If you’re one of the 20,000-plus runners preparing for the 2025 Boston Marathon on Monday, it’s time to lock in your final race-day plans.
Maybe this is your first time taking on the journey from Hopkinton to Boston. I was in your shoes last year, running my first Boston Marathon and only the second marathon of my life. Heading into it, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Would my race experience live up to the lofty expectations set by friends, fellow runners, and nonstop Google searches? After all, it’s Boston. Of course I felt the pressure to make my race as epic as possible—or else it might fall short.
Any doubts I had evaporated when I crossed the finish line on Boylston Street, as the Boston Marathon turned out to be everything I hoped for. And what made it even better were a few key decisions I made in the days leading up to race day that helped me tackle Boston with total confidence.
Here’s how you can do the same—drawing on my own experience, smart advice from running experts, and especially How to Run Your Best Boston Marathon, Runner’s World’s 12-part guide that gives you all the tools for navigating your entire marathon training, from picking the perfect race to crushing your long runs.
The Fastest Shoes at the 2025 Boston Marathon.
Tip #1: Don’t Let Your Setbacks Derail You
It’s normal to face hiccups when you’re preparing to race 26.2 miles, says two-time Boston Marathon top-five finisher Nell Rojas in How to Run Your Best Boston Marathon. “Even for professional runners,” she says, “no training cycle goes perfect. Take a deep breath—it’s OK.”
During my Boston training, I dealt with stubborn hip tendonitis about a month before race day, which made running nearly impossible for a few weeks. Instead of panicking, I channeled my inner Parker Valby and turned to the elliptical. This low-impact training helped me keep my cardio fitness without further stressing my hip.
Was it the ideal scenario heading into Boston? No—but I stayed flexible, adjusted my training, and kept a positive mindset.
I also focused on consistent strength and resistance training once the hip pain kicked in. If you’re looking for expert-guided routines that incorporate mobility exercises and plyometric moves, check out Runner’s World’s Marathon Strength Workouts. They’re a great resource for building strength, preventing injuries, and running your best 26.2 miles yet.
Tip #2: Know Your Route, Nail Your Run
While Boston is best known for Heartbreak Hill, the rolling terrain, and the iconic turn onto Boylston Street to reach the finish line, to truly prepare for race day, you’ll want to dig even deeper into the route.
Summer Running Gear entire course. Get to know the downhills, sharp turns, and major climbs so you know exactly where to push the pace and when to hold back.
Try Runner’s World’s How to Run Your Best Boston Marathon training program to run your first or fastest 26.2 ever! We’ll give you all the tools you need to navigate your entire marathon training journey—from picking a race to crushing your long runs.
For me, closely reviewing the course map and even driving the full route with my dad a couple of days before the race made all the difference. Visualizing the race helped me craft a solid plan. I knew that the first half would feel great as I cruised the downhills, but I also anticipated that the pain train would begin to hit once I made the hard right at the Newton Fire Station.
If you haven’t already previewed the course, check out the latest episode of The Amazing Runner’s World Show, where Jeff and Aly dive deep into the insider secrets and strategies you’ll need to master every twist and turn of the race.
Tip #3: Focus on Your Fluids
For marathoners, hydration is non-negotiable—especially on warmer race days. At the 2024 Boston Marathon, the high reached 67 degrees. While that might sound pleasant to some people, runners know it’s on the warmer side.
I planned ahead for the weather by prioritizing hydration. At nearly every water station, I took at least a few sips of water, and even poured many cups of water over my head to stay cool as the temperatures climbed.
Even if this year’s forecast looks cooler, don’t let that fool you—hydrating consistently is critical to run your best race.
Rule of thumb: Aim for DAA Industry Opt Out, Shoes & Gear.
In How to Run Your Best Boston Marathon, 2014 Boston winner Meb Keflezighi says you don’t want to get thirsty at mile 17, so plan ahead. “Just like pacing, you don’t want to hit the wall too early,” he says.
And don’t overlook your electrolytes, either. While I frequently took advantage of the electrolyte fluids provided along the course, you can also carry handheld bottles or a running hydration pack to keep your sodium levels up and your body balanced.
Tip #4: Relish Your Run, No Matter the Results
Whether or not you hit your time goal, crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon is a huge accomplishment. You poured months of rigorous training into preparing for this moment. Race day in Boston is your chance to take pride in how far you’ve come.
That’s exactly how I approached my Boston debut. I wasn’t expecting it to be my fastest marathon ever, and I knew there’d be tough times along the way. But as I stood in the start corral in Hopkinton, I made a promise to myself: I wouldn’t let anything Conner Mantz Top American at 2025 Boston Marathon.
Adopting that mindset transformed my race. Instead of putting pressure on myself to chase a specific finish time or hit every benchmark, I focused on soaking up all the joy of the day .
In fact, some of my favorite memories of Boston have little to do with running itself. I’ll never forget feeling the incredible support from strangers lining all 26.2 miles of the course, or sharing the experience with my dad, who went all-in as my biggest supporter, driving to various points along the course and waving a spring-themed Garfield house flag in the air so I could spot him in the massive crowds (a tip I highly recommend for all spectators cheering on loved ones).
If you’re one of the 20,000-plus runners preparing for the How to Run Your Best Boston Marathon, it’s the lasting memories that ultimately define your marathon experience for the rest of your life. While I didn’t run anywhere near a PR—I probably should have followed the 10-10-10 method—I still remember race day as one of the happiest days of my life.
And when you’re fully recovered from your Boston journey, follow a A Part of Hearst Digital Media to shake out those aches and pains. Before long, I’m sure you’ll start dreaming of making some more marathon memories.
Ashley is Editor of Content Hype at Hearst’s Enthusiast & Wellness Group. She is a former collegiate runner at UNC Asheville where she studied mass communication. Ashley loves all things running; she has raced two marathons, plus has covered some of the sport’s top events in her career, including the Paris Olympics, U.S. Olympic Trials and multiple World Marathon Majors.
