Best Boston qualifiers in Pennsylvania

The marathons in Pennsylvania where the largest share of finishers ran a Boston-qualifying time for their age and gender, using the 2027 standards and each race's last three years of results.
  1. 1
    Two Rivers Marathon Race Festival: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K
    Lackawaxen
    280 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Apr 3, 2027
    16.4%
    ran a BQ
  2. 2
    The Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival
    Jim Thorpe
    1,831 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Apr 24, 2027
    15.5%
    ran a BQ
  3. 3
    YMCA Harrisburg Marathon, Half, and Relay Presented by Enders Insurance
    Harrisburg
    1,097 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Nov 8, 2026
    14.9%
    ran a BQ
  4. 4
    York Marathon and Half Marathon
    York
    620 finishers over 3 yearsNext: May 2, 2027
    11.6%
    ran a BQ
  5. 5
    Philadelphia Marathon
    Philadelphia
    35,656 finishers over 3 yearsLast run Nov 22, 2025
    8.7%
    ran a BQ
  6. 6
    InFirst Bank Veteran's Marathon, Half Marathon, and Marathon Relay
    Blairsville
    282 finishers over 3 yearsNext: Nov 1, 2026
    6.4%
    ran a BQ
  7. 7
    Pittsburgh Marathon
    Pittsburgh
    12,338 finishers over 3 yearsLast run May 2, 2026
    4.5%
    ran a BQ

Boston qualifiers by state

Common questions

What is the best marathon to qualify for Boston in Pennsylvania?

By share of finishers who ran a qualifying time, Two Rivers Marathon Race Festival: Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K in Lackawaxen: 16.4% of its finishers over the last 3 years ran under the 2027 Boston standard for their age and gender. Next is The Jim Thorpe Area Running Festival at 15.5%.

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 →

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