2010 Boston Marathon Race Report, Part 1: my opinions on how to get there and when.

Qualifying: Choose a convenient race close to home that is relatively flat and likely to have a temperature between 38 and 53 degrees during the race. Search for a marathon with a past history of a high BQ rate. Which is the highest? The previous Boston Marathon of course. LINK

Registration: Entry has closed earlier each of the last few years. If you just have to do this race, enter when it opens. So be sure to qualify early, before registration opens if possible. A great race in November may now be too late.

Hotel: MarathonTours.com should be the first place you check and it will likely be the last, but you might be able to find a better deal. Scout around for opinions on the different options. Decide if you want to be near packet pickup, the finish, bus pickup or off site. Decide which hotel has the amenities that are important to you. Remember that it is a holiday weekend, the marathon is heavily marketed and the best hotels will fill with or without you. Any savings off retail will likely beat the rate others get.

Airfare: You are on your own here. Do your homework and plan ahead. Saturday afternoon is the busiest time to fly.

Arrival: Get there early. On one hand this is the biggest and best running expo on the planet, only heaven will be better. On the other all that walking around the day before one of the definitive races of your life is not optimal. So plan to arrive on Friday or Saturday morning and hit the expo. It won't be crowded and vendors will have more stuff. Get your packet Saturday and rest up Sunday. Have friends and family wait in lines for you.

Preparation: Get the timing chip on your shoe and bib pinned to your singlet as soon as you get them, so as not to forget or misplace them. Make a checklist in the weeks before the race. Add to it. Use it to keep from forgetting things. Use it to pack. Review it when you arrive, as there is still time to get anything that was forgotten or lost. Review it as you organize your stuff the night before the race. Review it before turning in your bag. LINK

Prerace Dinner: Make dinner reservations for each night you'll be in town or plan to eat late or early. The North End has great Italian restaurants. Al Dente and Piccola Venzia are two to consider. Eat early on Sunday as you will be up early. Don't overeat either.

The T: Boston's subway is a bargain. Using the T to get to the hotel will save about $25. An unlimitedride pass is a bargain. Don't rent a car, period.