Boston Marathon: Guide to Qualifying Times and How to Get In
The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and the only Major that most runners can only enter with a qualifying time. This guide covers what the official B.A.A. website says: qualifying times, how selection works, authorised Spanish travel agencies, the start in Hopkinton and race-day logistics.
Boston Marathon key facts
According to the official Boston Athletic Association website:
| Item | 2027 edition |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday 19 April 2027, Patriots’ Day |
| Participants | 30,000 |
| Start | Hopkinton |
| Finish | Boylston Street, Boston |
| Finish closing | 17:30 in the latest published edition |
| Organiser | Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) |
Boston is run on a Monday, the Patriots’ Day holiday, so if you are travelling from abroad, factor in the extra day.
How to get a Boston Marathon place: qualifying times
The main route is a qualifying time. According to the official page on qualifying for the Boston Marathon, these are the 2027 standards, based on your age on race day and your net time:
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 35-39 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65-69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80 and over | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 |
Meeting the standard does not guarantee a place: it only lets you apply. If there are more applications than places, the fastest relative to their standard get in. For 2027 you needed to be 5 minutes 17 seconds under your qualifying time.
Your time must be run within the qualifying window, which for 2027 began on 13 September 2025, in a certified marathon. Qualifier registration opens in September for a few days and is not first come, first served.
New for 2027: a draw among qualifiers
For 2027, the B.A.A. has added a draw for about 1,000 places among qualifiers who did not beat the cut-off for their group. You are entered automatically if you applied with a valid qualifying time.
Other ways to run the Boston Marathon
- Charity programme: places in exchange for raising funds for one of the race’s official charities.
- Authorised travel agencies: according to the official list of international tour operators, Endeavor Maratones Internacionales, Geosport Viajes (Sportravel) and Marathinez Tours work with the B.A.A. in Spain.
- Abbott World Marathon Majors draws, if you already have four or more stars; I explain it in the guide to the World Marathon Majors.
Boston Marathon bib collection
In early April you receive an email with your bib number and a digital pick-up pass. The bib is collected in person at the race expo, at the Hynes Convention Center on Boylston Street, with your pass and official photo ID. Each runner must collect their own bib.
The start in Hopkinton
- The recommended way to reach the start is the official buses, which leave from central Boston next to Boston Common.
- Only a small clear plastic bag, given out with your bib, is allowed on the bus and in the start area. Clothes left in Hopkinton are donated.
- You can leave a bag at the gear check near the finish before getting on the bus.
- The start is in waves by qualifying time, and it is about a 1.1 km walk from the athletes’ village to the start line.
Boston Marathon strategy
Boston is a point-to-point course through eight towns: Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and Boston. Check the official profile before the race and plan your pacing section by section:
- Hold back in the first kilometres, as the excitement of the start makes it easy to go too fast; the strategy is in the guide to the negative split.
- If the profile has long descents, train them so your quads can cope; I explain it in the guide to downhill running.
- If it has climbs in the second half, include them at the end of your long runs; there are ideas in the guide to hill training.
- Plan your trip with margin; there are tips in the guide to travelling to a race.
Conclusion
The 2027 Boston Marathon is on Monday 19 April, from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, with 30,000 participants. To get in you need an age-graded qualifying time, and in 2027 you had to beat it by 5 minutes 17 seconds; new this year is a draw for about 1,000 places among the remaining qualifiers. If you do not have the time, there are the charity programme, authorised agencies and the Majors draws.
FAQ
When is the Boston Marathon?
The 2027 edition is on Monday 19 April, the Patriots’ Day holiday.
What time do I need to run Boston?
It depends on your age and sex. For example, for 2027 men aged 18 to 34 need 2:55 and women of that age 3:25.
Does meeting the standard guarantee a place?
No. If there are more applications than places, the fastest relative to their standard get in. In 2027 the cut-off was 5 minutes 17 seconds.
Can I run Boston without a qualifying time?
Yes, through the charity programme, authorised travel agencies or the Abbott World Marathon Majors draws if you have four or more stars.
Which Spanish agencies are authorised?
According to the B.A.A., Endeavor Maratones Internacionales, Geosport Viajes (Sportravel) and Marathinez Tours.
