Best Boston qualifiers in Michigan
- 1Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, & Kids Fun RunTraverse City4,647 finishers over 3 yearsNext: May 29, 202718.7%ran a BQ
- 214.8%ran a BQ
- 3Rock CF Thumb Coast Marathon, Half Marathon & 5KPort Austin204 finishers over 1 yearNext: Nov 8, 202611.8%ran a BQ
- 411.5%ran a BQ
- 5University of Michigan Health-West Grand Rapids MarathonGrand Rapids3,443 finishers over 3 yearsLast run Oct 18, 20268.3%ran a BQ
- 67.5%ran a BQ
- 76.4%ran a BQ
- 84.8%ran a BQ
- 94.1%ran a BQ
- 103.6%ran a BQ
- 111.8%ran a BQ
- 12Sleeping Bear Marathon, Half Marathon & 5KEmpire672 finishers over 3 yearsLast run Oct 3, 2026 59°F race morning1.8%ran a BQ
Boston qualifiers by state
Common questions
What is the best marathon to qualify for Boston in Michigan?
By share of finishers who ran a qualifying time, Bayshore Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, & Kids Fun Run in Traverse City: 18.7% of its finishers over the last 3 years ran under the 2027 Boston standard for their age and gender. Next is Millennium Meadows Marathon at 14.8%.
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 →