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The Independent
12-07-2025
- 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.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rich Tettemer to Retire from WWLP in Massachusetts After 37 Years
WWLP anchor Rich Tettemer is retiring after 37 years at the Springfield, Massachusetts NBC affiliate. He started his career as a videotape editor at WFLA in Tampa, Florida in 1984 and went on to become a weekend sports anchor at KODE in Joplin, Missouri. Tettemer joined WWLP on Patriots Day, April 18, 1988 with the with both the Boston Marathon and the Red Sox morning game. He was named a morning anchor on October 16, 2006, after 18 and a half years on the sports desk and has been the morning news anchor for another 18 and a half years. Below, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, along with his colleagues said goodbye to Tettemer. Tettemer will be replaced by reporter Julia O'Keefe. She'll join Kaelee Collins on Monday. Last week, weather reporter Jack Wu said he was leaving the station for a job in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Boston Globe
09-06-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Boston Marathon set a new fundraising record of $50 million, led by Bank of America
'Over the last two years, the 'takeover' that we've seen for Boston on the occasion of Marathon Weekend has elevated the profile [of charity runners] and made giving easier,' Fleming said in an email. Advertisement Miceal Chamberlain, the bank's Northeast head of commercial banking, said the fund-raising legacy started by the BAA and John Hancock in 1989 was one of the big factors behind the bank's interest in becoming a sponsor. The bank put its marketing muscle behind the effort, using everything from TV ads to its national network of ATMs to highlight charity runners, and created a web portal that allowed people to donate to runners, or to specific charities. Advertisement The BAA does a great job highlighting the elites, Chamberlain said, but bank executives wanted to turn the spotlight on the fund-raising runners and the nonprofits they're supporting. 'We really saw it as a big opportunity to further shine a light on the charity partners,' Chamberlain said. 'We're just building on [what] the BAA and Hancock have already done. We put a different twist on it.' Chamberlain said BofA employees look forward to Patriots Day to volunteer for the race, and in many cases, cheer on colleagues who are running and raising funds. 'There's a tremendous sense of pride,' Chamberlain said. 'This race means so much to the people who grew up in the region.' Jon Chesto can be reached at
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Longtime 22News Anchor Rich Tettemer retires after 37 years
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – After 37 years at 22News, our longtime 22News Anchor Rich Tettemer is retiring. Rich's career in broadcasting began back in January 1984 as a videotape editor at WFLA in Tampa, Florida. He then went on to become a Weekend Sports Anchor at KODE-TV in Joplin, Missouri. 22News' Rich Tettemer awarded Garry Brown Excellence Award night before retirement Rich joined the 22News team on April 18, 1988, which was Patriots Day with both the Boston Marathon and the Red Sox morning game, and handled the busy day smoothly. He stood with us through the glory years, covering all the unforgettable Patriots Super Bowl victories. In locker rooms, on parade routes, and in the hearts of fans, Rich captured the emotion behind every win. From Salt Lake City to Torino, he showed us the world stage at the Olympics. In 2004, an event would be what Rich calls the pinnacle of his sports career. After 86 long years, the Red Sox finally broke the curse, and Rich was right there, bringing the magic home to fans who had waited a lifetime. He was then moved to anchor the morning newscast on October 16, 2006, after 18 and a half years on the sports desk. He has been the morning news Anchor for another 18 and a half years. Year after year, through rain or shine, Rich was front and center at the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade, hosting, celebrating, and bringing our communities together. He helped shape important conversations, moderating debates, holding candidates accountable, and always putting facts first. When the world stood still during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rich stood tall, guiding us with steady hands and trusted words when we needed them most. During his career at 22News, he was voted by the readers of the Springfield Advocate and the Valley Advocate as Best Sportscaster. Rich has also garnered 13 Associated Press awards from 1994 through 2006. Additionally, he has served as co-host of the Children's Miracle Network Telethon since 1989. He was also just awarded the Garry Brown Excellence Award. Rich will be replaced by current 22News Reporter Julia O'Keefe. Starting on Monday, Julia and 22News's Kaelee Collins will be the new morning anchor team. From all of us at 22News and around western Massachusetts, thank you, Rich Tettemer. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chris Cotillo: For ‘underperforming' Red Sox, these moral victories simply aren't enough
DETROIT — The Red Sox didn't make Alex Cora the highest-paid manager in baseball history for moral victories. They didn't sell off an important fraction of their farm system to acquire Garrett Crochet — or pay him $170 million — for them either. And they didn't hand Alex Bregman a $40 million check, on what's effectively a one-year deal, so they could hold their heads high and say 'Good try!' after big series like the one this week in Detroit, where they were swept in three games. Advertisement These Red Sox expected better. They should be playing better. Moral victories and strong efforts were cute in 2023 and 2024, when player development was the North Star and the postseason, quietly, would be fun-but-not-necessary. But not now, with a team built to contend after an off-season that, 12 months later than promised, was finally 'full-throttle.' On Wednesday, after Boston's second straight walk-off loss to the Tigers, Cora offered a big-picture view that was measured, not apoplectic, and frankly, not urgent enough. 'To be honest with you, this one wasn't as tough as yesterday,' Cora said. 'I think we competed the right way. We did a good job against the best pitcher in the big leagues. It just happened we ran out of time. They scored in the ninth. But I'm pleased with the effort and the way we went about it. 'Obviously, we got swept here. It sucks. But I'm not even thinking about that. I thought the last two days, we competed.' Advertisement The Red Sox have 'competed' a lot this year. So much so, in fact, that 16 of their 45 games have been decided by a lone run. Twelve of those (75%) have been won by the opponent. That sounds like a team that has turned wins into losses like it did Wednesday, when after a sound approach against ace Tarik Skubal and a furious, bottom-of-the-lineup-fueled comeback, a once-in-a-lifetime catch, not just one, but two, big chances to score the go-ahead run slip away in the late innings. One night after Garrett Whitlock and Greg Weissert combined to blow three leads, Aroldis Chapman was the bullpen culprit when he issued a leadoff walk that led to the game-winning run. The record in close games should even out at some point. But the intangible feel around this team is one of unfulfilled promise. The Red Sox are now 0-16 when trailing after six innings. They've been walked off five times in 25 road games. They haven't won or lost more than three games in a row since Patriots Day, a stretch in which they're 10-12. A team that had a tad of momentum after two straight wins over a talented Rangers team and salvaged a 3-3 homestand was walked off three times on its six-game Midwest road trip and laughably blown out once. 'We cannot get games back, but we're not that far off,' mused the manager. 'It's 4-12 in one-run games. We've been playing close games. I'm pleased with the effort. Obviously, not with the results. But it seems like in the American League, everybody's playing .500 too.' That part he's right about. The Red Sox, even at 22-23, are just four games back of first-place in their division after play Wednesday. With less than two weeks to go before the all-important Memorial Day checkpoint, they haven't even faced the Yankees yet. They're two games out of a playoff spot in a league in which eight wild card contenders are separated by four games. They haven't fallen too far back in the standings to panic, but they haven't separated themselves from the pack, either. And that's a concerning reality. Advertisement Tell any Red Sox fan on Opening Day that Crochet would have a 1.93 ERA through nine starts, Bregman would have a .981 OPS on May 15, Wilyer Abreu would have 11 homers, Chapman wouldn't have a blown save, Campbell would have been the AL Rookie of the Month and Devers would be the hottest hitter in baseball for stretches and a really, really good record would be squarely in play. But Tanner Houck's struggles, a downturn from Jarren Duran (.674 OPS), 11 blown saves from non-Chapman types and Triston Casas' season-ending injury as well as the ensuing Devers drama have simply told the story of a team that — stop us if you've heard this before — whose lows have been lower than its highs have been high. At least reliever Liam Hendriks, who is patently incapable of sugarcoating, can tell it how it is. 'We're definitely underperforming what we think we can do,' Hendriks said. 'There has been a lot of games we think we should have been able to take. Now, it's a matter of turning those games we're not supposed to win into wins. That'll flip the script. 'There's a lot of room for improvement with the entire group. As long as we keep coming to the field every day, there's a lot of talent in this clubhouse.' Advertisement After a quick flight home from Detroit, the Red Sox have some time to think about how they want to flip that script. They have an off day Thursday and 24 hours to regroup before a long — but very tough — homestand that includes visits from the talented Braves, Mets and Orioles. The task starts with a marquee Chris Sale vs. Crochet matchup under the Fenway lights Friday night. 'I think we can really make a push,' Hendriks said. 'The good thing is we're still in striking distance in the East, which is the big thing.' More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
