Hardest Marathons to Qualify For

Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon (Men only 2:30)

http://www.lakebiwa-marathon.com/raceinfo_e.html

The BQ you listed is only for the 18-34 age group, so it doesn't really count.

EliteMarathonRun wrote:

Let me know if I'm missing something.

1) Olympic Trials (Country Specific; US Men 2:15 A Standard,2:18 B Standard/ US Women 2:37 A Standard, 2:43 B Standard)

2) World Championships (Men 2:17, Women 2:43)

3) Fukuoka International Open Marathon Champs (Men Only A Standard: 2:27, B Standard 2:40)

4) New York Marathon (2:45 Men/3:10 Women)

5) Boston Marathon (3:05 Men/3:35 Women)

6) Chicago Marathon (3:15 Men/3:45 Women)

London

3:05 for 18-40 men, 3:45 for 18-40 women.

http://www.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/marathon-centre/enter-virgin-london-marathon/good-for-age-entries/

if you can buy your way in, it shouldnt count on the list

so take out boston and new york, probably chicago too i'd assume

reed wrote:

if you can buy your way in, it shouldnt count on the list

so take out boston and new york, probably chicago too i'd assume

And London.

National/international championships aside, Biwako is the right answer. Sub-2:30 or stay home. Tokyo has the hardest A-standard, sub-2:21, but it has a mass-participation race and Fukuoka has B-standard so lesser folk can also run. Beppu-Oita also has a tough A-standard but B- and C-standards.

For what it's worth, some races have levels of qualifying to get benefits beyond start corral.

Chicago has their "American Development Program" (Men 2:31, Women 3:01) which gets extended registration period and a separate tent/warm up area.

I don't know that there's a specific fixed standard to get in the elite women's wave at Boston, but practically speaking it's probably around 3 flat.