Boston Marathon Quick Facts for Running Enthusiasts
Every April the most prestigious marathon in the world takes place here in the United States. That’s right – the Boston Marathon!
If you’re a novice runner, you may not know much about the Boston Marathon. However, if you dabble in running half marathons or marathons, you’ve likely heard about it.
Running the Boston Marathon is many runners’ dream (*raises hand*). It’s the most important running event for long-distance runners.
Let’s get to the information and help you become familiar with the Boston Marathon.
When is the 2025 Boston Marathon?
This year, the Boston Marathon falls on Monday, April 21, 2025.
The race begins at 10:00 a.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time).
Where is the Boston Marathon?
The Boston Marathon takes place in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Boston is a point-to-point race, meaning the start and finish lines are in different places.
Start Line
The start line is in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. This town is just southwest of the city of Boston.
Finish Line
The finish line is Boston at Boylston Street, just before Dartmouth Street.
How to Qualify
Runners must run a qualifying race time before the Boston Marathon, submit their time for consideration, and await acceptance to register.
Boston Athletic Association has general guidelines for qualifying; however, the organization must narrow down the field each year. Sometimes, runners must have made a qualifying time 3-5 minutes faster than the posted qualifying times.
This elimination helps ensure the safety of runners by limiting how many runners compete.
2024 Qualifying Times
For 2024, runners must have run a qualifying race time of 6 minutes and 51 seconds faster than their qualifying standard.
| Age Group | Men | Women | Non-Binary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 3hrs 00min 00sec | 3hrs 30min 00sec | 3hrs 30min 00sec |
| 35-39 | 3hrs 05min 00sec | 3hrs 35min 00sec | 3hrs 35min 00sec |
| 40-44 | 3hrs 10min 00sec | 3hrs 40min 00sec | 3hrs 40min 00sec |
| 45-49 | 3hrs 20min 00sec | 3hrs 50min 00sec | 3hrs 50min 00sec |
| 50-54 | 3hrs 25min 00sec | 3hrs 55min 00sec | 3hrs 55min 00sec |
| 55-59 | 3hrs 35min 00sec | 4hrs 05min 00sec | 4hrs 05min 00sec |
| 60-64 | 3hrs 50min 00sec | 4hrs 20min 00sec | 4hrs 20min 00sec |
| 65-69 | 4hrs 05min 00sec | 4hrs 35min 00sec | 4hrs 35min 00sec |
| 70-74 | 4hrs 20min 00sec | 4hrs 50min 00sec | 4hrs 50min 00sec |
| 75-79 | 4hrs 35min 00sec | 5hrs 05min 00sec | 5hrs 05min 00sec |
| 80 and over | 4hrs 50min 00sec | 5hrs 20min 00sec | 5hrs 20min 00sec |
If you run slightly faster than your qualifying time, you may still not qualify for Boston when the organization narrows the field.
How Old is the Boston Marathon?
The Boston Marathon is the oldest annual marathon in the world.
The 2025 event will be the 129th Boston Marathon held to date.
The race began in 1897.
The Best Boston Marathon Time (Course Record)
Geoffrey Mutai holds the Boston Marathon course record from his 2011 performance. Mutai ran the race in 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 2 seconds.
Race Distance
Any race referred to as a “marathon” is the same distance, whether you’re looking for miles or kilometers.
How Many Miles is the Boston Marathon?
The Boston Marathon, like all marathons, is 26.2 miles long.
How Many Kilometers is the Boston Marathon?
The Boston Marathon, like all marathons, is 42.2 kilometers in distance.
Final Thoughts: Boston Marathon Quick Facts
The Boston Marathon is truly the best in the world. While few will ever run it, it’s an inspiring event that shows the endurance of the world’s most elite runners.
