The Boston Marathon is one of the most iconic marathons in the United States, and the oldest Marathon in the world, with a history tracing back to 1897. The 130th Boston Marathon will take place on Monday, April 30th, 2026, on Patriots’ Day. Runners in the Boston Marathon train for months or even years in advance and have to meet certain qualifications to enter. Learn more about the 2026 marathon and find out what requirements you need to achieve if you want to run in 2027.
Understanding the Boston Marathon Qualifying Standards
Simply signing up for the Boston Marathon is not enough to gain entry. The Boston Marathon is the only road race at its level in the United States that uses qualifying times and other requirements as part of the entry process. The specific requirements change every year, so it’s important to check well in advance and ensure that your training puts you on par to meet those criteria before the registration deadline in September.
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Qualifying Requirements by Age and Gender
Each year, the qualifying standards are revised to be more competitive based on the data from previous years. For the 2026-2027 races, the qualifying times have been tightened up even more due to massive popularity. Each year, thousands of people submit registration forms, and thousands are cut from entry due to space constraints, even though they meet the qualifying time.
To qualify for entry into the Boston Marathon, runners need to fulfill several important prerequisites:
Runners need to be at least age 18 by marathon day (for 2027, that’s April 19th, 2027)
Runners must run a full marathon at an event certified by USA Track and Field, Association for International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), or a national governing body for distance running for the country in which the race is held.
The certified marathon must use a transponder system (chip time) or suitable alternate verifications to attest to the runner’s net finishing time. The applicant’s time must meet the Boston qualifying time (BQ).
Qualifying events and times must be completed within one year before the close of the registration cut-off date. So, for the 2027 marathon, you will need to have run a certified course with a qualifying time between September 1, 2025 and the application cut-off date TBD in September 2026.
Applicants must have valid photo ID and be prepared to pay a fee (about $260), which is charged only if the applicant is selected for registration.
It’s important to note that qualifying for entry and successfully applying for the Boston Marathon does not guarantee a spot in the ranks. It’s a fiercely competitive race with limited space.
The registration cut-off date is well in advance, so the registration officials can verify all applicants’ information and choose who makes the cut and who doesn’t. Only the fastest applicants in each age and gender group are accepted and registered.
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To make the entry process more fair, the Boston Marathon entry review board will add time to submissions whose qualification is based on a race that features a lot of downhill slopes (known as an ‘index’). For the 2027 registration, the index will be:
▶ Courses with 1,500-2,999 ft of downhill incurs a +5 minute index.
▶ Courses with 3,000-5,999 ft of downhill incurs a +10 minute index.
▶ Courses with more than 6,000 ft of downhill are not accepted as a qualifying event.
The Boston Marathon has a very challenging cut-off for prospective runners. Even if you don't make it into final registration, even meeting the requirement for application is a huge achievement!
The marathon is in the early stages of incorporating a non-binary gender group along with the men’s and women’s groups. It’s too early in the process to have enough data to create unique time standards for non-binary participants, so for now, the non-binary standards are aligned with the women’s standards.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2026 and 2027 Boston Marathon qualifying times you need to train for:
| Age Group | Men | Women | Non-Binary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 35–39 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65–69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75–79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 | 5:20:00 |
The time restrictions are set by the B.A.A. (Boston Athletic Association), which runs the Boston Marathon.
The hours and minutes for each age and gender group is based on the hours and minutes information of previous marathons.
Key Dates and Deadlines
The application deadline for the 2026 Boston Marathon ended in September 2025, so if you want to participate ASAP, you need to set your sights on 2027.
The qualifying window for the 2027 Boston Marathon (April 19, 2027) opened on September 13, 2025. The exact closure date has not yet been announced, but based on the 2026 window, it will likely close mid-September 2026.
Remember that registration is not first-come, first-served. So, take your time training and conditioning, and research which qualifying course event(s) you want to enter for your application. Give yourself enough time to complete an additional event to improve your time if needed.
As long as you send in your application to the Boston Marathon before the deadline, you have an opportunity of being selected.
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Here are the main dates to know for registering for the 2027 Boston Marathon:
September 13, 2025
Qualifying Window Opened
Those who want to apply for the 2027 Boston Marathon must compete in qualifiers between this date and the window closure date, which will likely be mid-September 2026.
September 2025 - September 2026
Participate in Qualifiers
Schedule, train for, and complete qualifiers to use for your Boston Marathon application.
September, 2026
Online Registration Application at the Athletes’ Village Website / Qualifying Window Closes
The exact dates have not yet been announced. The registration window will likely be open for 5 days, based on the 2026 registration process. Once the application window closes, the qualifying window also closes. If you miss the deadline, you’ll need to instead prepare for the 2028 Boston Marathon.
October 2026
Applicants Selected
Applicants will receive notice of their acceptance or non-acceptance. Those who are accepted and registered will then pay the registration fee.
November 2026
Begin Training
Runners need to prepare generally 20 weeks in advance. Overtraining or undertraining can hurt a runner’s performance on raceday. Working with a professional private trainer can help ensure you progress at a safe, effective, and sustainable rate. This same training regimen can prepare you for a qualifying event for the 2028 Boston Marathon!
January 2027
Updating Your Qualifying Time
If you run a faster time in official qualifiers after registration, you can update your information in the Athletes’ Village, which will be used to adjust your bib number and seed.
Early April 2027
Bib Number Information Given
Registered participants will receive an email with important information about their Boston Marathon bib number and Digital Number Pick-Up Pass. Runners must bring this information with their IDs to the Boston Marathon Expo to receive their bib.
April 16-18, 2027 (Tentative)
Boston Marathon Expo - Bib & Packet Pick-Up
Runners must attend the Expo on one of these days to pick up their bibs. The Expo is also open to the public, so bring the family or simply enjoy the event as a fan!
April 19, 2027
Marathon Monday!
On your marks! Runners will line up and begin with their respective waves. The Marathon begins at 9 AM and officially ends at 5:30 PM.
Boston Marathon Registration Close
September 15, 2026 11:59 pm
Estimated date the 2027 Boston Marathon registration window closes (official date TBD)
Important Information Regarding the Marathon
Preparing for the Boston Marathon means you need to be up-to-date on all the critical information. Make sure you’re familiar with all the information available on the official Boston Marathon website so you don’t miss any crucial dates or form submissions. Also, be sure to regularly check your email once you’ve submitted your application so you don’t miss any important follow-ups!
Registration Process
The registration process itself is simple:
- Create an account on the Athletes’ Village website through the official BAA Boston Marathon website.
- Submit your official qualifying time information with your application details.
After this, it’s a waiting game until the registration board has had a chance to review and verify all applicants’ information. Once they’ve certified everything, they choose all the fastest eligible applicants to participate. Notice of acceptance or non-acceptance is usually given in October.
Remember that the better your time in the qualifying event, the better your chance of being accepted. The field size limitations mean not every applicant can be accepted.
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The Boston Marathon offers a type of insurance for applicants. For an additional fee, you can opt in. The policy generally allows runners a refund on their registration fee if they can’t participate on race day due to injury, illness, pregnancy, severe weather, vehicle breakdown (or other impediment to arriving on site), or other reasons. Check the official website for the full details. They also allow deferment for pregnancy and postpartum.
Marathon Route Description
The Boston Marathon’s route is one of the most memorable in all of the major marathons in the United States. It is a point-to-point course, rather than a loop. It begins in the nearby town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and ends in the heart of Boston, in Copley Square.
The route spans across suburbs and rolling hills in long stretches before approaching the city limits. Once in Newton, at around mile 17, runners are faced with a huge challenge: the Newton Hills. The four major hills are consecutive, giving runners little reprieve.
Heartbreak Hill, located on Comm Ave, is just steep and long enough that it often demoralizes runners. But this is also where the spectator crowds start to become more packed, so you’ll have cheerleaders urging you on to help.
After this point, the route enters the city proper, so you’ll be running through the closed-off streets of the Boston neighborhoods, surrounded by brownstone buildings and tracks for the T (the local metro).
After winding through the city streets, runners cross the finish line near the Boston Public Library.
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Race Day Logistics
Prep for race day actually begins about 3 days in advance. Registrants need to attend the Boston Marathon Expo to pick up their bibs and check in.
On race day, runners should first drop off any items they have on their person at the gear check area near the finish line. Gear check is open from 5:45 AM to 9:16 AM. Any items left in Hopkinton at the start line are donated to charity.
Then, the runners can take a designated B.A.A. bus to the start line. Be sure to check the bus schedule in advance to make sure you arrive in time for your wave!
Buses drop athletes off at the Athletes’ Village, located at Hopkinton Middle/High School. The start line is a 0.7-mile walk from the village. Waves will be announced and lined up in corrals well in advance. Make sure you are nearby to hear all announcements!
Every serious marathoner should do Boston, to experience the close to a million spectators, the three generations of families out cheering, the little kids handing you water or orange slices. The whole city really appreciates the runners.
Neil Weygandt, who finished 45 consecutive Boston Marathons
On the course, hydration stations are set up at every mile starting at mile 2. There are also three Maurten Hydrogel Depot locations: one at mile 11.8, one at mile 17, and one at mile 21.5.
Portable toilets will be located at every aid station. There are 26 medical stations located throughout the course.
At the finish line, more hydration and medical facilities are available. You can also collect your gear.
The race officially ends at 5:30 PM. If you are still running at that time, you’ll need to continue on the sidewalk instead of the road. You can still finish the event and get a medal, but you will not be considered an official finisher in the final results.
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Notable Races and Records
The Boston Marathon is one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors. The others are located in London, Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago, and New York. This means the Boston Marathon is one of the most highly sought-after races for professional athletes and enthusiasts pursuing the Six Star Medal.
Beyond the 1967 race, which saw Katherine Switzer famously compete and finish the marathon even though women were not allowed to compete, there have been several other records set in the Boston Marathon’s history.
Course Record: Geoffrey Mutai, 2:03:02 (2011)
In 2011, Mutai ran the fastest time ever recorded on the Boston Marathon course. The Kenyan runner’s average pace was 4:41 per mile. At the time, it was also the fastest time ever recorded for any marathon by 57 seconds. That same race also saw the fastest top four finishes in a single marathon.
Women’s Course Record: Sharon Lokedi, 2:17:22 (2025)
Kenyan native Lokedi broke the existing women’s record by two minutes and 37 seconds. It was her second World Marathon major win, after the TCS New York City Marathon in 2022. She dug in during the last leg of the race to surpass her rival, Hellen Obiri, whom she had lost to in the 2024 Boston Marathon and Paris Olympics.
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Overcoming Extreme Conditions: Desiree “Des” Linden, 2:39:54 (2018)
The 122nd annual Boston Marathon in 2018 was unusually cold, only 39℉, with rain (compare that to the average, which is 53℉ and clear), and strong headwinds. It’s considered one of the toughest years for runners. She came in first, beating the second-place runner by over four minutes. This victory marked the first time an American woman won first place since 1985.
The Boston Marathon is a dream for running enthusiasts who want to prove themselves on one of the most difficult courses.
If possible, getting familiar with the route in person before your event can help you prepare for race day. Make sure your training simulates similar conditions (uphill and downhill slopes at the same grades) well before the event. Many runners who travel for events get thrown off by local conditions like temperature, elevation, and timezone if they’re greatly different from home. Working with a professional trainer in the months leading up to the event can help you mitigate these issues.
References
- Boston Marathon Training. (n.d.). In Boston Athletic Association. https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/info-for-athletes/boston-marathon-training
- Guide, B. D. (n.d.-a). In Boston Discovery Guide. https://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/boston-marathon-qualifying-times
- Guide, B. D. (n.d.-b). In Boston Discovery Guide. https://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/boston-marathon-route
- Qualify. (n.d.). In Boston Athletic Association. https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/qualify
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