Many Boston Marathon Runners Don’t Know About This 6-Hour Rule

Here is something I never knew before: if you are selected to run the Boston Marathon, held each year on Patriots' Day, and you do not finish within the approximate six-hour limit (based on the last starter), you most likely will not receive an official time or medal, according to Runner's World.

There is also a chance that support stations will close and roads along the course will reopen to traffic, forcing stragglers onto the sidewalk. Many runners in this situation are still celebrated but are technically not considered finishers.

The Rundown says the cutoff time is "controversial" in some circles.

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Boston Marathon Marks 130 Years in 2026

This April marks the 130th Boston Marathon. Organizers qualified 24,362 runners for this year's race. A record 33,249 runners applied, but 8,887 did not make the cut.

Boston's WCVB reports, "Participants in the 130th Boston Marathon will be handed a newly redesigned medal when they cross the finish line on Boylston Street this year."

"The new design, unveiled by the Boston Athletic Association on Wednesday, features the race's unicorn logo inside an outer ring," according to the station.

Patriots’ Day Weekend Events in Boston

Patriots' Day weekend runs Saturday, April 18, through Monday, April 20, this year.

If you are not into running, there is still much to do. The Boston Swan Boats open for the season on Saturday, April 18, and the historical reenactments of the 1775 Battles of Lexington and Concord are on that day as well.

The Boston Red Sox play their traditional Patriots' Day morning game on Monday, April 20, at 11 a.m. at Fenway Park, and of course, there is the Boston Marathon.