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An Update on the 2026 Boston Marathon Cutoff Time Projection
A look at what’s happened between Philly and Houston
This is an old analysis. For the latest update, check out this list of articles or check out the Boston Cutoff Time Tracker.
The qualifying period for the 2026 Boston Marathon is shaping up to be an impressive one.
After the BAA announced new qualifying times for 2026, a lot of people thought this would bring the cutoff time down significantly. Many people seemed to assume that the five-minute adjustment to the cutoff time would essentially trim five minutes off the 6:51 cutoff time — bringing it back down to the two-minute range.
So far, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
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In December, I took a first look at the data from the fall races. I published an analysis that suggested we were on track for a cutoff time above five minutes. A continued surge in the number of…
