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World Marathon Major · Boston, United States

Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, run every April from Hopkinton to Boylston Street in Boston. You earn a place with a qualifying time, which makes it the one major where almost every runner has already run a fast marathon.

The Boston Marathon course in Boston, from the start to the finish.
The course route, simplified. Check the official course map before race day.
Where and when
Boston, United States · April
First run
1897
Field size
about 30,000
Average finish
about 4:07
How to get in
Qualifying time only (a charity place is the other route)
Qualifying times
Men 2:55:00, women and non-binary 3:25:00 (ages 18 to 34; slower with age)
Official site
baa.org/races/boston-marathon

Dates, fees and rules change every year, so confirm on the official site before you plan.

About the Boston Marathon

First run in 1897, Boston is run by the Boston Athletic Association and is known for its crowds, its Patriots' Day tradition and the Wellesley "scream tunnel". Because entry is by qualifying time, the field is fast, and the standard gets stricter in years when more people apply than there are places.

Watch the Boston Marathon run again

This is what a RaceTale story does with a race day: it replays the whole course with your time, the route and every photo and cheer your family and friends added from any phone, in one private link.

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How do you get a place in the Boston Marathon?

A time qualification from a certified course. If more runners apply than there are places, the fastest applicants in each age group get in first. Charity places are the other way in. Time standards are slower for older age groups, and a downhill course can have a penalty added.

  • When entry opens: A short window in mid-September for the following April.
  • Cost: About $260 to $270 USD, charged only if you are accepted.

What is the Boston Marathon course like, and what is the cut-off?

A point-to-point route from rural Hopkinton to Boylston Street. It is net downhill but hard on the legs: quad-burning early descents, then four rolling Newton Hills between miles 16 and 21, ending with Heartbreak Hill.

Cut-off: Six hours from when the last runner starts, with a sweep pace of about 13:44 per mile. Runners who fall behind are moved to the sidewalk.

Where should spectators watch the Boston Marathon?

  • Wellesley College, miles 13 to 14Home of the "scream tunnel", where students make the loudest stretch on the course.
    Getting there: MBTA Commuter Rail (Framingham/Worcester line) to Wellesley Square, then a short walk to Route 135.
  • Kenmore Square, mile 25One mile from the finish, outside Fenway Park, where runners know they will make it.
    Getting there: MBTA Green Line to Kenmore.

Work out when your runner reaches each spot with the spectator timing planner, set to this race's usual start time. Tracking and signal can fail in a crowd, so agree a meeting place and a time before race day. See how to get around a marathon as a spectator.

What are the weather, start times and tracking like?

  • Weather: Very changeable, about 7 to 16°C (45 to 60°F): anything from cold rain and headwinds to a sudden warm spell.
  • Start times: Wheelchairs 9:02, elite men 9:37, elite women 9:45, then mass waves from 10:00 to 11:15 am.
  • Tracking: The Boston Marathon app tracks runners at timing mats and supports text alerts for each athlete.

Is the Boston Marathon a good first marathon?

Not a first marathon (ranked 8 of 8 for a first-timer). Most runners need a fast marathon on record before they can apply, and the point-to-point course punishes early descents and the Newton Hills. See the full ranking of the eight majors.

Frequently asked questions

How do I qualify for the Boston Marathon?

Run a marathon in your age group's standard time on a certified course. For ages 18 to 34 that is 2:55 for men and 3:25 for women and non-binary runners. The standards get slower with age, and in a crowded year the real cut-off can be several minutes faster. Check the official page for the current table.

Can I get in without a qualifying time?

Yes, through a charity place, which means raising money for an official charity partner. These places are limited.

Is Boston a good first marathon?

Rarely. You usually need a fast marathon before you can apply, and the course is demanding. Most people run Boston after several other marathons.

What is Heartbreak Hill?

The last of four hills in Newton, between miles 16 and 21. It is not the steepest, but it comes when legs are already tired.

Where is the best place to watch?

Wellesley College for the noise and Kenmore Square for the final mile. Both are reachable by train or subway.

Plan your race day

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