Boston Elevations

[frojoe23]

Recently asked by the guys how much of a drop the first mile is and I had to guesstimate. I did find this chart in the 2006 Boston Program.

Mileage Feet Differential

Start 475 N/A
1 354 -121
2 302 -52
3 254 -48
4 183 -71
5 191 +8
6 175 -16
7 161 -14
8 158 -3
9 149 -9
10 165 +16
11 191 +26
12 143 -48
13 148 +5
14 136 -12
15 164 +28
16 53 -111
17 102 +49
18 142 +40
19 108 -34
20 143 +35
21 228 +85
22 151 -77
23 119 -32
24 30 -89
25 30 0
26 18 -12
Finish 16 -2

NET -459

[frojoe23]

I decided to figure out the average grade of each mile as well:

1 -2.3%
2 -0.98%
3 -0.91%
4 -1.3%
5 +0.15%
6 -0.30%
7 -0.27%
8 -0.06%
9 -0.17%
10 +0.30%
11 +0.49%
12 -0.91%
13 +0.09%
14 -.23%
15 +0.53%
16 -2.1%
17 +0.93%
18 +0.75%
19 -0.64%
20 +0.65%
21 +1.6%
22 -1.5%
23 -0.60%
24 -1.69%
25 0
26 -0.22%
Finish -0.17%

As a comparison:

The Rail/Trail is about 1 - 1.5% from Frostburg to Cumberland (positive or negative depending on which way you are going).
Our Knob Road climb is an average of 9.48%
The long hill on Christie Road is an average of 10% with the steep pitch at the start for the first 400 meters approaching 16%.

So at 21 miles, when it is a +1.6% uphill grade, just remember it could be a lot worse!

[burgrunner]

This site seems handy. This is a good idea of what to expect for the first timers and a reminder for the vet's.

raceboston.blogspot.com/2008/04/boston-marathon-2008-what-to-expect.html