Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers for 2026

Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers

It's here! Our annual list of the year's
best marathons to help you qualify for the Boston Marathon.

2026 IS HERE!


Marathon Pace Bands

Marathon Pace Bands

Run the Right Pace in Your Next Marathon

Nearly 500 marathon courses.
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The 2026 Grandma's Marathon Weather Tracker is LIVE!

See your race conditions from the start to the finish based on your start time and goal time.

Customize your forecast

Select Your Goal Time and Start Time

Choose your projected finish time and approximate start time to see more personalized weather, wind, and race-day guidance along the course.

Goal Finish Time

: :

Start Time

Units

Grandma's Marathon Course Weather

Personalized to your selected start time and finish goal.

7:40am Start 8:40am Halfway 9:40am Finish
Race Conditions Summary
Good Expect a partly cloudy start around Two Harbors near 55°F, with temperatures rising to about 60°F by the finish. Partly cloudy conditions should hold for much of the day. Wind impact looks mixed rather than strongly favorable or strongly difficult over the full course. Humidity may become more noticeable in the second half and late race, especially if you are pressing after halfway.
ToughFairGoodGreat
Based on temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation across your time on the course.

Start

7:40am
Partly Cloudy
55°F
Humidity: 91%Dewpoint: 53°FWind: 10mph NW

Halfway

8:40am
Partly Cloudy
58°F
Humidity: 88%Dewpoint: 55°FWind: 10mph NW

Finish

9:40am
Partly Cloudy
60°F
Humidity: 84%Dewpoint: 55°FWind: 10mph NW

Wind Snapshot

Tailwind2% of the course
Headwind1% of the course
Start to Mile 5
Neutral
0% tailwind / 0% headwind
10 mph · NW
Gusts: 0 mph
Miles 6 - 10
Neutral
0% tailwind / 0% headwind
10 mph · NW
Gusts: 0 mph
Miles 11 - 15
Neutral
0% tailwind / 0% headwind
10 mph · NW
Gusts: 0 mph
Miles 16 - 20
Neutral
0% tailwind / 0% headwind
10 mph · NW
Gusts: 0 mph
Miles 21 to Finish
Neutral
9% tailwind / 4% headwind
10 mph · NW
Gusts: 0 mph

What This Means for Your Race

The opening miles should feel fairly comfortable for marathon running, with a good chance to settle into pace early.
The final 10K could feel more taxing than the early miles as temperatures or humidity build from halfway back toward the finish.
Wind impact looks mixed rather than strongly favorable or strongly challenging across the full route.

What to Wear / Carry

Quick recommendations based on start temperature, late-race warmth, wind, and rain risk.

✓Race kit should be enough at the start
✓Prioritize fluids late
✓No major rain gear needed
✓Minimal extra gear needed

2026 vs Typical Grandma's

Metric
2026
Typical
Diff
Race average temp
57°F
60°F
-3°
Start temperature
55°F
58°F
-3°
Start humidity
91%
84%
+7%
Start wind speed
10 mph
8 mph
+2 mph
Start wind direction
NW
E
 
Start conditions
Partly Cloudy
Sunny
More cloud cover

Cooler-than-average conditions may support steadier pacing if the wind stays manageable.

Grandma's Marathon Course Map

Interactive route map of the Grandma's Marathon with checkpoint weather from Start, Halfway, and Finish.
Grandma's Marathon Elevation Profile