The 2015 Boston Marathon Field Size Has Been Set

Boston Marathon 2014 photo by Olga Khvan

The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has set the field size for the 119th Boston Marathon to 30,000 entrants. The event, which will take place Monday, April 20, 2015, will use the same process to register qualified runners as it used for the Boston Marathon in 2012, 2013 and 2014, which, according to the B.A.A., allows the fastest qualifiers in their gender and age group to register first. The B.A.A. worked with cities along the marathon route and community leaders to establish a field size of 30,000 entrants, which the B.A.A. says is the third-largest field size in the event’s history. According to a release by the B.A.A.:

From 2009 to 2013, the field size was 27,000. The Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 had the event’s largest-ever field size of 38,708, which stood for seven years as the largest in marathon history. The 2014 Boston Marathon had a field size of 36,000.

“The B.A.A. worked with many partners for more than a year to reclaim the joy and celebration of Patriots’ Day at the 2014 Boston Marathon,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director, in a statement. “As we look forward to 2015, our goal is to accommodate as many participants as possible in the Boston Marathon, while maintaining the exceptional race experience and unique characteristics that make this event special. Our field size limit allows us to meet that goal, and our registration process recognizes the commitment needed to qualify and gain entry into the Boston Marathon.” According to the release, registration will occur on a “rolling admission” schedule, beginning with the fastest qualifiers.

On Monday, September 8, eligible runners who have met the qualifying standard for their age and gender by 20 minutes or more may register. On Wednesday, September 10 at 10 a.m. ET, if space remains, registration will open for those who have met their qualifying standard by 10 minutes or more. If space remains, registration will open on Friday, September 12 at 10 a.m. ET for those who have met their qualifying standard by five minutes or more. Registration will pause on Saturday, September 13 at 10 p.m. ET.

If space remains after the first week of registration (Monday, September 8 through Saturday, September 13), then registration will re-open for all qualifiers from Monday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET through Wednesday, September 17 at 5p.m. ET. As during the first week of registration, race entry during this period (September 15 – 17) will be given to the fastest qualifiers in their gender and age group, as space allows. If space remains after September 17, then on Monday, September 22 registration will re-open to anyone who meets the qualifying standards on a first-come, first-served basis until the maximum field size is reached.

To register, visit baa.org. The qualification window for the 2015 Boston Marathon began last year on September 14, 2013. The registration fee for the 2015 Boston Marathon for qualifiers is $175 USD for United States residents and $225 USD for international residents.