Domestic Qualifying Standards

Chicago Marathon just came out with their time qualifying standards for 2026.  (Several weeks ago, Boston released adjustments to its newest standards based on net elevation loss.) And, believe it or not, Chicago's qualifying standards are mostly harder than Boston's. Below, I've cobbled together the standards for the Boston, Chicago, and New York City Marathon into one table. Those times in red are the toughest for men across the three races, and those in green are the toughest for women and non-binary across the three races.

	Boston	Boston	Chicago	Chicago	New York	New York
	Men	Women/Non-Binary	Men	Women/Non-Binary	Men	Women/Non-Binary
18-34	2hrs 55min	3hrs 25min	2hrs 50min*	3hrs 20min*	2hrs 53min	3hrs 13min
35-39	3hrs 00min	3hrs 30min	2hrs 55min	3hrs 25min	2hrs 55min	3hrs 15min
40-44	3hrs 05min	3hrs 35min	3hrs 00min	3hrs 30min	2hrs 58min	3hrs 26min
45-49	3hrs 15min	3hrs 45min	3hrs 10min	3hrs 40min	3hrs 05min	3hrs 38min
50-54	3hrs 20min	3hrs 50min	3hrs 15min	3hrs 50min	3hrs 14min	3hrs 51min
55-59	3hrs 30min	4hrs 00min	3hrs 25min	3hrs 55min	3hrs 23min	4hrs 10min
60-64	3hrs 50min	4hrs 20min	3hrs 40min	4hrs 15min	3hrs 34min	4hrs 27min
65-69	4hrs 05min	4hrs 35min	3hrs 55min	4hrs 30min	3hrs 45min	4hrs 50min
70-74	4hrs 20min	4hrs 50min	4hrs 15 min	4hrs 45min	4hrs 10min	5hrs 30min
75-79	4hrs 35min	5hrs 05min	4hrs 30min	5hrs 00min	4hrs 30min	6hrs 00min
80 and over	4hrs 50min	5hrs 20min	4hrs 50min	5hrs 20min	4hrs 55min	6hrs 35min

*Age is 16-34 (for Chicago's youngest category)

While some may think that this makes Boston the "easiest" of the three to get into, I would argue otherwise. I still think it is the hardest to get into domestically. (Granted, it's not nearly as difficult to get into as London -- with over 1.1 million people applying for fewer than 50,000 bibs for 2026.)

Even though all three races have a way to get in via qualifying times, the vast majority of Boston's bibs are only available through BQ times. The remaining bibs are available through charity fundraising, with a very small portion through other methods (such as tour operators and lottery from among those who have a certain number of World Marathon Major finishes and haven't previously earned a 6-Star medal).

Chicago has a sizable number of bibs available via lottery, and the remaining available through charity fundraising, tour operators, and WMM finishes-related lottery.

New York has a sizable number of bibs available via lottery, their 9+1 Program, and the remaining available through charity fundraising, tour operators, and WMM finishes-related lottery.

With only a cursory look at the charities associated with these races, it looks like New York City has at least one charity with as low a minimum fundraising amount as $3,000. Boston's may be as high as $8,500 for its lowest minimum. I wasn't able to see what Chicago's lowest minimum is in my quick search. If you are looking to get a bib via charity fundraising, your best bet is to look at those charities that you have the closest connection to where you will be able to be sincere in your desire to raise money, even if that winds up being a somewhat higher commitment than others might be.