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Best Boston Marathon Qualifiers for 2026

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Duke City Marathon

Albuquerque, NM
Sunday, October 18, 2026


  3.4 Stars from 5 Reviews

Course Description
The 2025 Duke City Marathon course starts and finishes at Civic Plaza in downtown Albuquerque, offering a relatively flat and fast high-altitude route. The course is a reimagined tour of the city, taking runners along Historic Route 66 and then onto the scenic, paved Paseo del Bosque Trail which runs beside the Rio Grande. As an out-and-back course, runners enjoy expansive views of the majestic Sandia Mountains, pass through the charming Village of Los Ranchos, and experience the culture and history near Old Town Albuquerque before looping back to the finish line downtown.

October Other Marathons in October Other Marathons in New Mexico Marathons near Albuquerque, NM



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Race Information

Race Dates

2026: Sunday, October 18, 2026
2025: Sunday, October 19, 2025

Course Information

Profile: Mostly Flat
Type: Mostly Out and Back
Surface: Road/Pavement

Boston Qualifier?: Yes
World Marathon Major Qualifier?: No

Race Day Weather

Mean Temp.: 57°F (13°C)
Average High: 70°F (21°C)
Average Low: 43° F (6°C)




PR Score & Course Score

PR Score: 94.59
Course Score: 94.59

Race Size

2025: 513 Finishers
2024: 483 Finishers
2023: 476 Finishers
2022: 378 Finishers
2021: 303 Finishers
2020: No Results

BQ Percentages

2025: 4.1%
2024: 3.9%
2023: 4%
2022: 5%
2021: 7%
2020: N/A

Miscellaneous Information

Pace Groups?: No

Weather Averages for Last 15 Years


Race Day Temperatures

High: 73°F  (23°C)
Low: 45°F  (7°C)

Race Start Conditions

47°F  (8°C)
Humidity: 55%

Clear
N 5 mph

PR Score

94.39

Course Score

94.46






Duke City Marathon Rankings, Course Speed & Boston Qualifier Statistics

The Duke City Marathon was the 133rd largest marathon in the U.S. in 2025 based on the number of finishers. In 2024, it ranked as the 136th largest marathon in the U.S..

In 2025, 4.1% of Duke City Marathon finishers achieved Boston Marathon qualifying times. In 2024, 3.9% of finishers qualified for Boston.

Based on its percentage of Boston Qualifiers (BQs), the Duke City Marathon ranked 325th among marathons in the U.S. in 2025 and 346th in 2024. In New Mexico, it ranked 3rd in 2025 and 3rd in 2024. These rankings provide a useful benchmark for runners comparing Boston Marathon qualifying potential across different races.

The Duke City Marathon has a Course Score of 94.59, ranking it as the 440th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 3rd fastest marathon course in New Mexico.

Typical race-time temperature and humidity levels are within the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. Combined with the course profile, this gives the Duke City Marathon a PR Score of 94.59. The PR Score ranks the Duke City Marathon as the 431st best marathon in the U.S. for running a Personal Record (PR) and the 3rd best marathon for a PR in New Mexico.

Together, these rankings provide a quick snapshot of how the Duke City Marathon compares with other marathons in the U.S. and New Mexico for speed, PR potential, Boston Marathon qualifying success, and overall participation.

Duke City Marathon Marathon Rankings Summary
Course Speed440th fastest marathon course in the U.S.
Ranked 3rd fastest marathon course in New Mexico
Top 95% Nationally#3 of 4 in New Mexico
PR Potential431st best marathon for a Personal Record in the U.S.
Ranked 3rd best marathon for a PR in New Mexico
Top 93% Nationally#3 of 4 in New Mexico
Boston Qualifier Rate325th highest BQ percentage in the U.S.
Ranked 3rd highest BQ percentage in New Mexico
Based on 2025 Boston Marathon qualifying results
Top 68% Nationally#3 of 5 in New Mexico
Race Size133rd largest marathon in the U.S.
Ranked 2nd largest marathon in New Mexico
Based on 2025 results
Top 23% Nationally#2 of 6 in New Mexico

Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.



Elevation Chart


Max Elevation: 5002 feet (1525m)
Min Elevation: 4949 feet (1508m)

Elevation Gain: 162 feet (49m)
Elevation Loss: 162 feet (49m)


Duke

Course updated 07/08/2026




Hotel & VRBO Accommodations for the Duke City Marathon

View available accomodations around the Duke City Marathon Finish Line and Course. Book your Reservation now before the best places are sold out.

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Compare the Duke City Marathon to other Marathons

Use tools below to compare races and convert times across courses.

Do you want to see how the Duke City Marathon stacks up against other marathons?

Compare the details of the Duke City Marathon side-by-side with other marathons with our Comparison Tool.


Comparison Tool

If you ran the Duke City Marathon in 5:19:00, what would your time in other marathons be?

See how your finish time would compare on other marathon courses with our Time Conversion Tool.


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Race Reviews


3.4
Based on 5 reviews
Write Your Own Review

Flatlander's Input

Full Review:

Loved the logistics! Close to an airport, DoubleTree by Hilton downtown was super convenient, and opportunity to stay in the Convention Center prior to race for warmth and restrooms were highlights. The shirts are nice and fit well.

Didn't like - I helped two first-timers finish and they ran out of 2025 medals, giving us 2024 finisher medals. The bike path was not large enough to accommodate marathoners, half marathoners and 10K runners. 10K runners and fast half marathoners were running toward the pack. Elevation was tough for this flatlander.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Logistics - The DoubleTree and The Clyde Hotel are ideal locations for an easy race morning. The Slate Street restaurant was excellent! 505 Central Food Court had multiple food options.
Reviewed by MEH About 2025

Best Option for New Mexico Marathon

Full Review:

The Expo was simple but fun--more than some other smaller marathons. Packet pickup was easy and shirts are decent. We had two color choices and the fit is going to be good for running. They had water stations every couple miles, definitely enough, with water and gatorade at most stops. Although they didn't have any Gu, the made it clear ahead of time that they did not and where the limited porta poties were.

Race Tips:

The course is well described on the website. It's a very slight, barely noticeable uphill on the Bosque Trail, then it turns on the Paseo Trail which is welcome rolling hills at that point. Then the turn around, rolling hills back to the Bosque, past Tingley Park and back to the finish line. It's an out and back. You do have to deal with half marathoners until they get to their turn around but once they turn around it's pretty open. Overall it's a good course. Finish line left a lot to be desired! I finished just after 5 hours and was offered warm water, a slice of bread and an apple. That was probably the biggest 'con' of the race.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

We didn't stay at the Double Tree because it was sold out but that would have been perfect. Walking distance of expo, start and finish! You can't hardly find a bad place to eat in Albuquerque!! We stayed at a further out hotel, about 6 miles away, and was able to find a street spot to park so that was easy as well.
Reviewed by Dena D About 2023

Not very organized

Full Review:

I have ran 15 marathon and ran Boston twice .

They have no drinks before the race ,Food truck show up 10 minutes before the race and I couldn't have anything to drink me and other runner .

They have no banana during the race or other food at the course , How can we run 26.2 miles and we can't have banana. at the finish line they give you dry bagel 3 days old and 1/2 banana .

Race Tips:

Yes, was beautiful place to run . please provide food on the course at less banana .

yes water and Gatorade was available .
Reviewed by ma About 2019

Good Race

Full Review:

The course is basically flat with a few small hills at the turn around. Beautiful scenery, not very crowded, had water, Gatorade, and bananas at frequent stands.
Reviewed by GS About 2019

Full Review:

Fairly flat for a high elevation race, good race support, good scenery, not very crowded, good pacing groups.

Race Tips:

2nd half is net downhill - plan to reverse split.

Travel/Logistics Tips:

Parking can be a mess because it starts downtown, plan accordingly.
Reviewed by re About 2015