Utah Valley Marathon adjusts course to be ‘fastest’ Boston qualifier

July 19, 2025

After new guidelines were released by the Boston Athletic Association, the Utah Valley Marathon has announced an adjusted course to allow runners to qualify for the Boston Marathon without time penalties.

The Boston Athletic Association announced on June 16 that new standards would be enforced for qualifying marathons with significant elevation drops. Races with more than 1,500 feet of downhill elevation will give racers a 5-minute time penalty, and courses with more than 3,000 feet of downhill elevation will give racers a 10-minute penalty.

These new standards will take effect in September, when the qualifying window opens for the 2027 Boston Marathon. ksl