New Boston Marathon Time Standards for 2026?! Sage Canaday Running
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Higher Running Coach and Hoka Athlete Sage Canaday gives any surface any distance runners from 5k to the ultramarathon and marathon training tips and advice from running form and technique to long run workouts, speed training, running vo2max workouts and lactate threshold intensity as well as long runs and diet and nutrition advice. A pro trail mountain runner athlete for over a decade, Sage is a plant based marketing content creator for his sponsors and other brands with regular VLogs, training talks and tutorials. Check out training plans at Higher Runing and get free coaching resources!
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Getting into Boston feels like one of the last attainable, yet fair goals in running. A 2:55 marathon is quick, but you can still have a life outside of running and hit that goal.
The people shouting about how soft gen-z is and "Kids these days are entitled!" and "They all want a participation trophey!" are the same ones commenting "no no please make it a lottery I deserve it :("
The gimmicky massive net downhill marathons should not be considered. I would imagine this would account for a decent amount of the people with BQ times. I’ve noticed that these downhill marathons are pretty popular amongst the influencer class who just want to say they have run a “sub 3 bro” but instead they just threw themselves down a mountain
I’m not a trail runner, but I’ve done most of the majors, and for me (as a Brit) Boson was really something very special. I was able to qualify for Boston, Chicago and London (there is a qualifying process for British runners, which are times faster than Boston). Chicago was the ‘fairest’ in one way when I did it, as you hit the time and you’re in. Boston and London you’re not totally sure until the times are released. Berlin I got in via the lottery, Tokyo I went for charity. Tokyo is interesting as they only give a very small number of qualification places at very, very fast times.
I wouldn’t like to see Boston, or any race, filter out people who’ve done the race before. Talking about my British friends, getting a London qualifying time is what drives them each year to get out the door, enter marathons, trying to get that time. Some do it just the once, some never make it, others do it year after year. But the lure of working towards that time each year motivates veterans and newer runners alike. I’m sure it’s similar for runners who target Boston every year.
I benefit from being British with regards to London, but actually I do think it’s unfair that foreign runners can’t qualify for London. If London opened up qualification to foreigners, it would mean that the times would get a lot harder, and that would really upset the British runners that chase the time. London have already upset clubs and club runners as they have reduced the numbers of places that clubs get allocated.
You’re right about the costs. Flights, hotel fees, even race entries does not make this a cheap hobby for us hobby joggers! In fairness to London, they keep the entry fees pretty low at under $100.
I think ultimately though, any race can organise themselves however they like. I’ve thought this even when I kept missing London times, and when London made the times harder over the years. When I finally got the time, it made it even sweeter.
Love that photo of you breaking away from the pack at 3:15 that's such an epic photo!!! I don't feel qualified to join the discussion you're inviting people to talk about - I'm a new runner, started last October and not yet a marathoner BUT my first marathon is Hamptons Marathon next Saturday! Just ran a 10K PR yesterday at Cow Harbor 10K. Very excited to see what I can do on my first marathon next week. I've been a cyclist for a long time but watched your videos on and off for years, you definitely subliminally nudged me into being a runner, love your incredible depth of knowledge and attitude towards all running distances from 100m to 100 miles as all part of one big continuum.
Thanks Sage. It's an interesting topic, glad to hear you looking forward.
Runners who do qualify should be admitted before all these charity runners that just pay their way into running Boston with slow times!!!
its a business ,betting baa prefers the opposite
I have run Boston twice for charity as I am someone who will never make qualifying time. I am incredibly grateful for those experiences. Those of you like me who need to run for charity - do it! Know that raising the money required is just as difficult and time consuming as the training. All things considered, the race is really that great and totally worth all the struggle to get to the starting line. Stoked you’re running it again, Sage! I’ll take some footage of you around mile 7 and send it to you on instagram.
I like that they lower the qualifying times so there are fewer people who think they may have gotten the chance to run only to see it slip away durring registration. Especially if you run a qualifying time in April and have to wait half a year to figure out if you get in.
Speaking to the race itself, Boston has always been a special one to me growing up in the area and spectating from the top of heartbreak hill most years of my life. I got a non-qualifying number for 2024, but couldn't run after picking up a stress fracture just 4 weeks out. I trained back up and ran a marathon a couple weeks ago and hope to run Boston next year.
Good luck to anyone else who is waiting to see if they get in, and to Sage for 2025.
Spot on with the unknowns and sliding scale .. I have qualified @55 with a 3:24 and still unsure if I will get in for April. Other majors have tougher qualifiying times but are easier to have alternative routes; With Boston it is the time that get's you in the door and for a 190lbs hobby jogger like myself it was the work myself and a my coach wittled down which in itself was anachievment. It would be better to have removed all those daft downhill courses as qulifying races then playing with times as they amend them anyhow depending on the number of entries (9000+ will be dropped this year from the looks of things ) Have a coffee on me Sage.
Boston should not be a lottery. If Boston were a lottery like Western States or UTMB, it would mean that it's not something to work hard for, but something that requires the means to keep running races to get lottery entries or collect stones. It would ruin Boston.
What about very wealthy Charity Runners that can "buy their way in" for $10k-15k or so? Then it's not about "hard work" or "speed" either 🤣....but rather pure financial privilege!
@@Vo2maxProductions Charity spots are a separate issue... I just meant that comparing Boston to Western or UTMB is not quite accurate because no one assume you are fast because you ran Western or UTMB; participating in these events does not create the assumption of talent/hard work. You can be the slowest runner in the world and get lucky in the Western lottery. If Boston went to lottery, running it similarly wouldn't say anything about your talent/hard work. And if Boston is not a difficult-yet-achievable accomplishment to be proud of, it would lose what makes it special.
A slight undulation on the course can be helpful if legs tire because you get to change muscles a bit.
why binary need less time..... comon dafuq
Yep. People cheat. All the time. And this just opens up the opportunity to simply declare oneself running in this category and that’s it. You get a place a potentially push out other men or women that would have had that spot.
I don’t care about people gender. But it should be fair laying field and those that have gone through puberty as a man have an unfair advantage against those who did not. Therefore they need to qualify with the time related to those having the same body development history.
Category shouldn't even exist.
Male female that should be it.
Yeah dumb. And it’s just the same times as the women’s category. Like, why? Just to virtue signal pretty much
I have been joking to people I can either keep my pace and wait until I get to 80 or cut my dxck off to be qualified lol
The qualifying times have changed multiple times over the history of the race. This is the oldest organized marathon in the world. Meet the qualifying and field size standards and run the race. No first qualifier card. I flew to my first Boston run with an individual who was running his 26th and earned every entry. 👍🏼
💯 Right on, Sage!
That’s how Chicago marathon does it - if you meet a standard you’re in!
Also, REVEL downhill marathons and other downhill marathons certainly contribute to faster times, which can then affect cutoff times… and can’t compare it to flat marathon (or hilly) times… Boston should do it the way Chicago does it - if you BQ you’re in… even if they have to increase the field size or raise standard even more…
The logistics of the Boston course make it so they really can’t increase the field. It’s already a struggle to bus 30,000 people 26 miles west of the city and then squeeze them all in the relatively narrow roads that make up the course.
First😎
Enjoying the content, it has helped a lot
🙏 Sage
Ive run 50+ races including a dozen full marathons and many Ultramarathon trail races.
Im certainly not a slower runner, but im not fast enough to qualify for Boston and thats okay. Having started running at 40, i didn't expect to ever get a sub-elite time.
All of my races are within a 3 hour drive of my house and ive done big marathons with thousands of runners as well as trail races with a few dozen.
The Marine Corps Marathon is a great race. It’s for everyone!!
I read an interesting Reddit that recommended that a separate charity marathon be introduced, due to the amount of applicants they have. Would open more slots to time qualified runners
2nd!!!!! i freaking love ur running career montage video
San Diego acknowledged.
I ran a BQ standard qualifying time at grandmas in 2023 and missed the buffer by over 5 minutes. I think my own pitfall was not recognizing that to secure a BQ entry I would need beat the cutoff time by at least 7 minutes. Next time I want to try for a BQ I will plan my training around this reality
The reason why you can know you are in the Olympic trials when you finish is that not that many people hit that standards. The only way you could know you are in Boston when you cross the line is if they took 15 mins off all the standards. The current standards guarantee you consideration for the Boston marathon.
100% agree. I’ve not (yet!) qualified for Boston, but I don’t mind the faster qualifying times. The year-to-year variations in the cut-off times is the worst part. I want to train for a target time and then feel the sense of accomplishment when I execute the race plan and hit that target. The idea that you have to then wait all year for the BAA to release its arbitrary cut-off cheapens the accomplishment; especially when the extreme variance between the different races (and race conditions) people run in to qualify makes subtle differences in finish times basically meaningless.
Never something i could attain anyway. I got a sense from my faster friends that BQing was relatively harder in the early 2000s than it had been in recent years anyway.
The cutoffs were approaching 7 minutes recently, so the new standards are basically just accounting for this.
Hats off to all marathon racers. I top out at the half marathon limit, I have no desire to do a full Marathon.
I said the same thing until I challenged myself to run 16 miles. After that I only had 4 to go. 😂😂 That being said, I’m very slow.
@@MNP208 well you still have six more to go after that for a full Marathon 😉😊.
As a male in the 18-34 age group currently chasing a BQ, I’d be more annoyed if they raised the time. I think the harder standard will make it all the more worthwhile when I finally achieve my goals.
I love running Revel races and I will not apologize for it😂
would you count them as your "PR" though?
@@Vo2maxProductions 100%, and I do. My feet still carried me 26.2 miles. If anything, as someone who lives at sea level, the downhill cancels out the altitude for me.
Either way, I’m not a professional athlete, just a guy trying to push myself to improve so if I’m improving my time on those courses then I’m still improving
If you've qualified for Boston one year, maybe the next year you can only apply as a reserve to allow other first timers a chance. If there are spaces left or not enough qualifiers then you get the reserve place.
But to be honest by lowering the standards by about 5 minutes probably means if you get it or a min or two under, there's a good chance of getting in when you look at the historical cut offs.
But overall I think it's nice to have a prestigious event with a unique entry system like Boston. Charity is good, but Maybe there should be less charity spots and more qualifying chances.
Mixed feelings about the new standards. I ran my first marathon this year in 3h22 (also San Diego RNR), so the thought of one day breaking the 3-hour barrier has become a real, motivating dream. It was also my old BQ standard, so it would've been sweet to brag about qualifying for Boston at the same time--even if I don't have plans to run it!
So the higher bar for BQ feels slightly discouraging, but not as much when I think of the challenge and enjoyment that got me into running. But I can't say bragging rights are no enticement. I'd still love to BQ, and first of all to go under 3 hours. Only on a "fair" course though :P
I applied for the 2025 race with a 4:31 buffer knowing that I probably wouldn’t get in. Then the news of the additional 5 mins came out. Quite disheartening and humbling. I’m just going to keep running and wait 3 years until I get into the next age bracket.
If I follow your strategy, I may be able to qualify at age 70. 😂
58y young here, BQed for 2025 with 11min buffer. 3y into structured running with Higher Running BQ Marathon Plan. Solely, never felt need for a different plan. Got me into NYC, too. Keep Boston as legendary as it is. As something ambitious age groupers can relate to. Heard a saying: the Olympics for us recreational marathon runners😂
Congrats! Love this story! Thanks for your support of our Higher Running BQ Marathon Training Plan and glad it worked out so well for you!
These big marathon can just you go *** themselves with their time restrictions and lotteries. There are enough smaller events to run and the achievement is the same.
I don’t see what’s wrong with having a time standard.
@@EffigyofChaos Nothing wrong with that, but I'm not going to chase their holy grail of participating in their oh so very special event. It's 42,2k wherever you run.
I think updating it by 5 minutes is better than it being 5 minutes slower but you stell needed to run 6min faster than the qualification time
The time to qualify is harder but yeah, the time to get in stays the same. It just means fewer applications (which may be a lot nicer for the BAA people going through applications).
It’s much easier to get in to Boston when you get older. If you’re in your 30’s and can’t break 3 hours now, just keep at it, be patient, and do it when you are old enough for when the standards are slower. Now that I’m over 45 BQing really isn’t that hard at all.
It's always been a 7:35 pace for lions. Every 10 years, they jack up the times by 10 years. Can't imagine an 80 year old doing a sub 5 hour marathon. Are 80 year olds going to throw down 3:30 marathons in 30 years?
You just spoke my mind that I have had…Boston marathon should limit people to keep doing and prioritize people who is trying to do it maybe just once. I am not fast to be qualified but as more and more people are into marathon for the last decade and with all the super shoes help now, I can see all the spots be filled with the same group of people if they want to…and guess what, now with Sydney being the seventh star, become world major marathon finishers is becoming powerball lottery to lots of people, me included…
The moving target is really frustrating, but with so many applications they'd have to drop the standard by 10min+ to ensure that a BQ meant guaranteed entry. I think the downhill races need to be eliminated as qualifiers.
Why don’t they simply make a qualifying time and have the race on 2 days of the weekend? Doubles the amount of ravers and money in their pockets. Then everyone’s happy
1st time boston qualifiers, auto in. let ppl live their dream. everyone else can go by time cut off or lotto draw.
I don't hate this idea
Wait? Does this mean we get to see you? You gotta host a shakeout the day before!
For sure I'll look into a meet up!
I have been training to get a BQ this year after having come very closed in 2019 and then having Covid screw me over. I'm finally feeling like I could make it after a long road of training and dealing with elder care. I'm 4 weeks from the race and then I see the standards changed today. I get them wanting to make qualifying hard, and that's Boston's right, but can they not announce the changes at the beginning of the year, so people can adjust their objective a bit? It's like moving the goal posts while the ball is in the air. It's almost like they enjoy annoying the runners that haven't gotten there yet.
In my opinion the "double dipping" where you run a time qualifier during the first week in September which allows you to utilize the time for current year and next year entries, should be abolished. Some of those specially organized races are also net downhills for sole purpose of getting into Boston. As far as setting preference for first time qualifiers over those who have run it multiple times, this would in my opinion again, only reduce faster runners from ever applying.
Perhaps BAA could instill a one year cooldown for those selected on time? I dunno. I’m looking at years of work before flirting with a qualifying time. No stake in it here. Other things to worry about :)
Too many charity runners in Boston. Some runners esp older may only manage after a lot of hard work to qualify once and that many are turned down for charity runners is a shame
I live near Boston and have run qualified. I am waiting to hear about my application for 2025, but I am 61 and have enough cushion. I agree about the charity runners. Too many and it is too tough a course for most people who are slower runners. I've volunteered on the course at mile 17, which is where the hill begin, and people are already dying. The charity runners are in the later wave, so they have been waiting a long time and running at the hotter part of the day. Many people who were never runners are emotionally motivated for a charity, but never run again because the training and the race are so taxing on the body.
Yeah charity and helping people less fortunate is the real problem! **shakes fist**
All y’all talkin bout running under 2.5 hours and I’m out here still be suffering after 5 hours. 😂😂
Sport isn’t equitable and either is life. Sometimes working hard is not enough. 🤷♀️
yes, but that doesn't mean we just give up on fighting for what might be "more fair" or stuff based on hard work and merit. The ideals of rewarding honest hard work can still be reflected in some aspects of society if we demonstrate value with certain things
Having never run Boston (yet), I've heard discussions about expanding the field size and then the topic of it having a huge impact on the communities it runs through. The streets being closed for the majority of the day. Why does the race start as late as it does. Could it not start at the same time as most other marathons? Is there a reason for such a late start?
What do you think would be a reasonable marathon race pace for someone who does (most recently) 20 mile long run in 2:25 (7:16, with mile 20 at 6:57 pace) and earlier (March) diagnostic 15k run in 59:37 (6:24 min/mile) pace… would 3:05 marathon be realistic?
Boston should have an “A” and “B” standards. The B standards would run on Saturday and the A would run on Sunday. This would create more revenue and encourage more people to be part of the event.
The city would revolt. While the "community" loves the event, the various towns it goes through don't necessarily.
Um, Boston is always ran on a Monday. It's a holiday, Patriots day.
Boston should be hard. And people who are running through charity aren't true six-star finishers. The whole point is that Boston is not a participation trophy.
A social event being run by big business, disgusting, most charities are because out of every dollar a small percentage of that dollar actually goes to the charity, next there are more people dying running a marathon because of the look at me affect that are not medically cleared or healthy enough to run. A serious runner is content running less notorious events and are just as satisfied with their success because all the family and friends are there to love and support them. Get over your ego to run a big six event that charge an exorbitant amount of money and can deny you entry even if you qualify.
First time qualifiers auto entry first, then 2nd+ time qualifiers, then charity fill in the gaps at the end if there's extra space leftover
Pretty good idea 🙌....make the "veterans" who have already run the race go a little faster than the time standards...whereas first-timers get that "auto in" regardless of how far under the time standard they are
To your point about cost if you have money you can buy your way into Boston, or Chicago etc. or even the Leadville 100 regardless of experience or ability. Fairness is a complicated word when it comes to race rules, bottom line is the RD/owners create their races, make their rules, if you want to do their race you accept their rules, don’t like the rules don’t do the race. I could say Barkley is “unfair” because of the difficulty and lack of transparency even to apply, but then again its what makes Barkley Barkley and even the best in the world accept they’re probably never gonna get in.
Only problem I have with Barkley is if the public doesn't have access to some of the routes, then the race shouldn't be allowed to go through those areas either unless they are on private property. Special privilege on public land is silly. Then all the drama about who can film on some of these races when they are on public land is also ridiculous. That kind of elite attitude makes me give them the big thumbs down.
🙏🙏🙏
London has a faster qualifying time and 2025 has 840K entries for about 20k ballot places.
Much easier to get a charity place in London though (not so easy to get the required amount of sponsorship though) , it is only due to the crazy volume of applicants that it has gotten silly . Boston you need to make the grade just to apply.
@@JohnBirtchetSharpeI got a 3:13 when London was 3:15 but they drew the line at 3:11, Boston was 3:25 that year and all got in.
Charity places are about £2000 at London.
@@garybowes6284 sorry to hear that , and yup the charity places require crazy amount of money , I did it last year and it took me 7 months to raise just over that. Never again, more stressful then the training itself .
London realistic good-for-age time for most guys under 45 is 2:45 (GFA official time id 2:55 for that age group, but I think less than 3k places for ages 18-50). Berlin auto time is 2:44 for that age group, and I think Tokyo is something like 2:30
I so wish London extended the “good for age” standard to non-UK applicants. Same with Tokyo.
Here's a question, we always hear about all prestigious marathons. What would be the most prestigious half marathons?
RAK, Houston Half on a USATF Champs year, Great North Run etc. That Half Marathon in Japan where like 1000 runners broke 1:10.....
@@Vo2maxProductions in '26 a buddy and I are going to run the half at the Houston Marathon. Is it always the usat championship? My buddy and I are not doing the championship portion, it's a half he's always wanted to do and if he's going to go all the way to Houston he wants company, and I'm like okay I'll do it.
@@Vo2maxProductions the RAK.... Is that a race in the United Arab Emirates? that's what I'm finding on Google
@@Vo2maxProductions 1:10... that's an okay time for a 10k! I could never fathom running a half marathon that fast 😀.
missed the BQ by a few minutes earlier this year in my first ever officially sanctioned marathon race at the Jim Thorpe Marathon, a net downhill rail trail race. BQ wasn't my goal. went into it as a training run for a bigger goal, JFK50 this November. I was not a fan of the course that was marketed as a "fast course"... Boston seems overgrown and is financially out of reach for many. this year has been all about getting better at running and I have learned a lot about the importance of some of the topics and ideas mentioned in the video. some of us who show up on the scene later in life aren't aware of running culture idiosyncrasies, like PRing on courses that are flat versus not flat. it can be confusing. anyway... the BQ is BS. do something different Boston!
Maybe when im 50 and saved enough pennies.
Weird flex but ok
I’m 57 and I think the standards for some of the upper age groups are too easy relative to the under 40 standard. I don’t think they require a relatively similar level of training to obtain. IMO we olds get a break because most of our running peers when we were younger “injured out” of the sport. I assume the reason for the disparity is to maintain some semblance of age diversity.
Just sign up as non-binary
I appreciate that there are time standards, something to target. In a world where there’s a lot of entitlement and pay-to-play, plus tens of thousands of people who want to participate, it’s great that there are standards. I’m old, and I applied to New York this year with a 2:57. But I had a 0 .0001% chance of getting in (and I didn’t) because I didn’t run NYRR races, nor am I that fast. Same applies to Leadville. At this point, if I want to run LT100, I think I’ll need to join Lifetime Fitness. At least for States, there’s still that chance. Ya know?
For Leadville - you can volunteer to get in, you can earn or be chosen at random to get a coin for auto entry, you can sign up for the lead challenge, or sign on for thier coaching to get auto entry. It's probably the most accessible of the big name 100s.