Boston vs New York: which marathon can you actually get into?
Two of the six Majors, two completely different front doors. One publishes a time and then quietly raises it. The other publishes a time and honours it — but also lets thousands in who never ran one.
Which is easier to get into?
Boston's published standard is not the bar you have to clear. In most recent years applicants also had to beat it by a cut-off — 4:34 for the 2026 race. Plan on roughly 5:00 under your Boston standard.
Qualifying times, age group by age group
Boston standards apply to the 2026 and 2027 races. New York standards apply to the 2027 race, for marathons run in 1 January – 31 December 2026, with age taken on 7 November 2027.
| Age group | Boston men | NYC men | Boston women | NYC women |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18–34 | 2:55:00 | 2:53:00 | 3:25:00 | 3:13:00 |
| 35–39 | 3:00:00 | 2:55:00 | 3:30:00 | 3:15:00 |
| 40–44 | 3:05:00 | 2:58:00 | 3:35:00 | 3:26:00 |
| 45–49 | 3:15:00 | 3:05:00 | 3:45:00 | 3:38:00 |
| 50–54 | 3:20:00 | 3:14:00 | 3:50:00 | 3:51:00 |
| 55–59 | 3:30:00 | 3:23:00 | 4:00:00 | 4:10:00 |
| 60–64 | 3:50:00 | 3:34:00 | 4:20:00 | 4:27:00 |
| 65–69 | 4:05:00 | 3:45:00 | 4:35:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 70–74 | 4:20:00 | 4:10:00 | 4:50:00 | 5:30:00 |
| 75–79 | 4:35:00 | 4:30:00 | 5:05:00 | 6:00:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 4:55:00 | 5:20:00 | 6:35:00 |
Both races apply the women's standard to non-binary athletes. Sources: BAA and NYRR. Verified 27 July 2026 and 3 August 2026.
How each race fills its field
Boston
- Time qualification or a charity bib. There is no lottery.
- Meeting the standard submits an application, not an entry. When qualified applicants outnumber the time-qualifier bibs, the fastest are accepted and a cut-off is announced afterwards.
- Most recent accepted cut-off: 4:34 under the standard, for the 2026 race.
- Two recent years — 2022 and 2023 — had no cut-off at all, which is why averaging the whole history understates what today's field requires.
New York
- Four routes in: time qualification, the 9+1 programme, the lottery, or charity.
- A qualifying time is honoured as published. There is no cut-off applied after the fact.
- Half-marathon times also qualify, which the marathon-only Boston route does not offer. Eligible NYRR races include the United Airlines NYC Half, Maybelline Women's Half, RBC Brooklyn Half.
- 9+1 asks for a year of NYRR racing and one volunteer day rather than a fast time — a route that rewards residency and patience over speed.
Frequently asked
Is Boston or New York harder to qualify for?
On published times, New York is the more forgiving standard in 1 of the 11 age groups. But Boston's standard is only the entry ticket to a queue: in most recent years, applicants also had to beat the standard by a cut-off, most recently 4:34. New York accepts every runner who meets its time inside the qualifying window, so the published number is the real number.
Can I get into New York without qualifying?
Yes, and that is the biggest structural difference between the two. New York has a general-entry lottery, a guaranteed-entry route for runners who complete nine qualifying NYRR races plus one volunteer day in the prior year, and charity entries. Boston has time qualification and charity entries only — there is no lottery.
Which one should I target first?
If your marathon time is close to either standard, target New York: a hit is an entry, with no cut-off to beat. If you are chasing Boston, plan for a buffer of about 5:00 under your standard rather than the standard itself.
Do the age groups line up between the two races?
Yes — both use five-year bands from 18–34 up to 80+, and both apply the women's standard to non-binary athletes. That is what makes a direct row-by-row comparison honest. Boston's standards apply to the 2026 and 2027 races; New York's apply to the 2027 race, with times run in 1 January – 31 December 2026.
Using this page in your own work?
Copy a formatted reference below. If you are quoting a number from this page, please link back to it so readers can check the source and the date it was last reviewed.
Breno Melo, "Boston vs New York: Which Marathon Can You Get Into? — Breno Melo Endurance Coaching", Breno Melo Endurance Coaching (last reviewed 27 July 2026). https://www.brenoamelo.com/boston-vs-nyc-marathon
Picked your race?
The standard is a number. Getting to it is eighteen weeks of decisions about volume, intensity and recovery. That part is coachable.