Race guide
For runners picking a race to chase a Boston qualifying time. We list the fast, certified Florida marathons first, then the best-known options out of state, with the current standards and the 2027 cutoff.
By Darrin DeTorres · Updated October 5, 2026
A good Boston qualifying marathon has a certified course, a flat or gently downhill profile, and cool race-day weather. Reliable pacers, smooth aid stations, and a manageable field size also help. Check that the race is USATF or AIMS certified, because the Boston Athletic Association only accepts times run on certified courses.
Every race below is certified or lists itself as a Boston qualifier. Dates are the next full marathon, checked on each race's official site on October 5, 2026. All of them fall inside the 2028 qualifying window.
| Race | City | Next date | Course profile | Certification | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Space Coast Marathon | Cocoa | Nov 22, 2026 | Flat out-and-back on Indian River Drive, partly shaded | USATF FL24013JK | Sold out |
| Powerade Panama City Beach Marathon | Panama City Beach | Dec 5, 2026 | Out-and-back loops from Pier Park, roads open to traffic | USATF FL15004LAB | Register |
| Bound for Boston Marathon | Sarasota | Dec 6, 2026 | Flat 1-mile loop at Nathan Benderson Park, run 26-plus times | USATF FL22058JK | Register |
| Ameris Bank Jacksonville Marathon | Jacksonville | Dec 12, 2026 | Flat and shaded, finishes on the Bolles School track | Certified (race lists it as a Boston qualifier) | Register |
| U.S. Polo Assn. Palm Beaches Marathon | West Palm Beach | Dec 13, 2026 | Two flat loops on the Flagler Drive waterfront | USATF certified (code not published) | Register |
| Town of Celebration Marathon | Celebration | Jan 31, 2027 | Flat course through the town of Celebration | USATF FL25001JK | Register |
| Life Time Miami Marathon | Miami | Jan 31, 2027 | Single loop, flat except the MacArthur and Venetian causeways | Certified (race lists it as a Boston qualifier) | Register |
| 26.2 with DONNA | Jacksonville Beach | Feb 7, 2027 | Flat double loop through the Jacksonville beaches | USATF certified (code not published) | Register |
| Tallahassee Marathon | Tallahassee | Feb 7, 2027 | Rolling, through Betton Hills; finishes near Doak Campbell Stadium | Race lists it as a Boston qualifier | Register |
| Health First Florida Marathon | Melbourne | Feb 7, 2027 | Four long straightaways and four causeway bridge crossings | Race lists it as a Boston qualifier | Register |
| Publix Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon | Fort Lauderdale | Feb 14, 2027 | Flat, with miles along the ocean on A1A | USATF FL23005JK | Register |
| Marathon of the Treasure Coast | Stuart | Mar 7, 2027 | Water views through Stuart, Sewall's Point, Jensen Beach and Hutchinson Island, with bridges | USATF FL21049JK | Register |
November 22, 2026 · USATF FL24013JK
The flattest big marathon in the state, with a 6:00 AM start along the river. It is the earliest of the BQ races, so a warm late-November morning is the main risk. The 2026 marathon is sold out and the waitlist is closed, so put it on your list for 2027.
December 5, 2026 · USATF FL15004LAB
The best Panhandle option, and the closest BQ race for runners from Pensacola, Tallahassee and south Alabama. Early December on the Gulf is usually cool. Online registration closes the day before the race.
December 6, 2026 · USATF FL22058JK
A race built for one thing: a qualifying time. The field is capped at 75, the loop is flat and you pass your bottles every mile. The 4-hour limit means it only suits runners chasing the faster standards, and a lap course is a mental grind.
December 12, 2026 · Certified (race lists it as a Boston qualifier)
A Saturday race from The Bolles School on San Jose Boulevard with a 7:00 AM start. Mid-December mornings in North Florida are usually the coolest of the early-season races, and the course is described as pancake flat with plenty of shade.
December 13, 2026 · USATF certified (code not published)
A 6:00 AM start, a 100% flat course and pace teams make this the most BQ-focused race in South Florida in December. Humidity is the risk this far south, so plan for a slower second loop if the morning is warm.
January 31, 2027 · USATF FL25001JK
The race most Florida BQ chasers pick. Late January gives Central Florida its best shot at cool, dry air, there is a pace team at many qualifying times, and the race says nearly 20% of its 2022 marathoners qualified for Boston.
January 31, 2027 · Certified (race lists it as a Boston qualifier)
The biggest marathon in Florida, with crowds to match. The causeways add short climbs and Miami is warmer and more humid than Celebration on the same morning. Registration is sold out and waitlist picks are underway.
February 7, 2027 · USATF certified (code not published)
A flat beach course since the Intracoastal bridge came out in 2019, with a 7:30 AM start in early February. Ocean wind is the variable. The race raises money for breast cancer research and care.
February 7, 2027 · Race lists it as a Boston qualifier
The coolest February mornings of any Florida marathon, but not a flat course. Pick it if you train on hills and want weather on your side rather than terrain.
February 7, 2027 · Race lists it as a Boston qualifier
A Space Coast alternative with pacers and a 6:00 AM start. The bridges over the Eau Gallie and Melbourne causeways are the only climbs in an otherwise flat race, and they come back on the return.
February 14, 2027 · USATF FL23005JK
A 5:50 AM start and pace groups every 15 minutes from 3:00 make this a solid February BQ race. Heat and humidity are the risk, so the early start matters.
March 7, 2027 · USATF FL21049JK
The last BQ chance of the Florida season, with a 6:00 AM start. Early March can already be warm, and the bridge climbs make it slower than the flat December and January races.
Well-known fast courses for runners willing to travel. None of them drops enough to get time added by the B.A.A. Many sell out a year ahead, so check the status before you build a training block around one.
| Race | Location | Next date | Course profile | Entry status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Monumental Marathon | Indianapolis, IN | Nov 7, 2026 | Fast and flat | Sold out (charity entries only) |
| Richmond Marathon | Richmond, VA | Nov 14, 2026 | Rolling, with a downhill finish | Sold out, waitlist open |
| Philadelphia Marathon | Philadelphia, PA | Nov 22, 2026 | Mostly flat, 16 free pace groups | Sold out |
| California International Marathon | Sacramento, CA | Dec 6, 2026 | Rolling net downhill (366 ft), no B.A.A. adjustment | Sold out (transfers open) |
| Kiawah Island Marathon | Kiawah Island, SC | Dec 12, 2026 | Flat island course | Full, waitlist |
| Rocket City Marathon | Huntsville, AL | Dec 13, 2026 | Gently rolling, about 700 ft of gain | Check race site |
| Houston Marathon | Houston, TX | Jan 17, 2027 | Flat | Sold out (charity entries only) |
| Mesa Marathon | Mesa, AZ | Feb 13, 2027 | Net downhill, under the 1,500 ft line | Open |
| Mountains 2 Beach Marathon | Ventura, CA | April 2027 (Apr 17-18 weekend) | Net downhill (about 700 ft), no adjustment | Usually sells out months ahead |
| Grandma's Marathon | Duluth, MN | Jun 19, 2027 | Flat, slight net downhill | Sold out (charity entries only) |
| Chicago Marathon | Chicago, IL | Oct 10, 2027 | Flat | Applications open Oct 8, 2026 |
Big downhill races such as the REVEL series drop more than 3,000 feet, so the B.A.A. now adds 10 minutes to times run there. A 3:15 on one of those courses is ranked as a 3:25.
These standards apply to the 2027 and 2028 Boston Marathons. Age is your age on Boston race day, and the B.A.A. uses chip time. The women's column also applies to the non-binary division.
| Age group | Men | Women and non-binary |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:55:00 | 3:25:00 |
| 35-39 | 3:00:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:05:00 | 3:35:00 |
| 45-49 | 3:15:00 | 3:45:00 |
| 50-54 | 3:20:00 | 3:50:00 |
| 55-59 | 3:30:00 | 4:00:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:50:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65-69 | 4:05:00 | 4:35:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:20:00 | 4:50:00 |
| 75-79 | 4:35:00 | 5:05:00 |
| 80+ | 4:50:00 | 5:20:00 |
Meeting the standard does not guarantee entry. For 2027, runners needed to be 5:17 under their standard, and about 1,000 more were drawn at random from qualifiers who missed that cutoff. The 2026 cutoff was 4:34 and 2025 was 6:51. Aim for 5 to 6 minutes under. Our 2027 Boston cutoff breakdown has the history.
Count back 16 to 18 weeks. Most marathon plans run that long. For a late-January race like Celebration, that means starting in late September or early October, so most of your long runs happen while it is still hot. Run them early and slow, and judge fitness by effort, not pace.
Pick the coolest date you can. Florida heat costs more time than any course feature. December through February is the window, and North and Central Florida races usually start cooler than South Florida ones on the same weekend.
Plan a backup. One warm morning can end a BQ attempt. Pick a second race four to six weeks later, such as Space Coast or Jacksonville in the fall and Celebration or DONNA in the winter.
Register early. Space Coast, Miami and most of the big out-of-state races sell out months ahead. Smaller races like Bound for Boston have tight caps.
Know your pace. Use the pace calculator or our marathon pace chart to turn your standard minus five minutes into a per-mile goal. New to the distance? Start with the beginner marathon training plan, and see every marathon in Florida on the calendar.
Yes, with limits. Since 2027 registration, the B.A.A. adds 5 minutes to times from courses that drop 1,500 to 2,999 feet from start to finish and 10 minutes for 3,000 to 5,999 feet. Courses that drop 6,000 feet or more are not accepted. No Florida marathon comes close to these limits.
5:17. Runners needed to be 5 minutes and 17 seconds faster than their age-group standard to be accepted for the April 19, 2027 race. The 2026 cutoff was 4:34 and the 2025 cutoff was 6:51, so plan to run at least 5 to 6 minutes under your standard.
It opened on September 19, 2026, the day after 2027 registration closed. Any certified marathon you run from that date until 2028 registration week in September 2027 counts, which puts the whole Florida winter season in play.
Yes. The course must be certified by USA Track and Field, AIMS, or the national governing body for distance running in the country where the race is held. Times from virtual, indoor, treadmill or time-trial marathons are not accepted.
No. Only a certified full marathon counts. Half marathons and other shorter races cannot be used to qualify for the Boston Marathon, though a half is a good test of whether you are ready to run a qualifying time.
For most runners, the Town of Celebration Marathon in late January. It is flat, certified, has a pace team at many qualifying times, and falls in the coolest part of the Central Florida winter. Space Coast in November is just as flat but sells out early.
Written by Darrin DeTorres, who runs Run Florida Run, the Florida race calendar and high school cross country database. Last updated October 5, 2026. Race dates, course certification and entry status come from each race's official site, and the standards and cutoff come from the B.A.A. qualifying page. For more Florida-only detail, see our guide to Boston qualifying races in Florida.