Can You Defer Your Boston Marathon Entry?
Once you are accepted into Boston, your options to defer are limited and not guaranteed. Boston has historically not offered routine deferrals the way some races do.
What this means
If you accept a place and then cannot run, you generally forfeit that entry and your fee, unless a specific policy is in effect for that year. The BAA occasionally offers deferral or refund options in unusual circumstances, but you should never assume one exists.
Plan accordingly
Because a place is hard-won and hard to defer, only apply for a year you are confident you can run. And because the cutoff can reject a thin buffer, make sure your time is likely to be accepted before you build your season around it. Check that in the predictor, and confirm the current deferral policy on the official BAA site.
Frequently asked questions
Can I defer my Boston entry to next year?
Not as a standard option. Boston does not routinely offer deferrals, so assume a place is for that year only unless a specific policy applies.
Do I get a refund if I cannot run Boston?
Generally no. Entry fees are usually non-refundable unless the BAA announces a specific policy for that year.