Qualifying marathons for Boston must meet the following criteria:
- USA Track and Field (or foreign equivalent) certified to attest to the exact 26.2 mile distance
- Three or more officially entered competitors
- Event must be advertised and promoted prior the race day
- Transponder timing system is used as the official timing device
- Run outdoors
- If a course is NOT timed utilizing a transponder system, written, recorded check-sheets at each 5k checkpoint are acceptable and to supplement the recording with video images of runners running along the race course and across the finish line
- The B.A.A. does not accept time-trials, handicapped marathons, treadmill marathons or marathons conducted indoors as qualifying events
- The B.A.A. will only honor a qualifying performance achieved at an Ironman if the marathon portion of the event is officially timed and certified to attest to the exact 26.2 mile distance
- If a race course is altered from its most previous certification and measurement, a new measurement and certification must be made before the next occurrence of the marathon is held. All of these changes must be submitted by the race director and approved by USATF, AIMS, or foreign equivalent.
