To qualify for Boston you need to run a certified marathon at or under the standard for your age and sex, for example 2:55:00 for men and 3:25:00 for women aged 18 to 34, but for 2027 you needed to beat it by 5:17 to be accepted without the draw.
Boston Marathon qualifying standards, 2027
| Age | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:55 | 3:25 |
| 35-39 | 3:00 | 3:30 |
| 40-44 | 3:05 | 3:35 |
| 45-49 | 3:15 | 3:45 |
| 50-54 | 3:20 | 3:50 |
| 55-59 | 3:30 | 4:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:50 | 4:20 |
| 65-69 | 4:05 | 4:35 |
| 70-74 | 4:20 | 4:50 |
| 75-79 | 4:35 | 5:05 |
| 80+ | 4:50 | 5:20 |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | ||
Source: www.baa.org.
Age grading: USATF MLDR 2025 road age-grading standards (version 2025-07-27) by Alan Jones, CC BY 4.0. Standards checked 2026-11-01. © the5krunner. Link required.
What to do with this number
- Set your marathon target with the race predictor and the marathon pace chart.
- See how your goal ranks at your age on good marathon time.
- Find training paces with the VDOT calculator.
- Check the UK route as well: London Good for Age.
- Choose a watch for race day: best marathon watch.
- Run a flat half to prove your fitness first: half marathon pace chart.
Quick answers
What are the Boston qualifying times?
The standards run from 2:55:00 for men and 3:25:00 for women aged 18 to 34 to 4:50:00 for men and 5:20:00 for women aged 80 and over. The table in the tool lists every age group. Source: Boston Athletic Association.
What was the Boston cutoff for 2027?
The 2027 cutoff was 5:17 under the standard, which means applicants had to beat their standard by that margin to be accepted directly. The 2026 cutoff was 4:34. Source: Boston Athletic Association.
Do I have to beat my qualifying time or just match it?
You must run at or under the standard to apply, but meeting it is not enough in most years. The field is limited, so the fastest applicants in each age and sex group are accepted first.
How many years has Boston needed a cutoff?
The data in this tool shows a cutoff in 13 of the 16 years from 2012 to 2027. Everyone who met the standard was accepted in 2013, 2022 and 2023. The largest margin was 7:47 in 2021.
What is the Boston Qualifier Selection?
It is a random draw for runners who beat their standard but missed the cutoff. About 1,000 places were drawn for 2027. Source: the Boston Athletic Association qualifying page.
Which age do I use for Boston?
Boston uses your age on race day, which for the 2027 race is 19 April 2027. Check the Boston Athletic Association page before you register in case the rules change.
Were the Boston standards tightened?
Yes. Marathon Handbook reports that the standards were tightened by five minutes for runners under 60 ahead of the 2026 race, and the 2027 standards are the same as 2026.
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love, which is this site, and I appreciate everyone who supports it.
Support the site: Follow (free, fewer ads) · Subscribe (paid, ad-free) · Buy Me A Coffee
Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
