BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFYING TIMES

Can I use my Irving Marathon or Irving Frost Marathon time to qualify for the Boston Marathon?

Yes! The Irving Marathon and Irving Frost Marathon are some of the fastest, flattest, and most scenic courses in the country, making them the perfect Boston Marathon Qualifiers! Irving’s central location between the Dallas Fort Worth Airport and Dallas Love Field Airport makes it a convenient destination race for nationwide runners.

BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFYING TIMES

QUALIFYING FOR THE BOSTON MARATHON

  • Athletes must submit their application before the deadline through the B.A.A.’s online platform, Athletes’ Village.

  • Qualifying times are based on official net time or chip time.

  • Due to field size limitations, achieving the qualifying time does not guarantee entry; it simply provides the opportunity to apply. If there are more applicants than the allotted field size allows, then the fastest in their age and gender group will be accepted.

NEW NET-DOWNHILL POLICY

  • Runners looking for a qualifying race should be aware that starting with the 2027 Boston Marathon, qualifying results from any course with a net-downhill (the difference in elevation between the start and finish points of an event) of 1,500-feet (457.2 meters) or more will incur a time adjustment to results, (known as an ‘index’) upon being submitted for Boston Marathon registration. Races expected to incur time adjustments can be found here.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING INFORMATION

  • Only a certified marathon distance will be accepted for qualifying.

  • Distances shorter than a marathon will not be accepted.

  • Indoor or virtual marathon times are not accepted.

  • Only qualifying times from USATF, World Athletics/AIMS, or foreign equivalent certified courses are accepted.

  • The B.A.A. does not designate which races meet qualifying standards; you must contact the race you wish to qualify at to see if they have a current certification.

  • All qualifying times are subject to review and verification.

  • Minimum age requirement is 18 years of age on the day of the Boston Marathon.

  • Though the B.A.A. will email registrants upon completing their form, runners are not officially entered into the race until their qualifying time is verified. This length of time may vary and can be as long as several days, depending on the qualifying marathon.

QUALIFYING HISTORY 

Historically, runners who beat their qualifying standard by a larger amount of time are more likely to be accepted into the Boston Marathon. Due to field size limitations, as well as a heightened interest in participation, a varying "cut-off" time (a time below the minimum qualifying standard for age and gender) has been established.

*This information was provided by the official B.A.A. website: https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/qualify