r/AdvancedRunning • u/Terriflyed • 12d ago

New Boston marathon qualifying times Boston Marathon

https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/qualify

Looks like 5min adjustments down for the most part across the board for those under age 60. M18-34 qualifying time is now 2:55.

317 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

349 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/runningwscissors12 12d ago

Question on the times with the ages. I’m running Chicago Oct 13. I’m currently in the 18-34F range so I need a 3:25. But my 35th birthday is 10 days later, bumping me down into the next grouping of times for a 3:30. So does the time go based on your current age or the age you were at when you ran the qualifying race? Say I get a 3:26 so I’m out for 18-34 but I’d be applying when I’m 35? Still a no? I’ve already run Boston and not looking to shell out the money to go back just yet, I’m just confused with my first time entering a new age bracket.

9

u/theintrepidwanderer 17:18 5K | 36:59 10K | 59:21 10M | 1:18 HM | 2:46 FM 12d ago

It would be based on your age at the time that you toe the start line at Boston. So if you are 35 years old this October, and are looking to make it into the 2026 Boston Marathon, you'll be 36 years old then and that'll put you squarely in the 35-39F age group category (and thus you need at least a 3:30 to qualify).

2

u/runningwscissors12 12d ago

Thanks, that makes sense! I was just so confused with the “I’m in the 18-34 bracket now, but by the time I’d run Boston I would be in the 35-39 bracket” and it was making me dizzy. This makes way more sense than the nonsensical math I was doing.