BQ

    COMBO FILTER

    Best Fall Mostly Flat Marathons for a Boston Qualifier

    63 Boston-qualifying marathons · Fall · Mostly Flat

    These 63 fall mostly flat marathons are certified Boston qualifiers with courses built for fast times. Browse, compare, and plan your BQ attempt.

    Planning context

    How to evaluate fall mostly flat qualifiers

    This collection is useful when the training calendar and terrain are already part of your decision. Fall races give you a defined build window, while a mostly flat course profile shapes the workouts, long runs, and pacing strategy you should rehearse. Compare the race cards for course profile, date, location, and verified historical metrics when available, then open the individual race pages for course notes and official registration details.

    For Boston qualifying, this page should be a short-list tool rather than the final answer. A race with a strong course profile may still be the wrong fit if it falls too soon after your peak training block, requires difficult travel, or uses terrain you have not practiced. A quieter race can be a better choice when the logistics are simple and the course matches your strengths.

    Before you register

    Do not assume every mostly flat course behaves the same. Weather, turns, aid-station spacing, start logistics, and travel recovery can change how realistic your goal pace feels on race day.

    Open each finalist, check the official race link, and compare the target pace against your Boston standard. If the decision is close, use BMQR's comparison tool so course profile, date, location, and verified historical metrics when available are visible in one place.

    Compare finalist racesCheck your qualifying standard

    Brookings Marathon

    Brookings, SD
    October 17, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Potomac River Run Marathon (October)

    Washington, DC
    October 17, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    American Bluegrass Classic Marathon

    Paducah, KY
    October 17, 2026
    55–75°F
    Mostly Flat

    Baystate Marathon

    Lowell, MA
    October 18, 2026
    Medium (500 - 1,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Detroit Free Press Marathon

    Detroit, MI
    October 18, 2026
    Large (2,000 - 9,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Columbus Marathon

    Columbus, OH
    October 18, 2026
    Large (2,000 - 9,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Grand Rapids Marathon

    Grand Rapids, MI
    October 18, 2026
    Medium (500 - 1,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Duke City Marathon

    Albuquerque, NM
    October 18, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Great New York State Marathon

    Syracuse, NY
    October 18, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Suffolk County Marathon

    Babylon, NY
    October 18, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon

    Hancock, MD
    October 18, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    McKirdy Micro Marathon (Fall)

    Walker, MI
    October 18, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Jeepers Creepers Marathon

    Santa Clarita, CA
    October 18, 2026
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Marine Corps Marathon

    Arlington, VA
    October 25, 2026
    Very Large (10,000 - 25,000)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Haunted Forest Marathon

    Canal Fulton, OH
    October 25, 2026
    Mostly Flat

    Tri-Cities Marathon

    Richland, WA
    October 25, 2026
    Small (<500)
    45–65°F
    Mostly Flat

    ZombieRunner Halloween Marathon

    San Jose, CA
    October 31, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Marshall University Marathon

    Huntington, WV
    November 1, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Two Cities Marathon

    Fresno, CA
    November 1, 2026
    Medium (500 - 1,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

    Indianapolis, IN
    November 7, 2026
    Large (2,000 - 9,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Springfield Marathon

    Springfield, IL
    November 7, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Salina Crossroads Marathon

    Salina, KS
    November 7, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Outer Banks Marathon

    Manteo, NC
    November 8, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Harrisburg Marathon

    Harrisburg, PA
    November 8, 2026
    Medium (500 - 1,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Fort Worth Marathon

    Fort Worth, TX
    November 8, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Thumb Coast Marathon

    Port Austin, MI
    November 8, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Central Florida Legends Marathon

    DeBary, FL
    November 14, 2026
    Mostly Flat

    Rivers and Rails Marathon

    Brunswick, MD
    November 14, 2026
    55–75°F
    Mostly Flat

    St. Luke’s D&L Marathon

    Allentown, PA
    November 15, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    RYR Endurance Marathon (Saturday)

    Owensboro, KY
    November 15, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Santa Clarita Marathon

    Santa Clarita, CA
    November 15, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    RYR Endurance Marathon (Sunday)

    Owensboro, KY
    November 15, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    White River Marathon

    Cotter, AR
    November 21, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Philadelphia Marathon

    Philadelphia, PA
    November 22, 2026
    Very Large (10,000 - 25,000)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Space Coast Marathon

    Cocoa, FL
    November 22, 2026
    Mostly Flat

    North Central Rail Trail Marathon

    Sparks, MD
    November 28, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool to cold late-November conditions; near-freezing mornings are possible. Check the race-week forecast and plan layers for the start.
    Mostly Flat

    Minuteman BQ Marathon

    Arlington, MA
    September 5, 2027
    45–65°F
    Mostly Flat

    Abebe Bikila Day International Peace Marathon

    Washington, DC
    September 5, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Cadillac Festival of Races Marathon

    Cadillac, MI
    September 5, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Bound for Boston Marathon

    Suwanee, GA
    September 6, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Surfers Point Marathon

    Ventura, CA
    September 6, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Elroy Apple Dumpling Day Marathon

    Elroy, WI
    September 12, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Last Chance BQ.2 (Grand Rapids) Marathon

    Grand Rapids, MI
    September 13, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Boston or Bust Marathon

    Huntsville, AL
    September 13, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    United States Air Force Marathon

    Dayton, OH
    September 19, 2026
    Medium (500 - 1,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Top of Utah Marathon

    Logan, UT
    September 19, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Bismarck Marathon

    Bismarck, ND
    September 20, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Fox Valley Marathon

    St. Charles, IL
    September 20, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Sioux Falls Marathon

    Sioux Falls, SD
    September 20, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Garmin Toledo Marathon

    Toledo, OH
    September 20, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Hamptons Marathon

    East Hampton, NY
    September 26, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Mill Race Marathon

    Columbus, IN
    September 26, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    NYCRUNS Big Apple Marathon

    New York, NY
    September 26, 2026
    45–65°F
    Mostly Flat

    Quad Cities Marathon

    Moline, IL
    September 27, 2026
    Medium (500 - 1,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Heartland Marathon

    Omaha, NE
    September 27, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Towpath Marathon

    Cleveland, OH
    October 3, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Sleeping Bear Marathon

    Empire, MI
    October 3, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Long Beach Marathon

    Long Beach, CA
    October 4, 2026
    Large (2,000 - 9,999)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    MO Cowbell Marathon

    St. Charles, MO
    October 4, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Des Plaines River Trail Marathon

    Lincolnshire, IL
    October 10, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Gandy Dancer Marathon

    Luck, WI
    October 10, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Holloman Ace of Races Marathon

    Alamogordo, NM
    October 10, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

    Prairie Fire Marathon

    Wichita, KS
    October 11, 2026
    Small (<500)
    Cool (40–60°F), ideal racing conditions
    Mostly Flat

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