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About RaceIndexOur methodologyData coverageCyclingTriathlon
  • Marathon
  • 42.2 km
  • Boston
  • Event weekend starts
  • Qualification entry

Boston Marathon

This race edition

Race date
Awaiting a fresh confirmation
Race timezone
Timezone not confirmed
Edition status
Status not confirmed

Entry options

2027 edition

Entry information needs a fresh source check.

Official entry requirements ↗
Plan my trainingPlan my paceData current as of

Decision summary

Boston Marathon at a glance

Typical conditions
77/100

Historical race-date favourability, not a forecast

Evidence depth
51 verified facts

Source facts available

RUNNER INFORMATION

Entry and planning guide · 2027

Checked

For the 2027 edition. Times are local to the race. Your current registration instructions and the organiser’s latest guide take precedence.

This guide is due a fresh source check. Use the organiser links below for current arrangements.

Registration had not opened when checked on 11 September. The final qualifying cut-off and individual acceptance remain unknown. Race-day, expo and transport arrangements for 2027 have not yet been verified here.

Official guides and review details

RaceIndex factual summary, version 1.0. Source language: English. Reviewed with AI assistance on 2026-09-11; next source review due 2026-09-18. No organiser endorsement is implied. Report a correction.

Check the 2027 Boston qualifying times and application rules

Use the marathon packing checklist · Keep your race tasks in My Season

Guides for this race

Use the detailed guides to plan entry, preparation and your race weekend.

Route details

Known course facts at a glance

Methodology →

Boston Marathon has known course details for its marathon race. The summary below keeps the focus on what is confirmed for the course.

Official distance
42.2 km
Terrain
Road
Scenery
City, Historic, Countryside, Riverside

Quick answers

What runners ask first

Where can I find the Boston Marathon route map?

Use the official course links on this page for the organiser route page, map PDF or route download.

Official course links

How hilly is the Boston Marathon?

The Boston Marathon is described as rolling. The course listing puts the climb at 248 m.

Where does the Boston Marathon route go?

The Boston Marathon route starts at Hopkinton, MA and finishes at Boylston Street, Boston, MA. Underfoot, expect road. It passes Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick and Wellesley.

What should runners know on race day for the Boston Marathon?

Gear check on Boylston/Berkeley Streets beyond the finish; only the official clear B.A.A. bag accepted. Fully closed point-to-point course on Patriots' Day; finish area closes ~5:30 p.m. Staggered wave start. 26.

Race character

Scenery

  • City
  • Historic
  • Countryside
  • Riverside

Atmosphere

  • Big City
  • Competitive
  • Destination

Terrain

  • Road
Elevation character
Rolling
Technicality
Non Technical
Source-stated ascent
248 m
Net elevation
-140 m

Entry, logistics and records

Records and field

Men's course record
2:01:52 (John Korir)
Women's course record
2:17:22 (Sharon Lokedi)
Field size
30,000
Field cap
30,000

Entry requirements

Entry status
Qualification entry: Entry requirement held: sub-3:00 marathon (men 18-34); age/gender graded Boston Qualifying standard.
Minimum age
18+
Ballot
No
Qualification status
Championship
Qualifying time
sub-3:00 marathon (men 18-34); age/gender graded Boston Qualifying standard

Race day logistics

Wave start
staggered wave start
Aid stations
26
Bag drop
Gear check on Boylston/Berkeley Streets beyond the finish; only the official clear B.A.A. bag accepted.
Closed roads
Fully closed point-to-point course on Patriots' Day; finish area closes ~5:30 p.m.
Expo / packet pickup
Bank of America Boston Marathon Expo at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA
Race village
No
Medal
Finisher medals; finishers also receive Heatsheet blankets, water, Gatorade Endurance and food bags.

Access and course status

Start
Hopkinton, MA
Finish
Boylston Street, Boston, MA

Course facts

Course type
Point To Point
Surface
Road
Landmarks
Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Wellesley College Scream Tunnel, Newton, Newton Hills, Heartbreak Hill, Brookline, Boylston Street
Notable features
  • Wellesley College 'Scream Tunnel' before halfway
  • the Newton Hills (miles ~17.5-21) culminating in Heartbreak Hill

What are typical race-day conditions?

  • 9°CTypical temperature
  • 23 kphTypical wind
  • 4 mmTypical rainfall
  • 77Favourability /100
Typical conditions for the race date and locality, within the endurance-optimal window. These are climatological norms, not a forecast, and are shared across every distance at this event.

How we calculated this

Published facts and derived model outputs on this page are tied to stored sources or a published, version-locked methodology. We show the provenance so runners, coaches and organisers can check it. Data on this page is current as of .

Derived numbers use scoring-methodology-v1.0.

Sources used on this page (2)

Read the full methodology →

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