FAQ

Please allow approximately four weeks for application processing. We must receive official results from the race of your qualifying marathon before we can verify your time. Upon acceptance, you will receive an email and/or notification by United States Postal Service mail. You may also search for your name on the Entrants page of this web site to confirm acceptance.

The 2012 Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 16. Patriots' Day in Massachusetts.

See all future dates of the Boston Marathon.

The race director or race management can tell you if a course is certified. For a complete list of certified courses in the U.S.A. check USA Track & Field. In Canada check Athletics Canada. Internationally, an extensive calendar of races is listed at the Association of International Marathon and Road Races website, with indication of courses that are not certified.

There is no waiting list for the Boston Marathon. Applicants have their qualifying time verified, and this process may take several weeks. The Boston Marathon has never had a waiting list. Registration for the 2012 Boston Marathon begins on September 12, 2011

For the 2011 Boston Marathon, the cut-off time between Wave 1 and Wave 2 is 3:22:41.

The cut off time between Wave 2 and Wave 3 is 3:45:57.

Bib numbers from 1 - 8,999 are in Wave 1

Bib numbers from 9,000 - 17,99 are in Wave 2

Bib numbers 18,000 + are in Wave 3

As your qualifying time is verified, we may find that your name was misspelled, your zip code was wrong, or other minor mistakes with your application. As long as your qualifying time can be verified, these mistakes should not jeopardize your entry into the Boston Marathon. You will be contacted by the B.A.A. eventually to correct this information.

Corrals are assigned based on qualfiying time.

In order to exit the Village and enter the corrals in an efficient and orderly fashion, runners will leave the Athletes’ Village according to their assigned wave, bib number, and corral assignment, and will be directed down Grove Street to Main Street. NOTE: Your starting corral is printed beneath your runner's number on your bib. It can also be found on your Number Pick-up Card and Baggage Label. Please do not stop along the way.  

The schedule of release from the Athletes’ Village is as follows:
WAVE	BIB COLOR	EXIT VILLAGE	CORRALS
1	Red	9:10 a.m.	Corrals 1–3
1	Red	9:15:a.m.	Corrals 4–6
1	Red	9:20 a.m.	Corrals 7–9
2	White	9:35 a.m.	Corrals 1–3
2	White	9:40 a.m.	Corrals 4–6
2	White	9:45 a.m.	Corrals 7–9
3	Blue	10:00 a.m.	Corrals 1–3
3	Blue	10:05 a.m	Corrals 4–6
3	Blue	10:10 a.m.	Corrals 7–9

Numbers and entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. You may NOT give your number to someone else.

Beginning in 2011, deferments will not be issued to runners who are unable to participate.