Boston Marathon 2011: Sold Out

Though unprecedented, in a way it is not surprising that Boston can sell 26,000 entries in little more than 8 hours. Our analysis of the 50 Top Races to Qualify for Boston had 41,000+ qualifying times.

Here's the baa.org press release:

October 18, 2010, BOSTON, Mass. – Registration for the 115th Boston Marathon began at 9:00 a.m. (EST) today, and closed at 5:03 p.m. (EST) The Boston Marathon -- the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon -- will take place on Monday, April 18, 2011, Patriots' Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 115 years, this is the fastest period of time in which the field size limit has been reached.

The number of entrants for next year’s race remains as it has been in recent years. In 2010, the race had 26,790 entrants and 22,721 finishers. For the 2010 Boston Marathon, registration filled in just over two months.

Entrants qualify for the Boston Marathon by meeting time standards which correspond to age and gender. The qualifying standards for the 2011 race have been in place since 2003, and must have been met at a marathon certified by USA Track & Field, (the national governing body for the sport) or foreign equivalent. A list of the B.A.A.’s Official Charities for the Boston Marathon is available at www.baa.org.

The registration date for the 2012 Boston Marathon® will be announced after the 2011 race in April. The 116th Running of the Boston Marathon will be on Monday, April 16, 2012.

The B.A.A. has organized the race since the inaugural Boston Marathon in 1897 when the field consisted of 15 entrants and 10 finishers.