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The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
A runner's guide to visiting Boston for the Marathon: Where to stay, what to do and tips to conquer 26.2 miles
'Turn left on Boylston' rings through your ears as you approach the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The race has long been eulogised by runners over decades, with its prestige enduring despite destination races around the world growing in popularity since the sport's boom following the Covid pandemic. The race's future will forever be entwined with the tragic Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, but out of tragedy has emerged an even stronger and warmer community that welcomes hundreds of thousands each year around Easter, culminating with its special race on Patriots' Day. The ' Boston Strong' slogan remains powerful 12 years on. A peculiar race in the sense that it starts 26.2 miles away in the sleepy Massachusetts town of Hopkinton, while also taking place on a Monday, Boston lives and breathes the marathon unlike any other city I've witnessed. London, which has its charm too, is enormous and sprawling on race day, but the crowd disperses rather quickly, whereas Boston retains a unique character for many hours, if not days. While the city is a great place to visit throughout the year, here are some tips and advice to make your time at the Boston Marathon an unforgettable experience. Where to stay There are a few factors to consider when deciding on a place to stay in Boston. In an ideal world, you'll be a short walk from one of two places. First, Charles Street - between the Public Garden and Boston Common - where those iconic big yellow school buses, that you'll remember from many movies, take you to Hopkinton and the start line on marathon day. But you can venture a little further out and take the T (MBTA) in the morning: Red Line (Park Street station) and Green Line (Charles Street Station). Secondly, within a walk from Boylston Street and Berkeley Street, which is where the gear check area is for runners to drop their clear bags off before heading for the buses. With everything going on in the city around Easter, citizenM Boston North Station is a great option (there is another citizenM at Back Bay). It's right above TD Garden, so you can't help but feel the buzz of the city on top of the Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins' home. The views are stunning, the food is excellent and the rooftop bar is a great spot for drinks. Look out for the basketball-themed artwork and gallery throughout the hotel too. It's a great option if you want to sneak in a Celtics game during marathon weekend, with playoff basketball just beginning. Another good and affordable option is Staypineapple in South End Boston, which will leave you with a straight, eight-minute walk to the gear check area. Handy if travelling alone, the bar and restaurant downstairs are packed with fellow runners over marathon weekend. The staff are welcoming and lean into the atmosphere, offering guests a 'marathon care package' filled with snacks and treats to stash for during and after the race. The hotel is also pet-friendly. What else to do Once checked in and unpacked, the perfect way to better understand the city comes from a short run to Boston Common to soak in the positive energy ahead of Patriots' Day. There you'll also find the Freedom Trail. So grab a coffee and take the 2.5-mile brick path walk to shake off any jet lag and explore Boston's historic neighborhoods to better understand the American Revolution. As previously mentioned, Boston is obsessed with sports, and while the NFL is in the offseason, so you won't be able to catch a Patriots game, you can catch a basketball or ice hockey game, depending on the teams' success that season as both leagues enter the postseason. But a sure-fire bet is baseball with the season just beginning. Hopes and dreams are still alive for the Red Sox, one of the most storied franchises in American sports. So head down to Fenway Park, one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, for a great, family-friendly day or night out before the race. A favourite even for those tourists not passionate about sports. Boston offers some great options for free, too, notably the Boston Public Library. Its beautiful, traditional architecture is married with a modern wing including a cafe and stage for talks and local radio shows. Get lost inside American's first large free municipal library and exit near some of Boston's best shops on Newbury Street. The perfect spot on Saturday or Sunday before the marathon with the expo, at Hynes Convention Center, also nearby. Harvard is an essential day trip too, with its stunning campus in the idyllic Cambridge. Easily accessible via the T, it makes for a nice change of pace from the city to soak in student life in Harvard Yard and beyond. Where to eat Again, runners will want to plan their meals both before and after raceday. So, with carbs the priority beforehand, a good Italian is likely to appeal. Faccia a Faccia offers shareable plates of pasta, the cacio e pepe is especially good, while the Grandma Bread is worth adding to leave you energised on raceday. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is a gem of a place, a tiny spot for some of the best ramen you will find at affordable prices, the queues are enormous by early afternoon, so go early to avoid disappointment. If runners are looking for somewhere to celebrate on Monday evening, then Lolita Back Bay offers tacos and tequila with its Gothic decor and moody atmosphere bringing a unique experience. Watch out for the enormous candyfloss that arrives with the bill too. And if BBQ is your thing, The Smoke Shop BBQ - Seaport is exactly what you're looking for with its award-winning food and enormous selection of whisky perfect to indulge in the hours and days after racing. Finally, a good tip is to book somewhere for brunch the day after the marathon, fail to do so and you could be left hungry with most reputable spots fully booked with more than an hour to wait. Friendly Toast is simple and offers the quintessential American brunch. What about the race? Beyond time on feet and getting in the miles, hill training is synonymous with this testing course. So the key to running well and, crucially, enjoying yourself is how you navigate the Newton Hills, specifically the notorious Heartbreak Hill. Get plenty of elevation in beforehand, but then also hold a little back in the first five miles, which are downhill and present a feeling of delusion in most runners as you fly downhill at a pace closer to your half marathon best. Try to opt for 'feel' rather than what you want to see on your watch and you'll stand a great chance of avoiding those dreaded cramps in the closing stages. In terms of getting into the race, places are more competitive than ever, with time standards being slashed each year. You can find the entry times here. The deadline for next year's race is set for early September 2025. Look to run a minute (or more!) under your qualifying time to avoid disappointment as the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) whittles down the numbers for next year. And remember to book up hotels and flights well in advance, perhaps as soon as your place is confirmed (this year's race was confirmed in the last week of September 2024), or target a refundable hotel to avoid being priced out of the best locations.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks dies of adenocarcinoma: All about this aggressive stomach cancer
Source: X/@BostonStrong_34 Bobby Jenks, the flame-throwing closer who helped lead the Chicago White Sox to their historic 2005 World Series victory, has died at the age of 44. The White Sox confirmed his passing on Friday in Portugal, where Jenks had moved to be closer to his in-laws. He had publicly revealed in February that he was battling stage 4 gastric adenocarcinoma, a serious and advanced form of stomach cancer. 'Bobby was an iconic member of our White Sox family,' said White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in a statement honoring the two-time All-Star. What is adenocarcinoma ? Adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that originates in glandular epithelial cells—cells that line the inside of many organs and secrete fluids like mucus and digestive juices. It is a subtype of carcinoma, which is the most common class of cancer overall. Adenocarcinomas can form solid tumors and are capable of spreading (metastasizing) to other parts of the body. Common organs affected by adenocarcinoma include: stomach, colon and rectum, lungs, breast, esophagus, pancreas, and prostate. What causes adenocarcinoma? The exact cause of adenocarcinoma can vary, but it generally develops when glandular cells begin to mutate and divide uncontrollably. Over time, these abnormal cells form tumors and invade nearby tissues. Several risk factors may increase a person's chances of developing adenocarcinoma: Tobacco use (smoking or vaping) Heavy alcohol consumption Obesity (BMI over 25) Family history of cancer Exposure to environmental toxins Previous radiation therapy While not all tumors formed in glandular tissue are cancerous (non-cancerous ones are called adenomas), malignant tumors that invade healthy tissue and spread are known as adenocarcinomas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo Bobby Jenks battled gastric adenocarcinoma Bobby Jenks was diagnosed with gastric adenocarcinoma, a cancer that originates in the mucus-producing glandular cells lining the inner stomach wall. Gastric cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage due to subtle early symptoms. Jenks had stage 4 gastric adenocarcinoma, which means the cancer had spread beyond the stomach to distant organs such as the liver, lungs, or lymph nodes. Symptoms of gastric adenocarcinoma Some of the symptoms that people need to look out for include: feeling full after eating only small amounts of food, persistent indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, frequent stomach discomfort, unexplained weight loss, and bloating. These early warning signs of gastric adenocarcinoma are often subtle and easy to overlook, as they resemble common digestive issues. Thus the delayed diagnosis is a serious issue when it comes to gastric adenocarcinoma.
Axios
12-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Chicago reacts to Pope Leo XIV with "Da Pope" trademark frenzy
After the initial shock that Pope Leo XIV was from Chicago wore off, several budding entrepreneurs rushed to trademark "Da Pope" to profit off the trending nickname. The big picture: A trademark would give owners the ability to sell all sorts of merchandise, including T-shirts, coffee mugs and bumper stickers. Yes, but: Hold your horses, folks. What they're saying:"The answer is most likely no," Gerben IP Law founder Josh Gerben tells Axios. "The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) denies trademark applications that reference living individuals, especially if that living individual has not provided consent." Gerben says this is why the USPTO denies registering anything with the word "Trump" in it. Gerben says another reason it would be denied is the massive use of the nickname. Zoom in: Several Chicagoans applied to register "Da Pope" within hours of the announcement. Gerben says the USPTO usually gives precedence based on whoever applied first, but in this case, the phrase is so widespread that it's hard to grant one person ownership. "The trademark office would just Google 'Da Pope' and it'll see every media report that's out there. That would lead to a refusal pretty quickly." Zoom out: It's not uncommon for trademarks to be filed on trending messages or nicknames. After the Boston Marathon bombing, several rushed to the trademark office to capture #BostonStrong. Those applications were denied. " Trademark law is meant to protect consumers, not a company," Gerben says. "The law is meant to make sure you know who you're buying the product from." Yes, but: Entrepreneurs could still hock merchandise without a trademark, but they run the risk of the Vatican issuing a cease and desist or demanding licensing fees. Media companies could also be subject to this. The Sun-Times is selling its "Da Pope" newspaper cover, slapped on mugs and tote bags, while other companies are using it to sell T-shirts, bobble heads and fast food. Then again, there's never been "Da Pope."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lady Gaga breaks concert attendance record: What are the biggest concert venues in MA?
Lady Gaga broke the record for the highest-attended concert by a female artist when over 2 million people attended her concert in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Saturday. Could such a concert even be held in Massachusetts? Here's a look at the biggest concerts and concert venues in the Bay State. People attend Lady Gaga's open concert at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, May 3, 2025. What is the biggest concert in Massachusetts history? The biggest concert in Massachusetts history was singer Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium on July 1, 2023. For that event, 71,723 attended Sheeran's concert, which broke the single-show attendance record at Gillette. However, if you count orchestral concerts, the Boston Pops free concert on the Esplanade on the Fourth of July has attracted over 500,000 attendees. What are the biggest concert venues in Massachusetts? Gillette Stadium (Foxboro) Concert capacity: 65,878 (depending on stage size) Brian Johnson, left, and Angus Young of AC/DC saluting those who were about to rock May 4 at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough. Gillette transforms from a football stadium to a huge concert venue in the warmer months, hosting artists from Beyonce to Kendrick Lamar. It was the first NFL stadium Taylor Swift ever headlined, and she gave three performances in The Eras Tour there in May of 2023. While she's played 13 shows at Gillette, it's country star Kenney Chesney that has played the venue more than any other: at least 24 times. While 65,878 is the football capacity, depending on the stage size it's possible for the event space to fit more people. Fenway Park (Boston) Concert capacity: 37,755 Since 2003, at least one concert has been held at Fenway Park thanks to the Fenway Concert Series. Last year, artists like Noah Kahan and the Foo Fighters performed at the iconic baseball stadium. This year, the season kicks off May 29 with Shakira. Xfinity Center (Mansfield) Concert capacity: 19,900 Third Eye Blind is set to perform July 13 at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield The Xfinity Center in Mansfield is an outdoor amphitheater that features open air seating and a lawn. It has 7,000 reserved seats, 7,000 lawn seats and 5,900 general admission seats. This year, performing artists include Halsey, Wiz Khalifa, and the Doobie Brothers. TD Garden (Boston) Concert capacity: 19,600 Aerosmith's Steven Tyler performs during the Boston Strong benefit concert at the Boston TD Garden in Boston, May 30, 2013. Proceeds from the concert will go to the One Fund, which was established in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings to help survivors and victims' families. It's currently Celtics season, but the TD Garden hosts concerts of all types year round. This summer, artists like Tyler the Creator, Gracie Abrams and Stevie Nicks will take to the stage. DCU Center (Worcester) Concert capacity: 14,800 WORCESTER - Guitarists Dave Murray, left, and Adrian Smith perform with Iron Maiden at the DCU Center Monday, October 17, 2022. This indoor arena located in downtown Worcester holds a range of shows. Since the building was opened by Frank Sinatra in 1982, it has hosted the likes of Aerosmith, Elton John, and Madonna. Other Massachusetts venues Agganis Arena (Boston): 7,200 Blue Hills Bank Pavilion (Boston): 5,000 Leader Bank Pavilion (Boston): 5,000 Roadrunner (Boston): 3,500 Orpheum Theatre (Boston): 2700 Boston Opera House (Boston): 2,677 Symphony Hall (Boston): 2,625 House of Blues Boston (Boston): 2,200 Shubert Theatre (Boston): 1,500 Jordan Hall (Boston): 1,051 This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: What are the biggest concert venues in MA? Taylor Swift played at one
