the-boston-marathon

5 Things I Learned Running a Marathon With a Blind Friend - Men's Health (Mark Remy)
menshealth.com/fitness/running-marathon-with-blind-friend

BOSTON MARATHON RECAP - 3:16:21 - Michigan Marathoner
michiganmarathoner.com/blog-1/2017/4/25/boston-marathon-recap-31621

Blake Russell, Marathon Mom: Lessons learned from Boston - Monterey Herald
montereyherald.com/sports/20170427/blake-russell-marathon-mom-lessons-learned-from-boston

Sixty Newbury Students Volunteer at Boston Marathon - Newbury College
newbury.edu/news/2017/04/27/1205/

Boston Champ Juggles Marathons, 5 Kids, Kenyan Farm - NPR
npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/04/26/525550556/boston-champ-juggles-marathons-5-kids-kenyan-farm

Boston Marathon 2017 Race Recap - Organic Runner Mom
organicrunnermom.com/boston-marathon-2017-race-recap/

Running Boston: A dream with a finish line - Positively Brie
reportersbriefing.wordpress.com/2017/04/26/running-boston-a-dream-with-a-finish-line/

Boston Marathon Recap - Rhode Runner
rhoderunner.com/news/2017/4/22/boston-marathon-recap

Fits Race Recaps - 121st Boston Marathon - The Right Fits
therightfits.com/2017/04/fits-race-recaps-121st-boston-marathon/

The Boston Marathon Part 1 - The Road Less Run
theroadlessrun.com/2017/04/21/the-boston-marathon-part-1-traveling-to-new-jersey-the-real-world-apartment-selling-sparkly-soul-headbands-and-everything-else-that-has-nothing-to-do-with-actually-running-the-marathon/

The Boston Marathon Part 2 - The Road Less Run
theroadlessrun.com/2017/04/25/the-boston-marathon-part-2-running-the-marathon-and-all-of-the-thoughts-i-had-before-during-and-after-the-race/

Boston Marathon - Rocks on a Fence Post
rocksonafencepost.com/2017/04/28/boston-marathon/

What We Loved About the 2017 Boston Marathon - Run Blog Run
runblogrun.com/2017/04/what-we-loved-about-the-boston-marathon.html

Weekly Recap - April 17 - Recovering from Boston Marathon - Run Canvas
runcanvas.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/weekly-recap-april-17th-recovering-from-boston-marathon/

Boston Marathon Featured Runners Follow-Up - Run Canvas
runcanvas.wordpress.com/2017/04/27/boston-marathon-featured-runners-follow-up/

Boston Marathon Recap & Course Description - Run Eat Repeat
runeatrepeat.com/2017/04/24/boston-marathon-race-recap-vlog/
runeatrepeat.com/2017/04/18/i-ran-the-boston-marathon-and-all-you-got-was-this-lousy-blog/
youtube.com/watch?v=XITtuJDKego&feature=youtu.be

BOSTON MARATHON 2017 RACE RECAP - The Runner Beans
therunnerbeans.com/2017/04/boston-marathon-2017-race-recap.html

13 Reasons Not to Run the Boston Marathon - Runner with Reiselust
runnerwithreiselust.com/2017/05/13-reasons-boston-marathon/

Left on Boyston - A Runner's Sole
arunnerssole.com/left-on-boylston/

Endless Pain, Five Seizures, and 26.2 Miles of Never Giving Up - Runner's World
runnersworld.com/boston-marathon/endless-pain-five-seizures-and-262-miles-of-never-giving-up

The fun story behind the man who ran a 2:35 Boston Marathon in plaid - Running Magazine
runningmagazine.ca/jacob-kirk-plaid-2017-boston-marathon/

The Boston Marathon Recap - Running Boston and Beyond
runningbostonandbeyond.com/2017/04/23/the-boston-marathon-race-recap/

Boston Marathon 2017 Recap - Running Fabulously
runningfabulously.blog/2017/04/20/boston-marathon-2017-recap/

The Run of Champions: A Recap of the Boston Marathon ’17 - Running with Faith
runningwithfaith.com/2017/04/24/the-run-of-champions-a-recap-of-the-boston-marathon-17/

2017 Boston Marathon Recap - Running in T Shirt
runningintshirt.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/2017-boston-marathon-recap/

Boston Marathon 2017 Race Recap - Running Wife
runningwife.com/2017/04/boston-marathon-2017-race-recap/

Boston Marathon Team Recap - Rogue Racers
runrogueracers.com/2017/04/2017-boston-marathon-team-recap/

Recap Boston Marathon 2017 - Sara Bozich
sarabozich.com/2017/04/recap-boston-marathon-2017/

Race Recap - The Boston Marathon - Simple Fit Life Colorado
simplefitlifecolorado.wordpress.com/2017/04/21/race-recap-the-boston-marathon/

Boston Marathon Race Recap - Sugar Runs
sugarruns.com/blog/2017/4/27/2017-boston-marathon-race-recap

Racing with Diabetes at the 2017 Boston Marathon - Team Novo Nordisk
teamnovonordisk.com/2017-boston-marathon/

2017 Boston Marathon Recap - Team Shenanigans
teamshenanigans.org/80-2017-boston-marathon-recap/

Boston Marathon Week Part 1 - Terry Runs
terryruns.wordpress.com/2017/04/27/boston-marathon-week-part-1/

From Boston with Love - Tracksmith
journal.tracksmith.com/from-boston-with-love

Twins Run Boston 2017 - Leah's Race Recap - Twins Run In Our Family
twinsruninourfamily.com/2017/04/twins-run-boston-2017-leahs-race-recap.html

Make it Your Moment - Malinda's 1st Boston Marathon - Twins Run In Our Family
twinsruninourfamily.com/2017/05/make-it-your-moment-malindas-1st-boston.html

Twins Ran Boston Marathon to Support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - Twins Run in Our Family
twinsruninourfamily.com/2017/04/twins-ran-boston-marathon-to-support.html

Boston Marathon 2017 - QBS Companies
blog.qbscompanies.com/boston-marathon-2017/

Watch “How Does it Feel? 2017 Boston Marathon” - Vimeo by Abbott World Marathon Majors
vimeo.com/215686805

2017 Boston Marathon with Achilles International - Wife Mother Runner
wifemotherrunner.com/uncategorized/2017bostonmarathon/

Boston Marathon - Women's Running
womensrunning.competitor.com/search?q=boston+marathon

Video Shares Runner’s Experience Finishing The Boston Marathon - Women's Running
womensrunning.competitor.com/2017/05/inspiration/video-shares-runners-experience-finishing-boston-marathon

2017 Boston Marathon Recap - YouTube
youtu.be/Yp7lRlxSYgc

Racing the Elites in Boston - Zensah
zensah.com/blogs/zensah/racing-the-elites-in-boston

Twins Run Boston 2017 - Leah's Race Recap

No words can express how grateful I am to my identical twin sister for sticking by my side for one of my most difficult marathons ever. Despite one bad thing after another sabotaging the race I had trained months for, I was determined to spend most of the Boston Marathon not wallowing in how badly I was feeling (both physically and emotionally), but being appreciative for the support of my sister because without her the entire experience would have been so much worse and not nearly as special and memorable.

My biggest post-race regret is wondering if I’d adjusted my goal before the starting line, could we both have actually enjoyed the time from Hopkington to Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline, and Boston? Was it ever possible for me to have a relaxed, celebratory, long run to Boylston Street? Or was I doomed to experience extreme discomfort and struggle to finish no matter what?

Even though I was struggling for miles and miles, it gave me a boost to see how excited my twin was to be there ... hi-five'ing hundreds of fans, smiling as they called out "GO TWINS RUN!" "LOVE THE SPARKLE SKIRTS!"

I competed in three races before Boston that predicted I was in shape for a 3:42-3:51 marathon (two ten milers in 1:21 and 1:20 and an 8K in 38:53). So I felt relatively confident that under the right conditions I could run my A goal of 3:52, especially since I had previously run Boston in 3:53 in 2013 and 3:52 in 2014. Not only did I have those race performances to boost my confidence, but for the first time in leading up to the Boston Marathon, I had run five long runs of 20 miles or more on the roads, the longest being 24 miles. My final long run was my strongest and fastest and I truly believed I was ready to move past my disappointing performances in Boston 2015 and Chicago 2016 when I ran 4:08 and 4:07. It seemed like an eternity since the last time I achieved my goal in a marathon - Chicago 2015 when I ran 3:49:56 to BQ for 2017, but I was hopeful I could finally break my bad streak of "failures".

The first thing that derailed me on race day was a blister on the top of my right big toe. I can’t believe how something so small can hurt so much, and I’ve never had a blister develop so soon into a race. I was trying to adjust my gait to not exasperate the pain, but it was of no use.

 After 5K I knew a time goal was out the window, but our pace didn’t really start to tank until after 13 miles, that’s when I realized it was going to be a long, painful day. I was near tears confiding to my sister, “I can’t believe I trained so hard for this and it was all for NOTHING!.” Unfortunately, it wasn't just the blister that I had to endure.

As the miles went on my piriformis was seriously hurting me (and I had endured three dry needling sessions a week prior to the race hoping to calm down the area), I got some serious chafing under my right arm and I felt really hungry early on despite eating more prior to the race than I ever had before and taking gatorade at nearly every stop. I had no energy and felt tired by mile 14 and it just kept getting worse every mile thereafter. I was running 11-12 minute pace and wasn't even stopping for a walk break. This was the first time I actually "ran" through the Newton Hills without stopping for a lengthy walk break.

I shared my race photos with a co-worker who asked if I always run with my hair down. Not usually! That’s a clear sign of me giving up on time and hoping for some decent race photos. That’s also why I always run a marathon with lipstick in my pocket. I started reapplying as I was slogging up Heartbreak Hill and a spectator laughed, “Look at her! She’s running and putting on lipstick!” I did so one more time at mile 25 in the portapotty with the added benefit of having a mirror.

I’m so grateful for the amazing spectators who bring plenty of food for the runners, especially along the Newton Hills. When I saw Sour Patch Kids listed as an option on a poster board filled with types of snacks, I doubled back and asked for a bag, screaming “thank you so much! I love you!”

Soon after that I grabbed a bag of pretzels and nearly broke down in tears when I saw a message was written on the plastic bag, “I BELIEVE IN YOU!” That was the only photo I took along the course – a picture of that bag in front of my sister running ahead of me. My husband thinks that kind of motivational stuff is corny, but I NEEDED that so much at that point of the course. Those random acts of kindness is what makes Boston Marathon Spectators the best in the world. I hope I have the opportunity to be a be part of that amazing cheer squad next year.

Random thoughts -

Before the race a group of guys were offering cans of beer. I stopped for a novelty photo of me pretending to grab one. One guy yelled, 'No taking pictures if you're not going to drink it!" Wondering if maybe I should have taking that can. :)

Early on when Malinda started to complain about it being hot before stopping herself, I said with a chuckle, “The sun is giving me energy!” Yeah, right. 😊

A picture is worth a 1000 words and everyone sees something different. One of my fave pictures from the race got these different reactions from two of my friends:

- “Malinda looks all happy and shit and you look near death.”

- “Looking good! A true jock.”

Never grab a shot of alcohol if you think you might spill it on yourself. I must have run almost 6 miles smelling like beer and that was not pleasant. ☹

Nothing is more exciting than running into someone from your hometown. I saw another Charlottesville runner early on in the race and we both agreed it was a day to give up on a time goal. With less than a mile to go, a very speedy Linda Scandore, passed us and said hi on her way to a 10th place Age Group finish and another BQ, surpassing her goal time. WOW!

Power songs that I played over and over –  “Tough Girls (Got to Tough it Out) by Plastic Ants, “Alright” by Aaron Sprinkle, and “In this Together” by Apoptygma Berzerk

rundfmc.org/2017/malindah

Many thanks to our family, friends, runners and others who donated to Malinda's Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge fundraising page.

It's not too late to help Malinda reach fundraising goal by Wednesday, May 17. If you can donate $5 by May 17, we'll match your gift to double the impact of your generosity. No donation is too small and 100% of every $1 supports cancer research.

Thanks so much for your support!

Twins Ran 2017 Boston Marathon to Support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

It is accomplished - twins ran and finished the Boston Marathon together!

We wanted to thank you so much for all your support on our road to Boston.

Together we've raised $4,515 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

It's not too late to help me reach my fundraising goal of $5,000 by May 17.

If you can donate $5, I'll match your gift to double the impact of your generosity.

One hundred percent of every $1 donated to Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge supports cancer research.

Thanks again for all your support!

Twins Run the 2017 Boston Marathon

So proud of my twin for being part of the Boston Marathon in almost every role possible ... as a spectator, a volunteer, a qualifier, a charity runner, and an assistant race director for the Rivanna Greenbelt Marathon helping to give other runners the opportunity to become Boston Bound.

In a week I hope we will be celebrating running 26.2 miles together without any expletives, but certainly some tears. Love you and proud of you, Malinda.  

If you can, consider a small donation of $5 to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute - 100% of every $1 donated to Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge supports cancer research. 

Thanks for your support!

Leah

Malinda's #RunDFMC Fundraising Page

rundfmc.org/2017/malindah

#BeBoston

#RunDFMC

#TwinRunBoston

#BostonMarathon