To qualify for the Boston Marathon, the oldest race in the world, athletes must meet time standards corresponding to their age and gender and qualifying standards established by the Boston Athletic Association for each edition.

Registration and qualifying rules for Boston

We recommend reading the following information carefully:

• The first thing to do is pay attention to the registration process, which opens about a month after the year’s edition.
• Remember that the registration period is short, around five days.
• All qualifiers can register at any time during the process.
• Achieving the qualification standard does not guarantee acceptance into the Boston Marathon due to the event’s capacity limitations (approx. 30,000 runners).
• To register, the athlete must meet a qualifying time according to his age and gender. The runner’s age will be determined by the event date on which he wants to participate. For example, in the case of Boston 2024, the athlete’s age is April 15, 2024.
• Those who are the fastest among the applicants in their age group and gender will be accepted.
• Those who want to participate in this marathon must also consider the application for an ESTA or a visa before traveling to be able to enter the United States without problems or any other travel requirement that applies to their nationality since no refunds are made.
• The qualification window for the 128th edition of the Boston Marathon, scheduled for April 15, 2024, began on September 1, 2022. Race times will be accepted from that date onwards.
• Registration will be done through the official race website baa.org, or an associated travel agent.
• Race organizers encourage runners to register slowly, spell their names correctly, and enter accurate address information.
• A more complete description of the qualifying rules for Boston Marathon can be found here.

REGISTRATION PERIOD DATES FROM SEPTEMBER 11 TO 15, 2023

• The entry fee for qualifiers will remain $205 for US residents and $255 for international residents. Participants will have the opportunity to purchase registration insurance at the registration point.

How do I know if I can qualify for the Boston Marathon?

If you want to know how you can obtain a qualifying time for Boston, we invite you to read:

How to know if I am ready to qualify for the Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon qualifying timetable

The qualifying times below correspond to each athlete’s age on the date of the 2024 Boston Marathon (April 15, 2024). Qualifying times are based on the official net time submitted (also known as chip time) of a race/event certified as a qualifier.

What are the new qualifying times for the 2026 Boston Marathon?

The qualifying window for the 130th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, to be held April 20, 2026, opened on September 1, 2024, and will run through the end of registration week in September 2025. Exact registration dates and entry procedures for the 2026 Boston Marathon will be announced following the 2025 Boston Marathon.

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