New Study Puts Boston Marathon in Top 5 Toughest to Enter

Getting into the Boston Marathon isn’t just tough—it’s officially one of the hardest races in the world to snag a bib for. According to new research from running retailer SportsShoes.com, the Boston Marathon ranks fifth globally in marathon demand, and it’s the most searched race on the planet, drawing more than 2.1 million Google searches in 2025 alone.

That level of interest translates to more than 75 Google searches per registered finisher, a demand ratio few marathons can match. About 28,381 runners completed Boston’s most recent race, which traditionally fills its field with a mix of elite athletes, charity runners, and qualified amateurs who have trained for years just to meet the event’s strict time standards.

Only four marathons ranked higher in demand: South Africa’s Big Five Marathon, the Antarctic Ice Marathon, the Great Wall Marathon in China, and Switzerland’s Zermatt Marathon. The Boston Marathon stood out as the top-ranked U.S. race on the list and the only American event to crack the top ten.

For locals, the finding might not come as a surprise. Each spring, Boston turns out to line the route from Hopkinton to Boylston Street, rain or shine, to cheer on runners from around the world. The city’s marathon isn’t just a race—it’s a tradition. From Heartbreak Hill stories to the sea of volunteer jackets at the finish line, qualifying for Boston is often seen as a lifetime achievement for distance runners.

The study, part of the SportsShoes.com Running Report, analyzed global Google search volumes from the past year and compared them against official finisher totals for major international marathons. The resulting “demand score” shows which races attract the most interest compared to their available spots.

Worldwide, the hardest marathon to get into is South Africa’s Big Five Marathon, where runners race through a private wildlife reserve alongside elephants and lions, according to the study. With only 99 finishers and 44,000 searches, it recorded a staggering 444 searches per finisher. The Antarctic Ice Marathon and the Great Wall Marathon followed, both pairing extreme conditions with limited entries.

In contrast, races like London—despite its reputation for being difficult to enter—ranked far lower in demand. London tallied about 1.4 million global searches but had more than 56,000 finishers, putting it outside the top 20 in the new rankings.

European courses dominated much of the rest of the top 20 list, with Switzerland, Austria, and the Nordic countries each hosting multiple high-demand events. But none carried the same global name recognition—or search volume—as Boston.

For Boston athletes, marathon hopefuls, and spectators alike, the data reinforces what locals already know: the Boston Marathon isn’t just another race. It’s the race—an event that blends athletic achievement, community pride, and about as much history as you can pack into 26.2 miles.

The full report and rankings can be found at SportsShoes.com’s Running Report.