Boston is a unique experience for a runner, especially those of us who may only ever get to run it once. Last year was cold and rainy, but it didn't put a damper on the festivities at all. Here are my takeaways:

Expo: I didn't linger, but it is well organized and crowded. Be sure and take a look at the merchandise. I grabbed a sweatshirt which is one of my favorites of all time. I of course bought the jacket too but I did that online ahead of time, plus a long-sleeve top. The finisher shirt was really nice, bright yellow with the logo on the front and back. I'll probably never run Boston again but the gear and swag I collected will always be amongst my favorite!

Hotel: It's expensive to stay in Boston any time, but especially during marathon time. We stayed at the W Boston which was prime real estate, but worth it. BOOK IN ADVANCE. Like, as soon as you know you're going to come back or MIGHT come back the next year, book a hotel room. W was easy walking distance to shuttle meet up and finish line.

Food: One of the great things about marathoning is getting to eat well. There are so many restaurants in Boston it's a little overwhelming. The Salty Pig is delicious (not for carbo loading but any other time!) and Teatro was a great race-eve restaurant; great pasta and lots of other Boston runners doing the same! It was also right around the corner from our hotel.

Logistics: Boston knows what to do on marathon weekend. Race morning was easy. Get on the bus, ride 26.2 miles to the start. There you'll find tents and bathrooms and places to hang out until your wave. Depending on when you run, you may be there a while so bring throw-away clothes based on sitting around in whatever temperature you might have that day.

The course: It's got some hills, but who has time to notice? The course is basically lined with spectators for the majority of the route with only a few exceptions. Each milestone town is exciting if you've looked at the course ahead of time, and by the time you get to the home stretch, your ears will be ringing with cheering crowds. I had headphones, but didn't really bother with them so I could soak up the race.

Speaking of soaking up the race, bring lots of different clothing options for race day, just in case. We pretty much knew it was going to rain on us but the day before was cloudless and perfect. I had options and I was glad.

The finish was a breeze. Collect your iconic medal and make your way out of the funnel. I found my husband and we made our way back to the hotel. Enjoy the post-race excitement - so many Boston jackets, hats, and sweatshirts wandering around Boston the evening after the race! If you have the time to explore the city, I highly recommend it, just be careful about too much walking if it's before the race.

It's a must-run in my opinion, even if it's only once in a lifetime.