Marathon · 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 30 races in this collection. Updated August 2026.

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

How to use this Boston qualifier list

Qualification applies to the certified full-marathon course and relevant race edition. A qualifying finish must fall inside the applicable window, meeting the standard allows a runner to apply but does not guarantee entry, and the B.A.A. can adjust times from net-downhill courses. Review the current Boston qualifying times and downhill-course rules, then compare the full Boston qualifier race calendar.

  1. Surfers Point MarathonSunday, September 6, 2026Ventura, CaliforniaBQSurfers Point Marathon repeats a flat beachfront bike-path loop in Ventura, offering ocean views and a certified California Boston qualifier.
  2. 2XU 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.Results
  3. Bizz Johnson MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Susanville, CaliforniaBQBizz Johnson follows a converted rail trail through Lassen National Forest, dropping toward Susanville through tunnels, bridges, and canyon miles.Results
  4. Humboldt Redwoods MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Weott, CaliforniaBQHumboldt Redwoods Marathon runs beneath towering old-growth trees on the Avenue of the Giants, pairing cool forest conditions with a fast certified course.Results
  5. Two Cities MarathonSunday, November 1, 2026Fresno, CaliforniaBQTwo Cities Marathon connects Fresno and Clovis on a fast fall road course, with broad paved paths, Woodward Park staging, and strong BQ appeal.Results
  6. REVEL Big Bear MarathonSaturday, November 7, 2026Redlands, CaliforniaBQA point-to-point plunge off the San Bernardino Mountains into Redlands, with just over 5,000 feet of net drop and a Boston adjustment to match.Results
  7. Santa Clarita MarathonSunday, November 15, 2026Santa Clarita, CaliforniaBQSanta Clarita Marathon follows a traffic-light bike-path network through parks and neighborhoods, offering gentle rollers and a generous support window.Results
  8. California 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.Results
  9. Carlsbad 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.Results
  10. Redding MarathonSunday, January 17, 2027Redding, CaliforniaBQRedding Marathon follows the Sacramento River toward the Sundial Bridge, using a net-downhill route that still includes a few late trail rollers.Results
  11. Surf 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.Results
  12. Ventura MarathonSunday, February 21, 2027Ventura, CaliforniaBQVentura Marathon descends about 900 feet from Ojai to the Pacific, using paved valley trails for a fast point-to-point finish downtown by the sea.
  13. SOCAL River MarathonSaturday, February 27, 2027Huntington Beach, CaliforniaBQA point-to-point winter marathon down the Santa Ana River Trail from Yorba Linda to Huntington Beach, with about 365 feet of net drop to the ocean.
  14. ASICS 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.Results
  15. Kaiser Permanente Napa Valley MarathonSunday, March 7, 2027Napa, CaliforniaBQNapa Valley Marathon follows Silverado Trail from Calistoga to Napa, pairing vineyard scenery with a fast, Boston-qualifying point-to-point course.Results
  16. Oakland MarathonSunday, March 21, 2027Oakland, 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.Results
  17. Bakersfield 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.Results
  18. Modesto 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.Results
  19. Mountains 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.Results
  20. Big 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.Results
  21. Avenue 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.Results
  22. OC MarathonSunday, May 2, 2027Costa Mesa, CaliforniaBQOC Marathon sells the Orange County tour angle, blending a Newport Beach start, coastal flavor, and a big-festival weekend anchored in Costa Mesa.Results
  23. Rock 'n' Roll San Diego MarathonSunday, June 6, 2027San Diego, CaliforniaBQRock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon is a large destination race built around entertainment, city sightseeing, and a late-spring coastal calendar slot.Results
  24. The San Francisco MarathonSunday, July 25, 2027San 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.Results
  25. Santa Rosa MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, 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.Results
  26. Humboldt Bay MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, August 9, 2026Eureka, CaliforniaBQHumboldt Bay Marathon links Eureka's waterfront, the bay trail and Arcata Marsh on a flat certified course shaped by Northern California's cool coast.Results
  27. Camarillo MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, August 2, 2026Camarillo, CaliforniaBQCamarillo Marathon follows mostly flat paved bike paths in Ventura County, offering a certified Southern California course for Boston attempts.Results
  28. Shoreline MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, July 12, 2026Ventura, CaliforniaBQShoreline Marathon uses a compact Ventura beachfront loop to create an oceanfront Boston qualifier with frequent support and easy spectator access.Results
  29. Wicked 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.Results
  30. Buzz MarathonLatest tracked: Saturday, March 21, 2026San Miguel, CaliforniaBQBuzz Marathon is a small certified race at Camp Roberts near San Miguel, giving Central Coast runners a no-frills winter route and Boston qualifying chance.Results