The Boston Marathon remains the most challenging race to qualify for in the world. It has become more difficult since 2019, when its last edition was held in April, as is tradition.

The Boston Athletic Association implemented the same registration process for qualified runners used for Boston editions over the past ten years, allowing the fastest runners in their gender and age group to register first. The Boston Marathon organization received 30,458 applications during the registration period, a significant increase over the past few years.

This increase forced the organizers not to accept 7,384 applications for admission. The Boston Marathon established that the total number of officially registered participants for the 2024 edition will be 30,000 runners.

The 129th edition of the Boston Marathon will be held on April 13, 2025. The registration process will start on September 09-13, 2024.

Classification process

To qualify for the Boston Marathon, athletes must meet the time standards corresponding to their age and gender. The B.A.A. will use the same entry process for qualifying runners used for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 races (see times to qualify).

• In 2019, the organizers received 30,458 applications during the registration period for those qualified.
• 23,074 qualified applicants were accepted or awaiting performance verification.
• 7,384 applicants could not be accepted due to the large number of eligible, qualified runners submitting an application combined with the limitations inherent in the process.
• That year’s “cut-off” time required to enter the Boston Marathon was 4 minutes, 52 seconds, or faster than the qualifying time for each respective age group and gender.
• More than 80% of the total entries in that year’s (2019) Boston Marathon comprised athletes who met the qualifying standards. Organizers balanced between invited participants, including runners participating in the official Boston Marathon Charity Program and the John Hancock Non-Profit Program, and invited elite athletes.
• In 2018, participating guests representing more than 260 nonprofit organizations raised $36.6 million for charity at the 2018 Boston Marathon.
• The marathon was suspended in 2020 for the first time in its history due to the pandemic.
• That year, the Boston Athletic Association announced adjusted qualifying standards for all age groups for the Marathon edition after thoroughly reviewing the applications submitted this year.
• The Boston 2020 edition’s qualifying standards were five minutes faster for all age groups, and that standard was maintained for 2021 and 2022.

How was the process for Boston in previous editions?

• In 2019, for example, a breakdown of accepted qualifiers was made as follows:
• 5,256 qualifiers completed their qualifying time in 20 minutes, 00 seconds or more.
• 8,620 qualifiers met their qualifying time in 10 minutes, 00 seconds or more.
• 8,545 qualifiers met their qualifying time by 05 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.
• 220 qualifiers completed their qualifying time by 4 minutes, 52 seconds or faster.

Registration was conducted on a “continuous admission” schedule, starting with the fastest times.

If space remains after the first week of registration, the process will be reopened to all qualifiers. Entry during this period is not on a first-come, first-served basis, and the fastest qualifiers in their gender and age group receive their quota as space allows.

If space remains after this initial period, registration reopens for anyone who meets the qualification standards. Registration remains open for valid qualifiers on a first-come, first-served basis until the maximum number of spaces is reached or until the last date set for the process.

The organization has indicated that “due to the size limitations of the race, achievement of the qualifying standard does not guarantee entry into the event, but merely the opportunity to submit an entry application.”

As published, if the total number of entries exceeds the size of the field allotted for qualified athletes, the fastest among the applicant pool in their age group and gender will be accepted.

SOME IMPORTANT NOTES

The qualifying standards for the Boston Marathon remain unchanged from recent years.

See: Boston Marathon Qualifying Times

Although the B.A.A. emails registrants once they complete their registration form, runners will not be officially registered for the race until their qualifying time is verified.

The time it takes to verify qualifying times varies for each athlete and can take several days (depending on the qualifying marathon).

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