PUBLISHED 03/14/2007
Best Spot For Last-Minute Gear
It's been nearly 30 years since the Bill Rodgers Running Center first opened, and for many Boston runners, it's still the place to go for shoes, as well as shop-talk. Besides gear, the BRRC at Faneuil Hall is a bit of a shrine to the multiple Boston and New York City winner, with memorabilia from past marathons on display. And the legend himself is there the Tuesday after the marathon to do meet and greets.
Best Places To Qualify For Next Year
We all know you just don't sign up to run Boston. Unless you're running for a charity, you need a qualifying time (based on age and gender)--so you better find a course with a fast reputation. The speediest? Common lore says Chicago (in October), for Boston (next was Philadelphia in November). But according to the Association of Road Racing Statisticians, the Freescale Austin (Texas) Marathon in February usually produces the best average times for both men and women among North American races. Other quick courses: the New Las Vegas Marathon (December), Grandma's Marathon in Duluth (June), and the California International Marathon in Sacramento (December).
Best Post-Race Recovery Routine
On race day, Jeff Forrest, head massage therapist for the Boston Marathon, plans to have more than 150 therapists on hand to aid runners. He says one key to postrace recovery comes right after the finish line. "You don't want to stop all of a sudden and create cramping in the muscles. The body needs to cool down slowly." Forrest recommends walking for at least 30 minutes after racing. Then, a massage. "It slows down the body by relaxing the nervous system so your circulatory system can flush the build-up of lactic acid." And no pounding your quads!
Best Kodak Moment
As most runners know, it's nice to have a friendly face or two (or, actually, six or seven) sprinkled throughout your race-day marathon trek. For Boston runners who stay at Anthony's Town House on Beacon Street, just 1.5 miles from the finish, you're guaranteed to know someone just as you make your push for home. That's because Barbara Anthony, owner of the 14-room guest house, will be waiting for you--and ready to snap a picture of you, too. Each runner who stays at her 19th century brownstone receives an 8" x 10" action shot; a nice parting schwag, you might say. Anthony's has been housing runners since 1983, lured by the intimate Victorian-style rooms and rates ($90-$110 a night). The one hitch: With its limited number of rooms, you need to book several months in advance. (617-566-3972, info@anthonystownhouse.com)
Best Room With A View
Considering their finish-line proximity, rooms at the Lenox and Commonwealth hotels can offer some awesome race-day sights--but at a price: $300-$600 per night. So check out the Holiday Inn Brookline, as well. For $179-$189, you can watch from a room overlooking Beacon Street as runners begin their final mile dash.
