Today at four o’clock in the afternoon, the window opens to sign up for the 131st edition of the Boston Marathon. Until 11 p.m. this Friday, September 18, you can submit your application if you meet the minimum qualifying time required for your sex and age group.
Having the minimum qualifying time does not automatically mean you will secure a spot. It only gives you the right to submit the application, nothing more.
Regarding downhill descents, if the cumulative descent from start to finish is between 1,500 and 2,999 feet (457-914 meters), the Boston organizers will add five minutes. If the descent is between 3,000 and 5,999 feet (914-1,828 meters), ten minutes will be added. Above 6,000 feet (1,829 meters), that marathon is not eligible for qualification to Boston.
The cutoff time is the key determinant of whether you get in, and, logically, it is not known until the enrollment period ends. Last year it was set at 4 minutes 34 seconds below the minimum required time. Of the 33,249 runners who submitted their application, 24,362 were accepted, leaving 8,887 runners out of the cutoff.
