Boston Marathon Announces Registration Dates and Rule Changes for 2026 Race
The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) has announced that registration for the 2026 Boston Marathon will open this fall from September 8 to 12. As demand surges, the BAA will implement significant adjustments to its qualifying procedures for the 2027 marathon, introducing new time penalties for participants from downhill races.
Effective September 13, the qualifying times from races with notable downhill elevation will incur a five- or ten-minute penalty, depending on the degree of net downhill. This measure aims to address the competitive advantage observed among runners who have been leveraging downhill courses for faster qualifying times, with approximately 10% of the 2025 marathon field qualifying from such races.
BAA CEO Jack Fleming emphasized the necessity of these changes to ensure fairness amid record applications, with the 2025 race turning away over 12,000 qualifiers. “We wanted to be fair to all runners and those aspiring to participate in the Boston Marathon,” Fleming stated. With an eye on maintaining integrity in the prestigious event, this adjustment reflects the BAA’s commitment to balancing high demand while ensuring equal opportunities for all marathoners.
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