If you're reading this because registration is already closed, you're not alone — this race has built a real reputation for selling out its marathon distance well ahead of race weekend, sometimes months in advance. That's frustrating if you had your sights set on this specific race, but it's also a solvable problem. Here's how to think about your options.

Why this race sells out so fast

This race has sold out its marathon field for well over a decade running, and in recent years it has tended to sell out earlier each year than the year before — a pattern driven by growing national attention on the course's reputation for personal bests and Boston qualifiers, plus a hard cap on field size that downtown road closures and race logistics require. None of that is likely to change in a way that makes registration easier in the future, so the practical mindset is to plan around the pattern rather than hope it breaks.

Your best shot: charity and fundraising entries

Most races with a sellout problem keep a side door open through charity partnerships, and this race is no exception — it's organized under a nonprofit arm that runs charity-entry and fundraising programs. If standard registration is closed, searching for this race's official charity or fundraising partner program is typically the most reliable path to a guaranteed entry, since those spots usually sit outside the general field cap. Just confirm any charity program you find is affiliated with the race directly rather than a third-party reseller, since unofficial bibs generally aren't honored on race day.

Watching for openings

Registrations do open back up over the months leading into race weekend, as registered runners defer, switch distances, or cancel. This race also runs an official waitlist for its sold-out distances directly through its own registration site, which is the most direct way to get in line for one of those openings. Following the race's official social media accounts and email list is another way to catch openings the moment they're announced, since they tend to move quickly once posted. It's also worth checking directly on the registration page periodically rather than assuming a sold-out status is permanent between now and race weekend.

If it doesn't work out this year

If none of the above comes through, it's worth considering the shorter distances on the same race weekend — a half marathon or 5K field may still have room even after the marathon sells out — or looking at other well-regarded flat, fast marathons on a similar part of the fall calendar as a backup plan. Either way, treating next year's registration as a first-week-of-January task, rather than something to revisit closer to fall, is the single best way to avoid being in this position again.