Boston Qualifying Time — Women Ages 80+
Running a 5:20 marathon at 80 or older and qualifying for Boston represents one of the most extraordinary achievements in endurance sport. The women who achieve this are living evidence of what sustained aerobic training produces over a lifetime. Age is not the ceiling.
Quick answer: The 2026 BQ standard for Women ages 80+ is 5:20:00. This requires an RPI of 26.4 — equivalent to 34:06 5K fitness. Training paces: easy 14:14/mi, threshold 10:58/mi, interval 9:28/mi. WMA age grade: 73.1%.
2026 BQ Standard
5:20:00
Women ages 80+
RPI
26.4
WMA Grade
73.1%
Equiv 5K
34:06
Training paces for a 5:20:00 BQ
All zones computed from RPI 26.4 via the Daniels/Gilbert oxygen cost formula.
Calculated from Daniels/Gilbert oxygen cost equations. Easy pace means “this pace or slower.”
Equivalent race fitness
Predicted equivalent times at other distances for an athlete with RPI 26.4. Assumes comparable distance-specific training.
5K
34:06
10:59/mi
10K
1:10:58
11:25/mi
Half Marathon
2:36:52
11:58/mi
Training approach for a 5:20:00 BQ
Women 80+ who are maintaining marathon fitness understand that every hard effort must be carefully managed for recovery. Long runs at easy pace, as far as the body recovers from, remain the primary marathon-specific training. Threshold work every two weeks maintains aerobic quality. Every run begins with how the body feels — not with a scheduled pace or effort level.
Calculate your current training paces
Enter your current race time to see your training zones and how close you are to BQ-level fitness.
Training Pace Calculator
About the BQ cutoff
Running a BQ time opens the registration window — it does not guarantee entry. BAA applies a cutoff buffer each year based on how many runners qualify relative to available field spots. For the most accurate and up-to-date cutoff information, refer to the official BAA registration page at baa.org during the registration window for your target race year.
BQ paces are calculated — your training data makes them personal
The Daniels/Gilbert formula gives the training zones for 5:20:00 fitness. StrideIQ tracks whether your specific training is actually building toward that standard — which threshold sessions produce your best adaptation, how quickly you recover between hard efforts, and when your fitness is peaking. Population formulas start the conversation. Your training data finishes it.
Common questions
What training paces does a 5:20:00 BQ require for women 80+?
For a 5:20:00 marathon BQ (RPI 26.4): Easy 14:14/mi, Marathon 11:37/mi, Threshold 10:58/mi. At age 80+, marathon training runs at 11:37/mi are reserved for the final miles of fully prepared long runs. The rest of training is at easy pace (14:14/mi or slower), which is where the foundational aerobic work accumulates.
What WMA age grade is a 5:20 marathon for women 80+?
A 5:20:00 marathon at age 80 scores 73.1% WMA age-graded. The WMA table applies a very large age factor for women 80+, reflecting how far absolute performance has moved from open-class standards. This performance is competitive at the masters elite level and reflects decades of consistent training, not just natural ability.
How many women 80+ qualify for Boston each year?
The field of women 80+ who qualify for Boston is small — typically a few dozen runners worldwide. These are lifetime athletes who have maintained consistent aerobic training across decades. The BAA standard for this age group is deliberately set to require genuine fitness, not to artificially inflate the qualifying pool.
Other BQ age groups
BQ standards: Boston Athletic Association 2026 (verified 2026-02-26). Training paces: Daniels/Gilbert oxygen cost equations (1979). WMA age-grading: Alan Jones 2025 standards.