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26 Miles to Boston: The Boston Marathon Experience from Hopkinton to Copley Square
26 MILES TO BOSTON slips squarely into the running shoes and minds of the athletes as they traverse the 26-mile, 385-yard course of America's most venerated long-distance race.
From suburban Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to the center of metropolitan Boston, here are the mile-by-mile sights and sounds experienced by the runners. Interwoven throughout is the colorful history of the men and women of manifold skills who have competed in this preeminent event over the span of more than a century.
Profusely illustrated with photographs and maps, 26 MILES TO BOSTON is a book for anyone who's ever wondered what it might be like to run the Boston Marathon.
From suburban Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to the center of metropolitan Boston, here are the mile-by-mile sights and sounds experienced by the runners. Interwoven throughout is the colorful history of the men and women of manifold skills who have competed in this preeminent event over the span of more than a century.
Profusely illustrated with photographs and maps, 26 MILES TO BOSTON is a book for anyone who's ever wondered what it might be like to run the Boston Marathon.
- GenresNonfictionSports
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1998
About the author
Michael Connelly
11 books4 followersMichael Connelly was a popular sportswriter in the New England area for over a decade. He is also an author, coach, and business executive. Connelly has appeared on television and radio including ESPN, NPR, Fox News and was featured in the CBS documentary “Marching On.”
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
August 4, 2009
Since my marathon is quickly approaching and since I've run the last 10 miles of the Boston Marathon route, I thought I would read this book. It's written by someone who ran the marathon just to be able to say he did it; he's not a runner so he can appreciate the elites as well as the ordinary folks. I like that he also provided information on the wheelchair competition since they have their own unique challenges here, too.
This was written in the same style as the book about the NYC marathon (mile by mile chapters) but it went faster. Maybe that's because Boston takes place in my adopted city, but whatever the case, it was a good read!
This was written in the same style as the book about the NYC marathon (mile by mile chapters) but it went faster. Maybe that's because Boston takes place in my adopted city, but whatever the case, it was a good read!
April 16, 2024
Because I just love this race :)
April 5, 2026
The course and the history from a Boston runner’s perspective. Loved it!
September 23, 2010
26 Miles to Boston is a fun read about the terrain and history of the Boston Marathon. It is for anyone who plans to run the Boston Marathon, has run it in the past, has volunteered on it, been a spectator on the course, or has known someone who has run it.
Connelly does a good job incorporating his run as a bandit during the 100th running of the Boston Marathon in 1996 with the history of the race on a mile-by-mile basis. As someone who grew up watching the race every April, has volunteering on it since 1997, and run it since 2005, I could easily feel every step that Connelly took. There were moments in the book, when I swear Connelly was in my head--the flair up of his IT band and having to get a cortisome injection and realizing that there was one more hill to conquer at 25-miles (how come no one tells you about that hill?). Certainly a fun read.
However, the book did have flaws. I was not sure why some antecdotes were pulled out with bullets and bolding, while others were not. It made it seem like you were reading the book faster, but I am not sure it was necessary. The book focused a lot on the elite runners, despite the fact that it said it also contained the common runner's story and stories of volunteers and spectators. It did contain the common runner's story, but it seemed like much of it focused on the top runners. He seemed to have many quotes by Uta Pipig, but I guess I can't blame him for that one. If you lived in the Boston area between 1994-1996 and watched the Boston Marathon, you couldn't help but love Uta! I know I did.
He did focus much of the book on the wheel chair race, which was good!
The book is also out-of-date. The information in the book goes until 2002, and the BAA made several big changes in 2006. Despite being steeped in tradition, the BAA consented to move the start time from noon to 10AM. (The traditional steak dinner that Johnny Kelley (the ELDER) use to enjoy had long since ended). In addition, they instituted a wave start with 2 waves starting 1/2 an hour apart from each other. The elite women were already starting about 30 minutes before the main field of runners to allow them to have an uncongested road and to allow them to have better races. FInally, there was a minor change made to the course. In the last mile, the race uses an underpass to cross Mass Ave, rather than running directly across Mass Ave as it use to. It is a very minor change, but a change all the same.
Connelly does a good job incorporating his run as a bandit during the 100th running of the Boston Marathon in 1996 with the history of the race on a mile-by-mile basis. As someone who grew up watching the race every April, has volunteering on it since 1997, and run it since 2005, I could easily feel every step that Connelly took. There were moments in the book, when I swear Connelly was in my head--the flair up of his IT band and having to get a cortisome injection and realizing that there was one more hill to conquer at 25-miles (how come no one tells you about that hill?). Certainly a fun read.
However, the book did have flaws. I was not sure why some antecdotes were pulled out with bullets and bolding, while others were not. It made it seem like you were reading the book faster, but I am not sure it was necessary. The book focused a lot on the elite runners, despite the fact that it said it also contained the common runner's story and stories of volunteers and spectators. It did contain the common runner's story, but it seemed like much of it focused on the top runners. He seemed to have many quotes by Uta Pipig, but I guess I can't blame him for that one. If you lived in the Boston area between 1994-1996 and watched the Boston Marathon, you couldn't help but love Uta! I know I did.
He did focus much of the book on the wheel chair race, which was good!
The book is also out-of-date. The information in the book goes until 2002, and the BAA made several big changes in 2006. Despite being steeped in tradition, the BAA consented to move the start time from noon to 10AM. (The traditional steak dinner that Johnny Kelley (the ELDER) use to enjoy had long since ended). In addition, they instituted a wave start with 2 waves starting 1/2 an hour apart from each other. The elite women were already starting about 30 minutes before the main field of runners to allow them to have an uncongested road and to allow them to have better races. FInally, there was a minor change made to the course. In the last mile, the race uses an underpass to cross Mass Ave, rather than running directly across Mass Ave as it use to. It is a very minor change, but a change all the same.
August 4, 2016
The author takes the reader through the Boston Marathon course - one mile at a time - as experienced by some famous, and not so famous runners, including himself. Good descriptions of the challenges - hills, curbs and crowds - faced by runners. Some interesting tidbits about the towns and landmarks passed along the way, as well as the author's own struggle to complete the 26 miles 385 yards from Hopkinton to Boston.
It's important to note that the author ran the 1996 marathon as a bandit - meaning without an official registration and bib. For marathon purists, bandits are terrible people who should be banned from racing for the rest of their lives. But bandits are a tradition in Boston (I'm related to one), and I think his status adds to the tale.
It's important to note that the author ran the 1996 marathon as a bandit - meaning without an official registration and bib. For marathon purists, bandits are terrible people who should be banned from racing for the rest of their lives. But bandits are a tradition in Boston (I'm related to one), and I think his status adds to the tale.
April 15, 2014
What a great tribute to Boston Marathon. As a runner I have often looked at qualifying times to get into Boston and have it on my to do list. I consider it the most prestigious marathon in the United States. It was interesting to read about all the history behind it and the famous names that made this marathon what it is today. I never realized the historical significance the marathon has.
This book made me reflect upon the marathons I have run and the feelings, frustrations, and triumphs you experience during the training while running the marathon.
I cried every time the 2013 bombings were written about I appreciated the tribute they gave to the runners and spectators.
This book made me reflect upon the marathons I have run and the feelings, frustrations, and triumphs you experience during the training while running the marathon.
I cried every time the 2013 bombings were written about I appreciated the tribute they gave to the runners and spectators.
December 29, 2016
I understand that he ran the race...but he was a bandit runner. Still, appreciate his outline of the course and the historical tidbits. Great mix of personal/history.
April 24, 2022
I cried through this entire book. I qualified and signed up for Boston knowing it was an iconic race but not having any idea of its history until I read this. Agree with other reviewers that his bandit status is disappointing, but his perspective as a Boston native makes up for it. The tidbits of knowledge regarding marathons in general and the history of this incredible event were fascinating and emotional to me. I finished the mile-by-mile chapters the night before the race at 9pm. I thought about his tips and stories my entire way from Hopkinton to Boston; so overall I think that makes for a pretty special book.
July 3, 2018
Disappointing book on two levels. First, the author admits that he was a bandit runner of the Boston Marathon - a runner who didn't earn his place or pay his fees, but simply sneaked into the race. So it's hard to find much respect for him. Second, his mile-by-mile observations of the course proved quite unhelpful for someone planning to run the race. I got far more out of a couple YouTube videos than I did from this book.
On the positive side, the book is full of trivia about the history of the race which is fun to read.
On the positive side, the book is full of trivia about the history of the race which is fun to read.
April 17, 2020
The mile by mile breakdown of the marathon course was a nice format. Some good anecdotes that I had at least forgotten since reading Derderian. I started skipping over the personal narrative sections by Framingham. Minus 1 star because the author was a free rider who bandited the race.
October 3, 2022
You do not need to have run Boston, nor even a full marathon to enjoy this book.
You need to have competed or trained or strived to complete a stretch goal in a timely manner.
This book is about life. And growth. And change.
Very very well done.
You need to have competed or trained or strived to complete a stretch goal in a timely manner.
This book is about life. And growth. And change.
Very very well done.
September 4, 2017
Great mile by mile account of one athlete's experience. Detail about the topography of the course and historical events and landmarks.
July 25, 2018
A fun read if you’re running the Boston Marathon.
November 30, 2020
I enjoyed this book although the building by building descriptions gets a little tedious at times.
March 17, 2017
It's ok. For anyone that's done Boston or wants to it'll be particularly interesting but it's also fairly dated. Also, the book is written by someone that banditted the course, not by a qualifier. This might seem like a small deal but for anyone that's qualified and fought to do so it matters.
January 11, 2011
Overall - a great look at The Boston Marathon from those who have run the race.
I loved the blend of the author's personal journey to training and eventually complete the marathon mixed in with historical moments and anecdotes from past winners.
I think the best thing about the book was how the chapters were broken up in mile-by-mile segments. You get a real sense of the course and specifics about area of the course. As I train it's interesting to recall some of the moments capture in the book as I run.
I loved the blend of the author's personal journey to training and eventually complete the marathon mixed in with historical moments and anecdotes from past winners.
I think the best thing about the book was how the chapters were broken up in mile-by-mile segments. You get a real sense of the course and specifics about area of the course. As I train it's interesting to recall some of the moments capture in the book as I run.
August 2, 2008
Very well-researched book tracing the course of the Boston Marathon, and telling stories and anecdotes from each mile, interspersed with the author's own story of running the race. Unfortunately, 1) despite the 2003 copyright, his race was the 1996 running, which just seems like an era ago, and 2) he ran as a bandit - an unregistered runner. Apparently there's something of a tradition of that in Boston, though.
April 23, 2013
This is an absolute must-read for all Boston hopefuls. I thoroughly enjoyed Mike Connelly's story of his running of the 100th Boston Marathon, the history of the race, and the mile-by-mile explanation of the race. Hopefully one day I'll qualify, but I will bandit this race if I must. I WILL run Boston in my lifetime!!!
March 6, 2013
Great info, but the author was a bit of a downer. Each chapter about a specific mile of the course ended with "just need to get to such and such" and it made it seem like the marathon was something to survive rather than experience and enjoy. Great descriptions of the course and history, though.
February 9, 2014
Great description of the Boston Marathon course. It captures the vibrant energy and spirit of the city as runners make the 26.2 miles to Boston. It also interweaves historical facts about the course. Jack Fultz appears in it a couple times!!
February 16, 2008
Bad editing is my only gripe witht he book. Since I'm running the marathon in April, I found it pretty inspirational and the mile by mile disection extremely helpful.
March 21, 2008
Read this before your first Boston Marathon. It's good knowing some of the landmarks along the way, and a great way to get fired up for the race.
May 5, 2008
It was helpful to read before I ran Boston, and gave me some motivation getting ready for all those long runs!
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June 17, 2008So far I love this book! I just ran Boston and it gives you the entire experience from the history, to the sights you'll encounter during the race to stories about past winners.
September 4, 2010
Amazing to read while training for Boston. I knew what to expect at every corner and helped to make it even more memorable.
December 20, 2010
Wonderful read!
April 5, 2011
This'n makes me cry!!!
May 21, 2011
Fun read especially if you are running the race- which is everything the book says it is!
June 6, 2013
At times enjoyable. Too many (paid?) descriptions of the businesses you can find in the Marathon Course which I don't think many readers or marathon runner really care about.
November 26, 2013
Actually, I did like it a lot. The historical anecdotes of the race were fun to read, and a description of each mile was entertaining. But the author ran as a bandit. So I took off a star.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews