The short version: The 2027 Boston Marathon cutoff is 5 minutes, 17 seconds, 43 seconds tougher than last year’s 4:34. The B.A.A. accepted 24,630 qualifiers on time, is selecting 1,000 more at random from those who missed the cutoff, and could not accept 8,019 applicants. The race is April 19, 2027. The 2028 qualifying window opened September 19, 2026, so any Texas marathon you run this season on a certified course counts toward 2028.
What the B.A.A. announced
- Cutoff: 5:17 or faster than the standard for your age group and gender.
- Applications: an updated total of 33,649 from registration week, September 14–18. The B.A.A.’s first count was 33,656.
- Accepted: 25,630 accepted or in process, pending final verification: 24,630 on time and 1,000 through the new random selection.
- Not accepted: 8,019 qualifiers.
- Field size: 30,000 official entrants. The rest of the field is invitational entrants, charity runners, professionals and Para athletes.
- Downhill courses: for the first time, times from courses with more than 1,500 feet of net elevation drop get a time-index adjustment.
What 5:17 means for your time
Subtract 5:17 from your standard to find the time that got in. A 40–44 man with a 3:05:00 standard needed 2:59:43 or faster, and an 18–34 woman with a 3:25:00 standard needed 3:19:43 or faster. The 2026 race accepted applicants who were 4:34 or more under, and the B.A.A. does not set or predict a cutoff before registration closes. Registration for the 2028 race will be announced after the 2027 race, so a cushion is the only safe plan.
The 2027 qualifying standards
These are the standards from the B.A.A. qualifying page, and the B.A.A. says the 2028 window uses its published standards. The cutoff is how far under your standard you had to be.
| Age group | Men | Women | Non-binary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 35–39 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65–69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75–79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 | 5:20:00 |
Missed it? Where Texans can chase a 2028 BQ
To count, a qualifying marathon must be on a course certified by USA Track & Field (or the foreign equivalent), with electronic timing and at least three official entrants. Check each race’s own site for its certification before you register. The big Texas marathons this season:
| Race | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth Marathon | Sun., Nov. 8, 2026 | Done; see the 2026 results and our guide |
| San Antonio Marathon | Sun., Dec. 6, 2026 | Registration open on RunSignup |
| Shiner Beer Run | Sat., Nov. 21, 2026 | New full marathon; the race says USATF certification is pending and expected by race day |
| Dallas Marathon | Sun., Dec. 13, 2026 | Sold out (as of Sept. 27) |
| Houston Marathon | Sun., Jan. 17, 2027 | General registration sold out |
| Austin Marathon | Sun., Feb. 14, 2027 | Registration open |
| Cowtown Marathon | Sun., Feb. 28, 2027 | The race says its full and ultra are Boston qualifiers |
Our Texas marathon registration roundup has details for each race. For smaller Texas marathons, including flat and fast ones, browse every upcoming marathon in Texas. The November and December guides show which weekends are open.
Training for a BQ in Texas
The window rewards racing when it is cool. November through February is when Texas runners have the best shot, and summer training in the heat helps. Two guides from us: why your easy pace slows down in the Texas heat, and a side-by-side of the new Nike Alphafly 4 and adidas Adios Pro 5 racing shoes. Chasing a qualifier at a fall major? Here is how to watch the Chicago Marathon from Texas, and our Chicago 2027 application guide with its own time-qualifier standards.
Applying through time at New York instead? Our NYC Marathon 2026 results and NYC qualifying guide cover the 2027 time-qualifier route, which needs a certified marathon by Dec. 31.
