Boston qualifier tracker
Pick your age group on Boston race day, drop in a tune-up half marathon time, and see the projected full, the exact pacing required, and how much buffer you'd need to actually get into the race.
Your BQ standard: 3:25:00
The B.A.A. uses your age on Boston race day (April). If you turn 35 between your qualifier and Boston, you race in the 35–39 bracket.
Your tune-up half target: 1:34:00
Use a recent or goal half. The October half was withdrawn, so the first real checkpoint is a tune-up half in the late winter build — the projection assumes equal training across the distances, so treat these as signposts, not guarantees.
3:15:59
Uses the Riegel formula (T₂ = T₁ × 2.085). Assumes you train specifically for the marathon and execute flawlessly — think of this as your ceiling. Pace: 4:39/km (7:28/mi).
3:21:52
Adds ~3% for debut-race fatigue, late-stage wall risk, and the simple fact that 42km is longer than any training run. This is the number to plan against. Pace: 4:47/km (7:42/mi).
Qualifying and getting accepted are different things. Recent Boston fields have been over-subscribed, so the B.A.A. admits the fastest qualifiers first and lowers the bar in waves.
Your BQ standard
3:25:00
18–34 women
Realistic buffer
3:08 under
vs. projected full
Safe target
3:18:00
Standard minus 7 min (recent cutoff)
Just to qualify (3:25:00)
4:52/km · 7:49/mi
Safe buffer (7 min under)
4:42/km · 7:33/mi
For context, the 1:34 half target is 4:27/km (7:10/mile) — so a BQ marathon is roughly 25–30 seconds per kilometre slower than your half pace, held for twice the distance.
When more runners qualify than there are spots, the B.A.A. admits the fastest first. This is how much under the standard you've needed to actually toe the line in recent years.
Boston 2025
6:51 under
Boston 2024
unselected (reopen)
Boston 2023
3:24 under
Boston 2022
clean (no cutoff)
Bottom line: aim for a buffer under your standard. A 3:25 meets the listed women’s 18–34 standard but may not get you in; the actual cutoff changes each year. Pick a certified, net-flat course — from 2027, the B.A.A. adds time to downhill results, so downhill courses now work against you.
Build-block spend
The October half is off the calendar, so there's no rush to buy anything right now. These are the pieces that earn their cost across the winter base block and the marathon build into May 2, 2027, ranked by how much they actually move the needle for a BQ attempt.
The single piece of gear that genuinely buys time — most runners see 1–4% over a marathon. Don't train daily in them (cost + injury risk): buy one pair in January, break it in across the marathon block, then race Toronto in a fresh pair of the same model. Never race in a carbon shoe you haven't done a long run in.
Buy: Jan 2027 — one pair, broken in over the block
The one purchase you'll use every single run all winter, not just race day. Keeps ears fully open for traffic and bikes on solo long runs — the safety case that makes them worth it over earbuds. 4 GB onboard storage so you can still run phone-free. Test one earbud on long runs before buying anything.
Buy: Nov 2026, once you've confirmed the one-earbud trick isn't enough
A marathon may require several gels — pinning them is fiddly. A dedicated race short (Tracksmith, SOAR, Oiselle) loads gels in order around the waistband so you pull front-to-back, no stopping. Buy early so the whole block trains in them, not race week.
Buy: Dec 2026, before the long runs ramp past 25 km
60–70 km/week eats shoes in ~500–650 km. Rotating two pairs lets the foam recover between runs and cuts injury risk. Start the block with one fresh pair; add the second when mileage ramps. Save the carbon shoe for race day and key workouts only.
Buy: First pair Nov 2026, second pair Jan 2027
Marathon long runs hit 28–32 km on routes without aid stations — you need water plus gels on you. A tested belt can help here; add bottle flasks or a light vest if you're out past 90 min away from water. Test it on long runs before May.
Buy: Dec 2026, with the long-run ramp
A note on the watch: your Apple Watch SE handles a half fine, but a 3:20+ marathon with GPS + music is close to its battery ceiling. If it dies on a long winter run, that's the signal to add a Garmin (Forerunner 165 or 265) — otherwise the SE carries you to May.
With the October half withdrawn, the calf gets fixed first and October reads as a base month, not race week. Then: rebuild the base through winter, run a proper 18-week marathon block starting Dec 27, and toe the line in Toronto on May 2 with a taper built in. Runna handles the plan; this handles the fuel and the math.
Now → mid-Nov 2026
No running until walking, stairs, 20 single-leg raises and 10 hops are pain-free. Bike and aquajog to hold the engine; 3 strength days carry the block while the calf heals.
Mid-Nov → late Dec 2026
Runna maintenance plan (3 run days, all easy). Build the long run back toward 24–28km. 3 strength days weekly. Consider a tune-up half during the marathon block. Film Fit In Fifteen across the rest weeks.
Late Dec 2026 → May 2, 2027
18-week Runna marathon plan (race date set to May 2, Toronto Marathon). Registration opens December 1, 2026 — sign up early. Peak at 60–70km. Tune-up half during the block. 3-week taper. BQ attempt: 3:18–3:20. Planned down week Mar 10–17 (resort trip, ~7 weeks out): 2–3 easy beach runs under 9K plus hotel-room bodyweight strength; skip the long run, don't stack a make-up week after.