Marathon · BQ guide

Washington Boston Qualifier Marathons

Washington has unusual depth for Boston qualification attempts, from tunnel and rail-trail descents to city and waterfront courses. Compare terrain closely: a downhill profile may look fast, but pacing demands, surface, weather, and current B.A.A. downhill rules still matter.

Showing all 23 races in this collection. Updated September 2026.

Notable race guides: Tunnel Light Marathon, Jack & Jill's Downhill Marathon, Cascade Express Marathon, and UW Medicine Seattle 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. Leavenworth MarathonSaturday, October 3, 2026Leavenworth, WashingtonBQLeavenworth Marathon descends from Washington's Icicle Canyon toward a Bavarian-style town finish, mixing mountain scenery with a quick certified route.Results
  2. Snohomish River Run MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Snohomish, WashingtonBQA flat, fast fall course follows the winding Snohomish River through quiet farmland and evergreens, starting and finishing in downtown Snohomish.
  3. The Spokane MarathonSunday, October 11, 2026Spokane, WashingtonBQA Boston-certified October course along the Spokane River and Centennial Trail, with pine forest miles and a relay option in the Inland Northwest.
  4. Seattle Ghost MarathonSaturday, November 28, 2026Seattle, WashingtonBQThe Seattle Ghost Marathon has run on Thanksgiving weekend since 1985, with two flat certified loops along Lake Washington and a small local field.
  5. UW Medicine Seattle MarathonSunday, November 29, 2026Seattle, WashingtonBQSeattle Marathon gives runners a late-November Pacific Northwest city race with hills, water views, and weather that rewards patient pacing.Results
  6. Yakima River Canyon MarathonSaturday, April 3, 2027Yakima, WashingtonBQYakima River Canyon Marathon is a scenic Washington point-to-point road marathon between Ellensburg and Selah on a certified Boston-qualifier course.Results
  7. Run the River MarathonSaturday, April 17, 2027Kennewick, WashingtonBQRun the River is a flat Tri-Cities road marathon beside the Columbia, built for fast spring miles on paved paths and roadways across all three cities.Results
  8. Wenatchee MarathonSaturday, April 17, 2027Wenatchee, WashingtonBQWenatchee Marathon uses paved Columbia River trails, two spectator-friendly laps, Cascade views, and a certified Boston-qualifying course that rewards rhythm.Results
  9. Tacoma City MarathonSunday, May 2, 2027Tacoma, WashingtonBQTacoma City Marathon leans local and scenic, with a Pacific Northwest feel, rolling roads, and a weekend rooted in Tacoma rather than spectacle.Results
  10. Windermere MarathonSunday, May 16, 2027Spokane, WashingtonBQWindermere Marathon gives Spokane a point-to-point spring Boston qualifier on the Centennial Trail, finishing downtown with multi-distance depth.Results
  11. Mud Mountain Dam MarathonSaturday, May 29, 2027Enumclaw, WashingtonBQMud Mountain Dam Marathon gives Washington runners a late-May point-to-point route from Buckley toward Orting, with Tacoma-area event production.Results
  12. North Olympic Discovery MarathonSunday, June 6, 2027Port Angeles, WashingtonBQNorth Olympic Discovery Marathon follows a paved rail trail from Blyn to Port Angeles, pairing mountain views, trestles, rollers, and a coastal finish.Results
  13. Super Hyak MarathonSaturday, June 19, 2027North Bend, WashingtonBQSuper Hyak Marathon gives Washington runners a fast tunnel-corridor Boston qualifier with smooth downhill miles and tunnel logistics toward North Bend.Results
  14. Jack & Jill's Downhill MarathonSaturday, July 24, 2027North Bend, WashingtonBQJack & Jill's Downhill Marathon is a Washington qualifier built for fast pacing from the Cascades toward North Bend on a rail-trail style route.Results
  15. Bellingham Bay MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, September 20, 2026Bellingham, WashingtonBQBellingham Bay Marathon gives runners a Pacific Northwest waterfront race with September timing, bay views, and regional race-weekend scale.Results
  16. Skagit Flats MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, September 13, 2026Burlington, WashingtonBQSkagit Flats Marathon crosses level Washington farmland before a track finish in Burlington, giving runners a proven Pacific Northwest BQ race.Results
  17. Tunnel Light MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, September 13, 2026North Bend, WashingtonBQTunnel Light Marathon descends from the Snoqualmie Tunnel onto the Palouse to Cascades Trail, creating a fast September Boston qualifying course.Results
  18. Cascade Express MarathonLatest tracked: Saturday, September 12, 2026North Bend, WashingtonBQCascade Express Marathon is a Washington downhill qualifier near North Bend, built for steady rail-trail pacing and cool mountain race starts.Results
  19. PeaceHealth Appletree MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, August 30, 2026Vancouver, WashingtonBQAppletree Marathon explores Vancouver's waterfront, Fort Vancouver, and nearby neighborhoods on a certified course designed for steady late-summer pacing.Results
  20. Tunnel Vision MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, August 9, 2026North Bend, WashingtonBQTunnel Vision Marathon pairs the Snoqualmie Tunnel with a long, gentle rail-trail descent, giving August runners a speed-focused Washington BQ.Results
  21. Light at the End of the Tunnel MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, June 7, 2026North Bend, WashingtonBQLight at the End of the Tunnel Marathon drops from Snoqualmie Pass toward North Bend, pairing a historic tunnel with sustained net-downhill speed.Results
  22. Capital City MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, May 17, 2026Olympia, WashingtonBQCapital City Marathon is a Pacific Northwest staple with rolling Olympia roads, a community-race feel, and enough hills to keep it from reading as a free PR.Results
  23. Whidbey Island MarathonLatest tracked: Sunday, April 26, 2026Oak Harbor, WashingtonBQWhidbey Island Marathon starts at Bowman Bay, closes Deception Pass Bridge for runners, and finishes with a long downhill into Oak Harbor waterfront.Results