Published by FindMyMarathon.com
July 9, 2025
As the qualifying window for the highly anticipated 2026 Boston Marathon rapidly approaches its close on September 12, 2025, runners across the globe are eyeing those final opportunities to secure their coveted Boston Qualifying (BQ) time. For many, this means seeking out fast courses designed to give them the best shot at achieving their goal.
This year holds particular significance for those considering some of the popular downhill courses. The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has announced significant changes for 2027 Boston Marathon qualifying, which will see time penalties applied to net-downhill courses exceeding certain elevation loss thresholds. This means that for several of the marathons listed below, 2025 will be the last time runners can achieve a Boston Marathon qualifying time on their current course configurations without incurring a 5 or 10-minute time adjustment for 2027 registration.
Whether you're looking for a blazing-fast downhill race or a flat, speedy course, we've compiled a list of excellent "last chance" marathons happening late this summer. Act fast, as registration for these popular races fills up quickly!
| Race Name | Race Date (2025) | BQ % | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deseret News Marathon
Salt Lake City, UT |
July 24 | 8.7% | Downhill |
| Jack & Jill’s Downhill Marathon (WA) North Bend, WA |
July 26 | 24.5% | Downhill |
| Jack & Jill’s Downhill Marathon (WA) North Bend, WA |
July 27 | 30.1% | Downhill |
| Tunnel Vision Marathon North Bend, WA |
August 10 | 34.6% | Downhill |
| Leading Ladies Marathon Spearfish, SD |
August 17 | 20.4% | Downhill |
| Santa Rosa Marathon Santa Rosa, CA |
August 24 | 20.1% | Mostly Flat |
| New England Green River Marathon South Deerfield, MA |
August 24 | 17.5% | Downhill |
| Millennium Meadows Marathon Grand Rapids, MI |
August 24 | 16.4% | Mostly Flat |
| Pocatello Marathon Pocatello, ID |
August 30 | 18.1% | Downhill |
| Marquette Marathon Marquette, MI |
August 30 | 14.7% | Downhill |
| Jack & Jill’s Downhill Marathon (MT) Bozeman, MT |
August 30 | NEW | Downhill |
| Cascade Express Marathon North Bend, WA |
September 6 | 25.9% | Downhill |
| Runtastic NEBO Marathon Payson, UT |
September 6 | 21.0% | Downhill |
| Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon (IL) Geneva, IL |
September 6 | 70.8% | Very Flat |
| Sundance to Spearfish Marathon Sundance, WY |
September 7 | 33.8% | Downhill |
| Beantown Marathon Hingham, MA |
September 7 | 35.3% | Rolling Hills |
| Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon (MI) Grand Rapids, MI |
September 7 | 67.2% | Mostly Flat |
| Erie Marathon Erie, PA |
September 7 | 38.9% | Very Flat |
As mentioned, a significant change is coming for the 2027 Boston Marathon qualifying window, which opens on September 13, 2025. The B.A.A. will be implementing time adjustments, or "indexes," for qualifying times achieved on some net-downhill courses:
This means that many of the traditionally "fast" downhill marathons, like Deseret News and Runtastic NEBO, which feature significant elevation loss, will incur a 10-minute penalty for 2027 Boston Marathon hopefuls. Others, such as Jack & Jill's (WA & MT), Tunnel Vision, Pocatello, and Cascade Express and others will likely see a 5-minute penalty if there are no future adjustments to their current courses.
Therefore, if you're eyeing a BQ on one of these downhill courses, 2025 presents the last opportunity to utilize their current, fast configurations without these new time adjustments for Boston Marathon qualification. This makes these "last chance" races even more critical for runners aiming for an unadjusted BQ.
Don't miss your chance to punch your ticket to Boston! Research these races, train hard, and good luck on your Boston Marathon qualifying journey!
