The 5 Worst Things About Running the Boston Marathon

rnThe hype is real.  Running the Boston Marathon is a truly life-changing experience.  The food, the iconic jacket, and the crowd - it's simply indescribable.  That is not to say, however, that there are no downsides to the race.  Just like my Chicago list, I've compiled some of the more "meh" moments on my experience in 2015. 1. Merchandise is expensive AFrnI saved up money for the famous Boston running jacket, but the onslaught of amazing merchandise at the expo set fire to my credit card.  The positive side is that Adidas makes beautiful, long-lasting merchandise - I still wear all of the clothes.  More importantly, Spike the Unicorn is still sitting on my shelf. 2. The bus ride and Athlete's "Village"rnOk, so this one is partially my fault.  I bought a venti iced coffee from the Starbucks on Boylston Street right before boarding the shuttle to Hopkinton (re: not a morning person).  After about 30 minutes, we arrived in the "village", which is basically makeshift tents and 20+ minute wait lines for port-o-potties.  Needless to say, venti iced coffee was a bad choice. 3. The hill BEFORE Heartbreak HillrnWhen you're going up Heartbreak Hill, you know that it's all downhill from there (literally).  Plus, there are so many people cheering that you get hyped up.  Really, it isn't that bad.  BUT.  There's this giant behemoth that nobody talks about.  It's directly before Heartbreak Hill and, in my opinion, it's the worst part of the whole run.  I still shudder thinking about it, and so do my hamstrings. 4. The never-ending walk back to The CommonrnOnce I crossed the finish line in 2015, I was freezing, soaking wet, and exhausted.  Then I had to walk another mile. 5. You'll tell everyone you meet that you ran it for the next 150 yearsrnI am so self-aware of doing this.  All the time.  You're going to do it, too.  Training for Boston requires so much grit and dedication.  I trained for Boston in the dead of winter, and when you're from the Chicago tundra, it's challenging.  It felt like a full time job, but it's one of the best jobs I've ever had. Have you run Boston?  What was your experience?