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 282 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
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
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 282 days away. The live countdown above ticks down to the exact moment, to the second.
Fact-checked & updated July 2026 · alarm-clock.org