Best Boston qualifiers in the US
- 145.6%ran a BQ
- 242.6%ran a BQ
- 3California International MarathonFolsom To Sacramento, California25,608 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Dec 6, 202626.7%ran a BQ
- 423.2%ran a BQ
- 521.6%ran a BQ
- 620.1%ran a BQ
- 7Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, & Kids Fun RunTraverse City, Michigan4,647 finishers over 3 yearsNext: May 29, 202718.7%ran a BQ
- 818.6%ran a BQ
- 9CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental MarathonIndianapolis, Indiana16,420 finishers over 3 yearsLast run Nov 8, 202518.6%ran a BQ
- 1018.4%ran a BQ
- 11Tidewater Strider Dismal Swamp 50K / Marathon /Half Marathon/50K RelayChesapeake, Virginia273 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Dec 6, 202618.3%ran a BQ
- 1217.7%ran a BQ
- 1317.2%ran a BQ
- 1416.7%ran a BQ
- 15Two Rivers Marathon Race Festival: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5KLackawaxen, Pennsylvania280 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Apr 3, 202716.4%ran a BQ
- 1616.2%ran a BQ
- 1716%ran a BQ
- 1815.7%ran a BQ
- 19The Jim Thorpe Area Running FestivalJim Thorpe, Pennsylvania1,831 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Apr 24, 202715.5%ran a BQ
- 20The Jersey City Marathon & Half Marathon Marquee Experience at NewportJersey City, New Jersey8,394 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Apr 18, 202715.4%ran a BQ
- 2115.4%ran a BQ
- 22The Rogue Marathon 2026 resultsCentral Point, Oregon334 finishers over 2 yearsLast run Oct 10, 2026 51°F race morning15.3%ran a BQ
- 2315.3%ran a BQ
- 24Bound for Boston Marathon & Half Marathon - AtlantaJohns Creek, Georgia218 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Sep 5, 202715.1%ran a BQ
- 25YMCA Harrisburg Marathon, Half, and Relay Presented by Enders InsuranceHarrisburg, Pennsylvania1,097 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Nov 8, 202614.9%ran a BQ
- 2614.8%ran a BQ
- 2714.8%ran a BQ
- 2814.7%ran a BQ
- 2914.7%ran a BQ
- 30Guthrie Wineglass Marathon, Wegmans Wineglass Half Marathon & Williams Toyota Wineglass 5KCorning, New York6,092 finishers over 3 yearsLast run Oct 4, 2026 55°F race morning14.6%ran a BQ
- 3114.5%ran a BQ
- 3214.1%ran a BQ
- 3313.8%ran a BQ
- 34Rehoboth Seashore Marathon and Half MarathonRehoboth Beach, Delaware739 finishers over 1 yearNext: Dec 5, 202612.6%ran a BQ
- 352027 The Snohomish River Run Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5KSnohomish, Washington502 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Oct 17, 202712.2%ran a BQ
- 3612.1%ran a BQ
- 37Rock CF Thumb Coast Marathon, Half Marathon & 5KPort Austin, Michigan204 finishers over 1 yearNext: Nov 8, 202611.8%ran a BQ
- 3811.6%ran a BQ
- 39MISH Waterfront Marathon | Half Marathon | 10KGladstone, Michigan227 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Jun 5, 202711.5%ran a BQ
- 40Veterans Marathon and Half MarathonColumbia City, Indiana342 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Nov 14, 202611.4%ran a BQ
- 4111.4%ran a BQ
- 4211.4%ran a BQ
- 4311.4%ran a BQ
- 44The M&T Bank Vermont City Marathon & RelayBurlington, Vermont4,319 finishers over 3 yearsNext: May 29, 202711.2%ran a BQ
- 45Novant Health Wilmington NC MarathonWilmington, North Carolina3,516 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Feb 27, 202711.1%ran a BQ
- 4610.5%ran a BQ
- 47Maine Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon RelayPortland, Maine2,866 finishers over 3 yearsLast run Oct 4, 2026 55°F race morning10.4%ran a BQ
- 48Allianz Richmond Marathon, CarMax Richmond Half Marathon, & Capital One Richmond 8kRichmond, Virginia9,058 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Nov 14, 202610.1%ran a BQ
- 499.8%ran a BQ
- 509.8%ran a BQ
The top 50 of 231 ranked marathons. Boston's own field is mostly runners who already qualified, so it tops any list like this.
Boston qualifiers by state
Common questions
What is the best marathon to qualify for Boston in the US?
By share of finishers who ran a qualifying time, Spring Chance BQ.2 Marathon in Geneva: 45.6% of its finishers over the last 3 years ran under the 2027 Boston standard for their age and gender. Next is California International Marathon at 26.7%.
How is this list worked out?
For each marathon we take its last three years of results and count the finishers whose time beats the 2027 Boston standard for their age and gender on race day. Races need 200 counted finishers. A high share means a fast course, good weather, a field of runners chasing a qualifier, or all three.
Does every race on this list count for Boston?
Boston accepts times from courses certified by USATF, AIMS or a national governing body. From 2027, courses with a net drop of 1,500 ft or more have 5 or 10 minutes added to your time, and drops of 6,000 ft don't count. Check a race's certification and elevation before you enter.
Is a qualifying time enough to get into Boston?
No: it lets you apply, and the fastest qualifiers relative to their standard get in. Accepted runners needed to be 5:17 under their standard for 2027, and 4:34 to 6:51 in the years before.
Boston 2027 qualifying times by age, and how far under you need to be →