BQ guide

California Boston Qualifier Marathons

California's Boston qualifier options cover several runner archetypes: polished city races, fast December goal days, coastal courses, and downhill-friendly profiles. It is one of the stronger states for runners comparing speed, scenery, and travel.

Showing all 15 races in this collection. Updated July 2026.

Notable race guides: California International Marathon (CIM), Mountains to Beach Marathon, Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley Marathon, and Surf City Marathon.

  1. 01The San Francisco MarathonSunday, July 26, 2026San Francisco, CaliforniaBQThe San Francisco Marathon crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and city neighborhoods on a USATF-certified Boston qualifier with a six-hour course limit.GuideResults
  2. 02Santa Rosa MarathonSunday, August 23, 2026Santa Rosa, CaliforniaBQSanta Rosa Marathon gives Northern California runners a late-August wine-country qualifier with a city finish and manageable race-weekend scale.GuideResults
  3. 032XU Long Beach MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Long Beach, CaliforniaBQLong Beach Marathon gives runners a certified Southern California course with waterfront miles, fall timing, and accessible qualifier appeal.GuideResults
  4. 04California International Marathon (CIM)Sunday, December 6, 2026Sacramento, CaliforniaBQNet-downhill, point-to-point from Folsom Dam to the State Capitol. Cool December temps and a flat final 10K make CIM a PR-friendly, Boston-qualifying race.GuideResults
  5. 05Carlsbad MarathonSunday, January 17, 2027Carlsbad, CaliforniaBQCarlsbad Marathon gives January runners a certified coastal course with oceanfront miles, a six-hour limit, pace groups, and a Boston-qualifying setup.GuideResults
  6. 06Surf City MarathonSunday, February 7, 2027Huntington Beach, CaliforniaBQSurf City Marathon gives runners a flat Huntington Beach qualifier with Pacific Coast Highway miles, ocean views, February timing, and beach-town energy.GuideResults
  7. 07ASICS Los Angeles MarathonSunday, March 7, 2027Los Angeles, CaliforniaBQLos Angeles Marathon gives runners a huge point-to-point city race from Dodger Stadium toward Century City, with crowds, hills, and heat risk.GuideResults
  9. 09Bakersfield MarathonSunday, April 4, 2027Bakersfield, CaliforniaBQBakersfield Marathon is a Kern County road race with a Kern County Museum start, Bakersfield neighborhood miles, and a hometown Boston-qualifier feel.GuideResults
  10. 10Modesto MarathonSunday, April 4, 2027Modesto, CaliforniaBQModesto Marathon is a flat Central Valley road marathon built for fast times, Boston qualifying, and a straightforward spring morning downtown.GuideResults
  11. 11Mountains to Beach MarathonSunday, April 18, 2027Ojai, CaliforniaBQMountains 2 Beach is a downhill point-to-point California marathon from Ojai to Ventura, built for fast times, net-drop pacing, and quick sellouts.GuideResults
  12. 12Big Sur International MarathonSunday, April 25, 2027Carmel, CaliforniaBQBig Sur is a bucket-list point-to-point on Highway 1, where ocean views, Bixby Bridge, and Hurricane Point matter more than easy splits or PR math.GuideResults
  13. 13Avenue of the Giants MarathonSunday, May 2, 2027Weott, CaliforniaBQAvenue of the Giants Marathon is a redwood-road classic with old-growth scenery, shaded park miles, and one of road running's most distinctive settings.GuideResults
  14. 14Wicked Fast Marathon San DiegoLatest tracked: Saturday, June 13, 2026El Cajon, CaliforniaBQWicked Fast Marathon San Diego is a certified net-downhill speed course from Alpine toward Sycuan Casino Resort, built for East County BQ attempts.GuideResults
  15. 15Oakland MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, March 22, 2026Oakland, CaliforniaBQOakland Marathon is a one-loop urban road marathon with Bay Bridge miles, East Bay crowd energy, and a certified course that can still punish pacing.GuideResults