You are here:
Boston Marathon
Race Details:
- Location: Boston, MA, USA
- Race Date: 04/19/2027
- Race Distances: Full Marathon
Qualifying Race For:
Boston: Yes
World Major Qualifier: Yes
Boston Marathon Description
The Boston Marathon has run every Patriots’ Day since 1897, making it the world’s oldest annual marathon and one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors. The point-to-point course starts in Hopkinton and finishes on Boylston Street in downtown Boston, passing through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, and Newton along the way. Wellesley’s “Scream Tunnel” and the string of climbs in Newton known as Heartbreak Hill, cresting around mile 20, are the race’s signature stretches. Entry requires hitting a strict age- and gender-based qualifying time, and even qualifiers aren’t guaranteed a spot once the field fills.
Share This Race
Shop This Race
Handpicked for runners toeing this line.
Boston Marathon Additional Details:
The unicorn stamped on every Boston Marathon medal has an actual name, Spike, an affectionate nickname BAA staff gave the mythical creature that’s graced the race’s medals and jackets for decades. Nobody at the BAA can say for certain how a unicorn became the organization’s emblem in the first place, which only adds to its charm as one of road running’s most recognizable symbols. The medal itself pairs a glossy gold embossed unicorn with royal blue trim, a design that changes slightly each year while keeping Spike front and center. Finishers who qualify to run Boston are already part of an exclusive club, and the medal they take home has become just as iconic as the race itself, recognizable even to people who’ve never run a step.
Course Information
Profile: Downhill
Type: Point to Point
Surface: Road/Pavement
Pace Groups: Yes
Time Limit: 6 hr 30 min
# of Finishers
29,000 to 29,500 Marathon
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 815 ft (248 m)
Elevation Loss: 1,275 ft (388 m)
Average Temperature
- Low: 41°F
- High: 63°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Full Marathon Training Plan
Structured plans for every experience level, from your first 26.2 to chasing a new PR.
Things to Do in Boston, MA, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Boston Harbor Islands
Take the seasonal ferry to the Boston Harbor Islands, 34 islands with hiking trails, beaches, and skyline views — a relaxed, scenic way to spend a rest day.
Shopping
Newbury Street
Browse boutiques and galleries along Newbury Street, Boston’s premier shopping destination in the Back Bay — an easy, flat, walkable stroll for a post-race souvenir.
Sports & Entertainment
Fenway Park
Tour America’s Most Beloved Ballpark, Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox since 1912 — a relaxed, mostly-seated way to spend an afternoon after race day.
Landmark
Freedom Trail
Walk the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, connecting 16 historic Revolutionary-era sites including Paul Revere’s House — an easy, flat, self-paced way to sightsee after race weekend.
Museums & History
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Wander the Venetian-palazzo-style galleries of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, filled with rare art and antiques — an easy, indoor, low-impact stop after race day.
Zoos, Aquariums & Gardens
New England Aquarium
See penguins and a giant ocean tank at the New England Aquarium on Boston’s historic waterfront — an easy, indoor, low-impact stop for recovering legs after race day.
Food & Drink
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Sample chowder and local treats at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, a historic marketplace and meeting hall dating to 1742 — a relaxed, low-impact way to refuel after race day.
Arts & Culture
Museum of Fine Arts
See masterpieces from around the world at the Museum of Fine Arts, one of the country’s premier art museums — a relaxed, indoor way to spend a taper day.
Outdoors & Trails
Emerald Necklace
Walk a flat stretch of the Emerald Necklace, Frederick Law Olmsted’s chain of parks stretching five miles through Boston neighborhoods — an easy option for tapering or recovering legs.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Boston Marathon
Compare nearby hotels and book your Boston Marathon race-weekend stay in seconds.
Sunrise Running Company may earn a commission if you book through the map below, at no extra cost to you.
Featured Race
A pancake-flat course made for chasing a PR — and a Boston Qualifier.
Boston Qualifier: Yes