After two years of runners having to only meet the BQ standard to be accepted into the Boston Marathon, qualifying for Boston 2024 became more difficult once again. In order to qualify for the 2024 race, runners needed to run 5:29 faster than the qualifying time to be accepted. With BQs for the 2025 race up over 30% already compared to last year, it looks like it may take even faster times to qualify for the next Boston Marathon.
No matter what BQ time is necessary to qualify for 2025, runners will need to find fast, quality races which give them the best chance to qualify for Boston. We’ve helped runners out by compiling the best races to qualify for Boston in each state as well as the 50 Best Marathons to Qualify for Boston. These races will give you a great chance to earn your 2025 BQ. And if the Boston Marathon is not your goal, the races on our list are all quality, well-organized, PR-worthy marathons.
| State | Race |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Rocket City Marathon |
| Alaska | Humpys Marathon |
| Arizona | Mesa Marathon |
| Arkansas | White River Marathon |
| California | Revel Big Bear Marathon |
| Colorado | Revel Rockies Marathon |
| Connecticut | Hartford Marathon |
| Delaware | Rehoboth Beach Marathon |
| Florida | Clearwater Marathon |
| Georgia | Jekyll Island Marathon |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon |
| Idaho | Pocatello Marathon |
| Illinois | Chicago Marathon |
| Indiana | Indianapolis Monumental Marathon |
| Iowa | Des Moines Marathon |
| Kansas | Salina Crossroads Marathon |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Marathon |
| Maine | Sugarloaf Marathon |
| Maryland | North Central Rail Trail Marathon |
| Massachusetts | Baystate Marathon |
| Michigan | Bayshore Marathon |
| Minnesota | Grandma's Marathon |
| Mississippi | Mississippi River Marathon |
| Missouri | GO! St. Louis Marathon |
| State | Race |
|---|---|
| Montana | Missoula Marathon |
| Nebraska | Nebraska State Fair Marathon |
| Nevada | Revel Mt. Charleston Marathon |
| New Hampshire | Cheap Marathon |
| New Jersey | Jersey City Marathon |
| New Mexico | State 47 Las Cruces Marathon |
| New York | Wineglass Marathon |
| North Carolina | Tobacco Road Marathon |
| North Dakota | Fargo Marathon |
| Ohio | Glass City Marathon |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon |
| Oregon | Eugene Marathon |
| Pennsylvania | Erie Marathon |
| Rhode Island | Providence Marathon |
| South Carolina | Kiawah Island Marathon |
| South Dakota | Sundance to Spearfish Marathon |
| Tennessee | St. Jude Memphis Marathon |
| Texas | Houston Marathon |
| Utah | Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon |
| Vermont | Vermont City Marathon |
| Virginia | Richmond Marathon |
| Washington | Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon |
| Washington, D.C. | Abebe Bikila Day International Peace Marathon |
| West Virginia | Marshall University Marathon |
| Wisconsin | Whistlestop Marathon |
| Wyoming | Jackson Hole Marathon |
