Already thinking about next year? How to qualify for Boston Marathon 2027

Also beginning in 2027, courses with more than 6,000 feet of net elevation drop will not be accepted for qualifying purposes, the association said.

According to the B.A.A., not all qualifiers who register will be accepted due to limited field size. If entries exceed the number of available spots, the fastest runners in each age and gender group will be accepted.

Qualifying marathon times

Here are the qualifying times, based on each athlete's age on the date of the 2027 Boston Marathon (April 19, 2027), according to the B.A.A.:

Verified qualifying times from courses with a net downhill of 1,500 to 2,999 feet will have five minutes added to their official time when submitted to the B.A.A. for review. Times from courses with a net downhill of 3,000 to 5,999 feet will have 10 minutes added.

Courses with a net downhill of 6,000 feet or more will not be accepted for Boston Marathon qualifying purposes, the B.A.A. said.

How to run the Boston Marathon without a qualifying time

Looking to run the Boston Marathon next year, but don't have a qualifying time? Some runners can still get into the race through the Boston Marathon Official Charity Program.

The B.A.A. provides invitational entries to select nonprofit organizations. These organizations use the entries to recruit runners who pledge to raise funds for their cause, the association said.

A list of charities that participated in the 2026 Boston Marathon is available on the B.A.A.'s website. The association said it prioritizes organizations that focus on "building healthy communities."

Rin Velasco of the USA Today Network contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on wickedlocal.com: Boston Marathon qualifying times for 2027, and one way around them