Boston Marathon Countdown

The Boston Marathon runs every Patriots' Day — the third Monday of April — from Hopkinton to Boylston Street. First run in 1897, it's the world's oldest annual marathon and the only major one most runners must qualify for. This countdown targets the next start.

How many days until The Boston Marathon?

The Boston Marathon is on Monday, April 19, 2027, which is 262 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.

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Boston Marathon records

Men's course recordJohn Korir (Kenya) ran 2:01:52 at the 2026 Boston Marathon, breaking Geoffrey Mutai's 2011 record of 2:03:02

Women's course recordSharon Lokedi (Kenya) ran 2:17:22 at the 2025 Boston Marathon

Most men's winsClarence DeMar won 7 times (1911, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1930) — the most of any runner

Most women's winsCatherine Ndereba (Kenya) won 4 times (2000, 2001, 2004, 2005)

Largest fieldThe 1996 Centennial Boston Marathon drew a record 38,708 entrants (36,748 starters, 35,868 finishers)

Most finishesJohn A. Kelley finished the race 58 times out of 61 starts, running from 1928 to 1992

Boston Marathon champions

2026Men: John Korir (Kenya) · Women: Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) — 130th running; both defended their titles, with Korir setting a new men's course record of 2:01:52

2025Men: John Korir (Kenya) · Women: Sharon Lokedi (Kenya) — Lokedi set the women's course record, 2:17:22

2024Men: Sisay Lemma (Ethiopia) · Women: Hellen Obiri (Kenya) — Obiri defended her women's title

2023Men: Evans Chebet (Kenya) · Women: Hellen Obiri (Kenya) — Chebet's second straight men's title

2022Men: Evans Chebet (Kenya) · Women: Peres Jepchirchir (Kenya)

2021Men: Benson Kipruto (Kenya) · Women: Edna Kiplagat (Kenya) — 125th running, delayed to October 11 by the pandemic

2020Not held in person — Cancelled due to COVID-19 and replaced by a virtual event in September 2020; no official winner

2019Men: Lawrence Cherono (Kenya) · Women: Worknesh Degefa (Ethiopia)

2018Men: Yuki Kawauchi (Japan) · Women: Desiree Linden (USA) — Run in cold, driving rain; Linden was the first American woman champion since 1985

2017Men: Geoffrey Kirui (Kenya) · Women: Edna Kiplagat (Kenya)

2016Men: Lemi Berhanu Hayle (Ethiopia) · Women: Atsede Baysa (Ethiopia)

2015Men: Lelisa Desisa (Ethiopia) · Women: Caroline Rotich (Kenya) — Desisa's second Boston title

The race you have to earn

Boston is the only World Marathon Major with strict qualifying times for the general field — 'a BQ' is a lifetime goal in its own right. About 30,000 runners a year make it to the Hopkinton start line.

Heartbreak Hill

The course's famous villain arrives at mile 20 — not especially steep, but placed exactly where marathoners' legs give out. It got its name in 1936, when Johnny Kelley patted rival Ellison 'Tarzan' Brown on the shoulder while passing him there — waking him up; Brown re-passed him on that hill and won.

Quick facts

The world's oldest annual marathon — first run in 1897
Run every Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April
The only marathon major with qualifying standards for all
Heartbreak Hill got its name from a 1936 duel at mile 20

How to watch Boston Marathon

In the U.S., the Boston Marathon airs nationally on ESPN/ESPN2 with streaming on ESPN+, and locally in Boston on WCVB Channel 5; the race is always run on Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April. Anyone can follow runners in real time for free with the official B.A.A. Racing App, which provides live checkpoint tracking, leaderboards, and results.

B.A.A. spectator & tracking info Boston Marathon official site

Learn more

Boston Athletic Association Wikipedia

The Boston Marathon — frequently asked questions

When is The Boston Marathon?

The Boston Marathon is on Monday, April 19, 2027.

How many days until The Boston Marathon?

The Boston Marathon is on Monday, April 19, 2027, which is 262 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.

Updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org

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