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 2023’s 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.
This year's list is dominated by downhill marathons. Half of the races and the top 6 have a significant net downhill course. We know downhill courses aren't for everyone. If that includes you, check out our list of the 50 Best Non-Downhill Boston Qualifiers.
| RACE NAME (Previous Rank) |
|---|
| 1. Revel Big Bear Marathon (1) |
| 2. Revel Mt. Charleston Marathon (3) |
| 3. California International Marathon (2) |
| 4. Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon (4) |
| 5. Tunnel Light Marathon (6) |
| 6. Mesa Marathon (7) |
| 7. Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (16) |
| 8. Chicago Marathon (17) |
| 9. Mountains 2 Beach Marathon (NR) |
| 10. Glass City Marathon (48) |
| 11. Eugene Marathon (8) |
| 12. Sugarloaf Marathon (28) |
| 13. Jack and Jill’s Downhill Marathon (10) |
| 14. Ventura Marathon (14) |
| 15. Baystate Marathon (13) |
| 16. Grandma’s Marathon (18) |
| 17. Revel Big Cottonwood Marathon (5) |
| 18. Tunnel Vision Marathon (9) |
| 19. Bayshore Marathon (19) |
| 20. Erie Marathon (12) |
| 21. Carmel Marathon (20) |
| 22. Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon (Illinois) (27) |
| 23. Hawaii Bird Conservation Marathon (NR) |
| 24. St. George Marathon (22) |
| 25. Santa Rosa Marathon (NR) |
| 26. Wineglass Marathon (15) |
| 27. Cheap Marathon (26) |
| 28. Steamtown Marathon (21) |
| 29. Napa Valley Marathon (24) |
| 30. Richmond Marathon (NR) |
| 31. Philadelphia Marathon (29) |
| 32. Last Chance BQ.2 Marathon (Michigan) (NR) |
| 33. Revel Rockies Marathon (30) |
| 34. Houston Marathon (11) |
| 35. Jersey City Marathon (NR) |
| 36. Harrisburg Marathon (45) |
| 37. Columbus Marathon (31) |
| 38. Shamrock Marathon (NR) |
| 39. Cape Cod Marathon (NR) |
| 40. Sundance to Spearfish Marathon (34) |
| 41. Tobacco Road Marathon (37) |
| 42. Spring Chance BQ.2 Marathon (49) |
| 43. Tucson Marathon (38) |
| 44. Utah Valley Marathon (NR) |
| 45. Rogue Marathon (41) |
| 46. Mohawk-Hudson River Marathon (25) |
| 47. The Woodlands Marathon (NR) |
| 48. North Central Rail Trail Marathon (NR) |
| 49. New England Green River Marathon (43) |
| 50. Charlevoix Marathon (NR) |