The Boston Athletic Affiliation (B.A.A.) reported Monday it had obtained 36,406 functions for registration into the 2025 Boston Marathon, breaking all earlier data. Because of this, the group introduced it could tighten the qualifying customary for all runners beneath 60 by 5 minutes, and these new requirements will apply to each the 2026 and 2027 editions of the race. (The requirements for runners over 60 is not going to change.)
Qualifying requirements for the 2026 Boston Marathon
Word: the qualifying requirements confer with chip time (i.e., internet time).
| AGE GROUP | MEN’S STANDARD | WOMEN’S STANDARD | NON-BINARY STANDARD |
| 18-34 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 35-39 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65-69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80 and older | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 | 5:20:00 |
Registration for the 2025 race came about final week (it ended Friday and is now closed), with functions from runners in 120 international locations and 50 U.S. states. The earlier file for applicactions was 33,058, set final 12 months for this 12 months’s race.
“The keenness and want from athletes around the globe aiming to take part within the Boston Marathon introduced by Financial institution of America is unmatched, and is actually what makes the Boston Marathon such a particular occasion,” B.A.A president and CEO Jack Fleming stated in a press launch. “The file variety of candidates signifies the rising development of our sport and exhibits that athletes are repeatedly getting quicker and quicker. We sit up for welcoming 30,000 athletes of their pursuit of the end line this April, and we’re already planning for a memorable occasion expertise from begin to end.”
Reduce-off for 2025 nonetheless TBD
The B.A.A. has not but decided what the “cut-off” time wanted to be accepted into the 2025 race shall be (i.e., the quantity by which runners should exceed their qualifying time so as to be accepted), and requested runners to be affected person because it kinds via registration functions. This info will ultimately be posted on the group’s web site and social media channels, and runners who’ve utilized for registration for 2025 will obtain an e-mail response on their acceptance or non-acceptance by early October.
In 2024, solely 66 per cent of Boston candidates had been accepted into the race–the second-lowest acceptance price within the occasion’s historical past.
Boston Marathon registration opens subsequent week: will you qualify?
The qualifying window for the 130th Boston Marathon introduced by Financial institution of America, to be held April 20, 2026, opened on Sept. 1 and goes via to the top of registration week in September 2025.
The Boston Marathon has had qualifying requirements since 1970. For extra info on the historical past of the race’s qualifying requirements, click on right here.
Qualifying instances for athletes competing amongst the Para Athletics Division, Adaptive Program, wheelchair division, handcycle, or duo applications is not going to change, and will be discovered right here.
The 2025 Boston Marathon will happen April 21.
Boston Marathon qualifying standards tightened by five minutes for 2026
