New Balance x Believe: Boston Marathon Weekend Recap

Back in Boston

Founded in Boston over a century ago, New Balance is synonymous with the city that’s home to the most iconic marathon of them all. As such, we knew that when we showed up for the 128th Boston Marathon weekend, it was going to be a memorable time for us and everyone who joined in on the fun.

Group Run from Solas Irish Pub

What better way to kick off the weekend than with a Friday evening group run from Solas Irish Pub inside The Lenox Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood? Just a block away from the finish line on Boylston, it was the perfect spot to capture the energy and anticipation leading up to Monday’s race.

We got into town on Friday afternoon, checked into our hotel, then headed straight to the event. People were already showing up, packing out the pub and lacing up the New Balance SC Elite v4. The carbon-plated race day shoe is packed with performance thanks to a bouncy FuelCell midsole and breathable upper in a lightweight package. It doesn’t hurt that it looks great too.

Those who tested the shoe also walked away with a custom pair of crew socks with Believe and New Balance branding. Trucker hats were also given away, because those things are back.

We made the rounds and said hello to as many people as possible, but it was soon time to start the run. Thomas gave the directions over the megaphone and then we were off! It was a bit stressful navigating the crowded sidewalks of Boylston (unsurprisingly, the finish line of the marathon is kind of a big photo opp), but we made it out to the Charles River. It was a beautiful evening with just the right temperatures, even if it was a little windy. No rain, so we’ll take it.

At the turnaround point we took a group photo, and then it was back to the pub.

Once we got back, the real party started. Food and beverages were provided free of charge, and it was legit. I mean, there were chicken tenders with like ten different sauces, so say no more– that’s all we need to survive. Guinness and Sam Adams flowed from the taps, and we even had an appearance from New Balance athlete Meb Keflezighi– the last American man to win Boston, in 2014, the year after the bombings.

We were supposed to have trivia of some kind, but the vibes were too good. Everyone had an awesome time and we kept the party going until after 9 p.m. (hey, we’re runners, that’s late for us).

New Balance on Newbury

Saturday morning we ran the B.A.A. 5K, showered and changed, then headed over to the New Balance store on Newbury Street for a meet and greet. Upon arrival we were greeted with a bagel and coffee cart, which was free and open to anyone. After saying hello to a handful of people, we headed inside.

If you’ve never been to the store on Newbury, you need to make it happen next time you’re in Boston. The selection of shoes and apparel is unmatched and the backroom with its dark wood and stadium seating makes you feel like you’re in the Ivy League headquarters of running. That’s also where runners lined up to get custom New Balance singlets in navy and gold, with their own names screen printed on the back. I’m not gonna lie, none of us at Believe in the Run had a chance to get one for ourselves, so we may be a little bummed. They went to the right people, no doubt.

Thank you everyone who came out to the Solas run and the Newbury store meetup; we talked to so many of you, many who we finally met for the first time. It was an honor and a joy and both New Balance events made for the perfect setting to get to know each other, discuss race goals, and pick up a few nice pieces of New Balance gear in the process.

Thanks to New Balance for making it happen, it’s always nice to be with the home team on their own turf.

And you know we’ll be back.