Updated for this year 2014/2015, here: Best Races to Qualify for Boston Marathon 2015
This list is for people who want to qualify this year, in 2013. (Boston Qualifying Rules here, your qualifying race needs to be after Sept 22, 2012 until Sept 2013)
The CRITERIA I am using: up to middle of September 2013 (soon enough we will know exactly when in September registration opens), fast, flat or downhill, still open, good reputation as a BQ. Feel free to send me races to add, or to tell me if these need to be edited!
Ordered by upcoming date:
Run for the Red Marathon, 5/19, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA
Buffalo Marathon, 5/26, Buffalo, NY
Mountains to Beach Marathon, 5/26, Ojai, California*
Newport Marathon, 6/1, Newport, Oregon
Grandma’s marathon, 6/22, Minnesota
Run Charlevoix, 6/22, Charlevoix, Michigan
Foot Traffic Flat Marathon, 7/4, Portland, Oregon.
Light at the End of the Tunnel, 7/14, North Bend, WA.
Chasing the Unicorn, 8/18, Bucks County, PA. NEW!!
Santa Rosa Marathon, 8/25, Santa Rosa, 55 miles N of San Francisco, CA
Pocatello Marathon, 8/31, Pocatello, ID
Lehigh Valley Hospital Marathon, 9/8, Allentown, PA
Skagit Flats, 9/8, Burlington, WA
Sioux Falls Marathon, 9/8, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
(might be too late) Big Cottonwood Marathon, 9/14, Utah
(might be too late) Erie Marathon at Presque Isle, 9/15, Erie, PA
(might be too late) Top of Utah, 9/21, Cache Valley, Northern Utah
(might be too late) Fox Cities Marathon, 9/22, Appleton, WI
What else? Any marathon I should add here?
-If you want to compare marathons, I’ve used this website before, just choose two and compare hills, course, temperature, etc.
—-Comment happily: you won’t be asked to create an account!
runningandthecity 
I might end up doing the Santa Rosa half! It’s the same course, but apparently one loop instead of two (for the full). I’ll let you know how it is if I do end up running it 🙂
LikeLike
Do you know anything about the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, OH?
LikeLike
might be too late, unless registration opens on the 22nd…? I was shooting for races before mid September, just in case.
LikeLike
I’m biased because I work for the race, but I think you should add the Vermont City Marathon to your list. May 26, same date as Buffalo and Ojai. VCM is a net downhill course of about 100′, which all comes over the last 11 miles because at 15.2 you are right next to the start line. There are only 3 hills of note on the VCM course, the first mile which no one notices, +60′ at mile 7.5 and +80′ at mile 14.9. The last 4.5 miles are flat and fast on the bikepath next to Lake Champlain.
VCM was a 4+ minute pr for me, many years ago and one of only 2 times I broke 3:00. crowd support is outstanding.
Marathon entry is still open with a few hundred spots remaining, relay entries are sold out. http://www.runvcm.org.
LikeLike
Thanks Joe for adding… I saw the elevation map http://www.vermontcitymarathon.org/page.php?pid=13&pname=marathon_course_maps and though there are some hills it seems like this can be a great option too for people in the northeast! It’s classified as “rolling hills”, not flat or downhill, but it’s still not so severe. thanks for sharing!!!
LikeLike
What does it mean when you put (might be too late) next to it?
LikeLike
My co-worker is in for Boston! Didn’t use the easiest course to qualify, but he’s in! My coach ran for Colombia back in the day and trained in Central Park. I haven’t run there yet, but it’ s on the list!
LikeLike
Pingback: How to Qualify for Boston Marathon 2014 | Travel Guide and Cruise Information