Bandit Resident Head Coach Steve Finley is something of a marathon scientist himself. Has he ever run one himself? No, but guess what... Popovich never kitted up for an NBA game a day in his life. Both possess an oracle level of ball knowledge.
Here's Steve's 4 pieces of wisdom for your Boston '26 race day...
1. Visualize the morning.
Boston is a point-to-point race—starting 26.2 miles away from the finish line on Boylston Street. This means, more than most marathon mornings there’s a considerable journey from the city or surrounding neighborhoods to the start. Expect a pit of uneasiness until you are within sight of the starting banners and fellow runners. As these mornings can often be filled with unexpected events, plan to prepare your bag and every need the days or night before. Wake up early and have a plan to get there with plenty of time to spare. Stressing on the day drains you of the mental energy you need to stay focused.
2. Careful on the way down.
The hills of the Boston Marathon course are talked about as the most prominent feature. They sure are tough, but if you’re planning to strategize on something be sure to look at the downhill segments first. Running downhill at or below expected race pace asks your legs to brace the full weight of your body on each stride and will quickly deplete your ability to run the uphills. Specifically, be careful the first 8 miles of the course. For best results, plan to stay at or within your marathon goal pace. Don’t believe me? Consult ye’olde Boston Elevation Map.
3. Be consistent on the way up.
With the right foresight you’ll reach the hills with confidence, mentally prepared and physically excited to switch muscle groups and push up and over them. Go on feel for each, but keep in mind not to over extend yourself on the way up. The prize for getting through them as consistently and safely as possible is that the last 10k of the course drops a massive 200ft of elevation to the finish. That’s 35-40ft per mile.
4. Let the Boston city limits carry you.
Once you reach Boston and the last miles of the course, you’ll find the crowd 5-10 people deep on each side cheering you to the finish. Take each corner, underpass and angle with pride and enjoy the sweeping scenes of Patriots Day in Boston from the best seat in the house. From there, take the right on Hereford, left on Boylston and embrace one of the most spectacular feelings in the sport. You’re a Boston Marathon finisher.
...But most importantly, feel proud of yourself. We'll be out there hyping you up all morning long. Good luck!
