{"id":233102,"date":"2026-11-08T10:22:33","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T10:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/?p=233102"},"modified":"2026-11-08T13:17:47","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T13:17:47","slug":"medley-to-marathon-2027-your-path-to-the-boston-marathon-2028-through-the-b-a-a-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/medley-to-marathon-2027-your-path-to-the-boston-marathon-2028-through-the-b-a-a-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Medley to Marathon 2027: Your Path to the Boston Marathon 2028 Through the B.A.A. Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; line-height: 1.35; margin: 20px 0px; text-align: left;\"><strong style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Poppins, sans-serif; font-size: 26px;\">Medley to Marathon 2027: Your Path to the Boston Marathon 2028 Through the B.A.A. Program<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; margin: 20px 0;\">The Boston Athletic Association is accepting applications for <strong>Medley to Marathon 2027<\/strong>. The program is a pathway for runners who want to run the Boston Marathon but need an additional year to prepare. The deadline is <strong>November 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; margin: 20px 0; line-height: 1.35; color: #000000;\"><strong>What Is Medley to Marathon?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; margin: 20px 0;\">Launched in 2025, the program is designed for runners who would benefit from an extra year of preparation before the Boston Marathon. Participants first complete three races from the <strong>B.A.A. Distance Medley<\/strong>: the Boston 5K, the B.A.A. 10K and the Boston Half. After finishing the series, they earn the opportunity to run the Boston Marathon the following year.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; margin: 20px 0;\">The organizer provides a structured training pathway, resources and a supportive community. The goal is to lower the barriers to the marathon for runners who may not have another route to the start. The B.A.A. welcomes <strong>20 athletes<\/strong> into the program each year.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 20px 0 40px;\">\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; color: #263746; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #29495e; color: #ffffff;\">\n<th style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: left;\">Information<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Program Launch<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Number of Spots<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">20 athletes per year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Application Deadline<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">November 9, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Notification of Decision<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">by January 11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Races in the Program<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">Boston 5K, B.A.A. 10K, Boston Half<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Boston Marathon<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">the year after completing the series<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Contact<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">community@baa.org<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; margin: 20px 0; line-height: 1.35; color: #000000;\"><strong>Three Races in One Year<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; margin: 20px 0;\">The Distance Medley runs from April to November and requires finishing all three races within a single year. In 2026 the series opened with the Boston 5K on April 18, continued with the B.A.A. 10K in June and ends with the <strong>Boston Half on November 8, 2026<\/strong>, starting and finishing in Franklin Park. Applications for Medley to Marathon close the next day, so this is the same cycle that program participants go through before they earn a place at the Boston Marathon.<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; margin: 20px 0; line-height: 1.35; color: #000000;\"><strong>Who Can Apply?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; margin: 20px 0;\">Applications are reviewed by a selection committee made up of representatives of Boston&#8217;s running crews and leaders of the local running community. Applicants are evaluated on the criteria in the table below.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 20px 0 40px;\">\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; color: #263746; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #29495e; color: #ffffff;\">\n<th style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: left;\">Criterion<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">What It Means<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Connection to Boston<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">a meaningful connection to the city<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Passion and Training<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">a passion for running and a commitment to training<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Underrepresented Group<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">membership in a group historically underrepresented in distance running<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Qualifying Time<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">unlikely to reach a Boston Marathon qualifying time based on age and gender<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Charity Program<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">unable to meet the fundraising requirements of an official charity program, so no other feasible route to the start<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Experience<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">has never run a marathon, including Boston, or applied to an official charity team<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Extra Year<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">would benefit from an additional year of training<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #eef3f6; border-left: 5px solid #29495e; padding: 20px; margin: 20px 0 40px; border-radius: 6px; font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif;\">\n<p style=\"margin: 10px 0; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify;\"><strong>Note:<\/strong> for 2027 there are two separate programs, Boston&#8217;s Marathoners and Medley to Marathon. They have different criteria and different application deadlines, and a runner can apply to only one of them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; margin: 20px 0; line-height: 1.35; color: #000000;\"><strong>What the B.A.A. Expects From Participants<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; margin: 20px 0;\">Runners accepted into the program commit to the following.<\/p>\n<div style=\"margin: 20px 0 40px;\">\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; color: #263746; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0;\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #29495e; color: #ffffff;\">\n<th style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: left;\">Commitment<\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">Details<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Kickoff Event<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">in-person orientation in late January (date to be announced)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Training Program<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">coaching, training clinics and long runs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Communication Channel<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">a private channel with teammates and coaches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Media Permission<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">the B.A.A. may use participants&#8217; photos and videos in its media and publications<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #eef3f6;\">\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6;\">Registration Fee<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 12px; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; text-align: center;\">Distance Medley registration and payment by the deadline<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; margin: 20px 0; line-height: 1.35; color: #000000;\"><strong>How to Apply<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; margin: 20px 0;\">The application form is available on the Boston Athletic Association website, and questions about the program can be sent to <a style=\"color: #29495e; text-decoration: underline;\" href=\"mailto:community@baa.org\">community@baa.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; background-color: #eef3f6; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; border-left: 5px solid #29495e; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px 22px; margin: 20px 0 40px; color: #263746; line-height: 1.8;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"><span style=\"background-color: #29495e; color: #ffffff; padding: 5px 12px; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.3px;\">APPLICATIONS CLOSE NOVEMBER 9<\/span><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: justify; margin: 0 0 15px;\">The Medley to Marathon 2027 application is available on the Boston Athletic Association website.<\/p>\n<p><a style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: #29495e; color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; padding: 10px 18px; border-radius: 5px; font-family: &#039;Poppins&#039;,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.4;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.baa.org\/community\/#bostons-marathoners\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Apply Now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; line-height: 1.8; text-align: justify; margin: 20px 0;\">Medley to Marathon is one of several ways to reach the Boston Marathon start line, alongside qualifying times and the official charity programs. It is meant for runners who need an extra year to prepare for their first marathon.<\/p>\n<div style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; background-color: #eef3f6; border: 1px solid #d5e0e6; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px 22px; margin: 20px 0 40px; color: #263746; line-height: 1.8;\">\n<div style=\"display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 15px;\"><span style=\"background-color: #29495e; color: #ffffff; padding: 5px 12px; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: 0.3px;\">BOSTON MARATHON<\/span><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: #29495e; color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; padding: 10px 18px; border-radius: 5px; font-family: &#039;Poppins&#039;,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.4;\" href=\"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/category\/boston-marathon-en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Explore All Boston Marathon Articles<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family: 'Poppins',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 400; color: #000000; line-height: 1.7; margin: 20px 0 0; text-align: justify;\">Source: Boston Athletic Association<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Boston Athletic Association is accepting applications for Medley to Marathon 2027, a program designed for runners who want to take part in the Boston Marathon 2028 but need an additional year to prepare.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":233119,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-233102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boston-marathon-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=233102"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":233117,"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/233102\/revisions\/233117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/233119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=233102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=233102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldmarathoner.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=233102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}