Boston qualifier
Chasing a BQ? Chase it along Lake Ontario.
The Sackets Harbor Marathon is a certified, Boston-qualifying out-and-back in the lakeside village of Sackets Harbor, NY, about an hour north of Syracuse. Next race: Sunday, September 5, 2027, 7:00 AM.
- 56
- Boston qualifiers in 2026
- 340
- marathon finishers in 2026
- 58°F
- average at 7 AM on Labor Day weekend Sunday, last 10 years
- ~570 ft
- of gain, most of it early
Why it works for a BQ
Built for running your time
Out-and-back, easy home
Rolling early, then a gentle descent along the water to the finish: room for a negative split. Map and elevation
Certified, so it counts
The marathon's USATF certificate (NY23021DNB) is what makes your time count for Boston. Marathon certificate ↗ · Both certificates
Cool September mornings
A 7:00 AM start by the lake. Over the last ten Labor Day weekend Sundays it averaged 58°F at 7 AM, and rain fell during race hours on just two of them.
Aid every ~1.5 miles
17 aid stations on the full, each with water, Gatorade and a toilet. Every station
Good timing for Boston
Early September, so a time here counts toward the next spring's Boston. Our 2026 race counted for Boston 2027. The B.A.A. sets each year's window: check baa.org ↗
Ring the BQ bell
Qualified? Walk to the bell in the finish area and ring it. Everyone around you will know. About the bell
Boston qualifying
What you'd need to run here
Pick your group and we'll show the standard you'd be chasing on this course.
Your Boston standard
2:55:00
about 6:40 per mile for 26.2
What actually got in
2:49:43
standard minus the 5:17 cutoff
The catch worth knowing: hitting the standard puts you in the pool, not the race. Boston is oversubscribed, so the B.A.A. announces a cutoff each year. For the 2027 Boston Marathon, which our 2026 race qualified runners for, it was 5:17 under the standard, up from 4:34 the year before. Aim under, not at.
Standards and the current qualifying window are on baa.org; our marathon is USATF-certified, so a time here counts.
Plan your attempt
Everything you need for race day
- The course: map, elevation profile and every aid station.
- Race weekend: schedule, parking and packet pickup.
- Plan your stay: hotels, camping and where to eat.
- Registration and prices: early-bird is the best deal.
Boston qualifier questions
Is the Sackets Harbor Marathon a Boston qualifier?
Yes, the marathon is. Its USATF certificate is what makes the time count. The half is certified too, but Boston only takes marathon times.
Which Boston does a time from this race count for?
The race is in early September, so a time here counts toward the following spring's Boston: our 2026 race counted for Boston 2027. The B.A.A. sets the exact window each year, so check baa.org before you plan around it.
Is the course fast?
It is an out-and-back with about 570 feet of gain: rolling on the way out, then a gentle descent along the water on the way home. Good terrain for a negative split.
What is the weather like?
No promises, but over the last ten Labor Day weekend Sundays (2017 to 2026), the nearest weather station averaged 58°F at 7 AM and 66°F at 10 AM, and rain fell during race hours on just two of them.