NEW! Pace Bands on Your Phone. LEARN MORE...

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.
Ships same or Next Day

North Carolina Marathons

Decide which marathon is best for you by using our comprehensive North Carolina Marathons Calendar.

Quickly view the course Elevation Profile and Race Details.
Create free course-specific marathon Pace Bands or buy waterproof, snap-on Pace Bands for your race.
Compare the details of marathons side-by-side.
View the PR Score and Course Scores of over 500 marathons to determine which gives you the best chance to PR or qualify for Boston.

Want to narrow down your marathon search? Use the Advanced Search Tools to find your perfect marathon by Location, State/Province, or by Keywords.

Featured Races

Date	Race
October 10, 2026	Hayden Lake Marathon Hayden, Idaho Enjoy a unique & challenging course around Hayden Lake in Idaho
October 11, 2026	Spokane Marathon Spokane, Washington Unique & scenic course running on city streets & the Centennial Trail
September 27, 2026	Boulderthon: Boulder Marathon Boulder, CO World-Class Marathon Experience Finishing in the Heart of Boulder.

North Carolina Marathons						Course	PR Score	Finishers	BQ%	Reviews	Compare
Mangum Marathon Ellerbe, NC 01/16/2027						Hilly 54 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	54 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Valentines Day Massacre Marathon Greensboro, NC 02/14/2027						Rolling Hills 39 Finishers		39 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Run Oak Island Marathon Oak Island, NC 02/14/2027						Very Flat 292 Finishers		292 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Wilmington Marathon Wilmington, NC 02/27/2027						Mostly Flat 1,492 Finishers		1,492 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Ellerbe Marathon Ellerbe, NC 02/28/2026						Hilly 45 Finishers		45 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Umstead Marathon Raleigh, NC 03/07/2026						Hilly 118 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	118 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Tobacco Road Marathon Cary, NC 03/14/2027						Rolling Hills 853 Finishers		853 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Asheville Marathon Asheville, NC 03/20/2027						Rolling Hills 584 Finishers		584 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Black Mountain Marathon Black Mountain, NC 04/03/2027						Very Hilly 257 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	257 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Coast Guard Marathon Elizabeth City, NC 04/04/2027						Very Flat 964 Finishers		964 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
New South Trail Marathon Charlotte, NC 04/10/2027						Hilly 60 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	60 Finishers	Course is Not Certified	Reviews	Compare Races
Garmin Durham Marathon Durham, NC 05/02/2026						Rolling Hills 880 Finishers		880 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
New River Marathon Fleetwood, NC 05/16/2026						Hilly 182 Finishers		182 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Cannonball Marathon Greensboro, NC 10/17/2026						Rolling Hills 154 Finishers		154 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Emerald Isle Marathon Emerald Isle, NC 10/24/2026						Very Flat 286 Finishers		286 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
RDC Marathon Durham, NC 10/25/2026						Rolling Hills 225 Finishers		225 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
City of Oaks Marathon Raleigh, NC 11/01/2026						Hilly 979 Finishers		979 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Outer Banks Marathon Manteo, NC 11/08/2026						Mostly Flat 327 Finishers		327 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races
Charlotte Marathon Charlotte, NC 11/14/2026						Rolling Hills 2,647 Finishers		2,647 Finishers		Reviews	Compare Races