2026 Boston Marathon Qualifying Times
The Boston Athletic Association sets qualifying standards by age group and gender. Running a BQ time opens the registration window — but entry is not guaranteed. Each year, BAA applies a cutoff buffer based on how many runners qualify relative to the available field. The table below shows the official 2026 standards. Click any age group to see the training paces and fitness profile that standard requires.
How to use this: Find your age group and gender in the table below. Click the time to see the exact training paces (easy, threshold, interval) required to build that fitness, plus WMA age-graded equivalents and equivalent times at 5K, 10K, and half marathon.
2026 BQ Standards — All Age Groups
| Age Group | Men | Women & Non-Binary |
|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 35–39 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65–69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75–79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 |
Source: Boston Athletic Association 2026 qualifying standards. Verified 2026-02-26.
How Boston Qualifying Works
Running a BQ time is the first gate. The BAA requires you to run the standard for your age group at a certified marathon within the qualifying window (roughly September through the following September for the next year's race).
The second gate is the cutoff. When registrations open, runners submit their qualifying times. If more runners qualify than the field allows, BAA fills spots starting with those who ran most under their BQ standard. The cutoff varies annually — check the official BAA registration updates for the current year's exact figure.
The practical implication: a BQ time is a floor, not a guarantee. Most runners who want confident entry target 5–10 minutes under their standard.
BQ times require specific training paces
Each BQ standard has a corresponding set of training zones derived from the Daniels/Gilbert oxygen cost formula — the same formula used by elite coaches and the StrideIQ training pace calculator. Click your age group above to see the exact easy, threshold, and interval paces required to build BQ-level fitness.
Common questions
What is a Boston Qualifying time?
A Boston Qualifying (BQ) time is the BAA-set marathon standard for your age group and gender. Running a BQ is necessary but not sufficient for entry — BAA applies a cutoff buffer each year based on how many runners qualify. The table above shows the official 2026 standards.
Does running a BQ time guarantee Boston entry?
No. The BAA requires a BQ time to register, but entry is competitive: when more runners qualify than the field allows, BAA applies a cutoff buffer, accepting only those who ran the most under their BQ standard. In recent years the cutoff has ranged from about 2 to 7 minutes under the BQ standard. Check the official BAA site for the current year's cutoff.
What is a good BQ buffer to train for?
Most coaches recommend targeting 5–10 minutes under your BQ standard to have a reasonable probability of entry. Training for exactly the BQ time is a ceiling race; training well below it — and racing conservatively — is the realistic strategy.
When is the 2026 Boston Marathon?
The 2026 Boston Marathon is held on Patriots' Day in April. Check baa.org for the exact date and registration timeline for your qualifying window.
BQ standards from the Boston Athletic Association official qualification page. Training paces computed via Daniels/Gilbert oxygen cost equations (1979). WMA age-grading from Alan Jones 2025 standards.