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Boston Marathon

Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:41:37 PM Wikipedia source

The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by eight cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is one of seven World Marathon Majors. Its course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Boylston Street, near Copley Square, in Boston. The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has organized this event annually since 1897, including a "virtual alternative" after the 2020 road race was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race has been managed by DMSE Sports since 1988. Amateur and professional runners from all over the world compete in the Boston Marathon each year, braving the hilly Massachusetts terrain and varying weather to take part in the race. The event attracts 500,000 spectators along the route, making it New England's most viewed sporting event. Starting with just 15 participants in 1897, the event has grown to an average of about 30,000 registered participants each year, with 30,251 people entering in 2015. The Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 established a record as the world's largest marathon with 38,708 entrants, 36,748 starters, and 35,868 finishers.

Infobox

Date
Usually the third Monday of April (Patriots' Day)
Location
Eastern Massachusetts, ending in Boston
Event type
Road
Distance
Marathon
Established
1897 (128 years ago) (1897)
Course records
Men: 2:03:02 (2011) Geoffrey Mutai Women: 2:17:22 (2025) Sharon Lokedi
Official site
www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon

Tables

Boston Marathon qualifying standards (effective for 2026 race)[57][58] · Race › Qualifying
18–34
18–34
Age
18–34
Men
2 h 55 min
Women
3 h 25 min
35–39
35–39
Age
35–39
Men
3 h 00 min
Women
3 h 30 min
40–44
40–44
Age
40–44
Men
3 h 05 min
Women
3 h 35 min
45–49
45–49
Age
45–49
Men
3 h 15 min
Women
3 h 45 min
50–54
50–54
Age
50–54
Men
3 h 20 min
Women
3 h 50 min
55–59
55–59
Age
55–59
Men
3 h 30 min
Women
4 h 00 min
60–64
60–64
Age
60–64
Men
3 h 50 min
Women
4 h 20 min
65–69
65–69
Age
65–69
Men
4 h 05 min
Women
4 h 35 min
70–74
70–74
Age
70–74
Men
4 h 20 min
Women
4 h 50 min
75–79
75–79
Age
75–79
Men
4 h 35 min
Women
5 h 05 min
≥80
≥80
Age
≥80
Men
4 h 50 min
Women
5 h 20 min
Age
Men
Women
18–34
2 h 55 min
3 h 25 min
35–39
3 h 00 min
3 h 30 min
40–44
3 h 05 min
3 h 35 min
45–49
3 h 15 min
3 h 45 min
50–54
3 h 20 min
3 h 50 min
55–59
3 h 30 min
4 h 00 min
60–64
3 h 50 min
4 h 20 min
65–69
4 h 05 min
4 h 35 min
70–74
4 h 20 min
4 h 50 min
75–79
4 h 35 min
5 h 05 min
≥80
4 h 50 min
5 h 20 min

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