Standard, Buffer, Cutoff: The Boston Terms Explained
Three numbers decide whether your time gets you into Boston. Get them straight and the whole system makes sense.
Standard
The qualifying standard is the maximum time for your age group and gender that lets you apply. Open men: 2:55:00. Open women and non-binary: 3:25:00. It gets more generous with age.
Buffer
Your buffer is how far under the standard you actually ran. If your standard is 3:25:00 and you ran 3:15:00, your buffer is 10:00. The buffer is the number that matters, because it is compared against the cutoff.
Cutoff
The cutoff is the buffer the slowest accepted applicant had in a given year. If the cutoff is 5:15 and your buffer is bigger, you are in. If it is smaller, you are out. The cutoff changes every year.
The predictor works all three out for you and shows how your buffer would have fared against every cutoff since 2014.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the standard and the cutoff?
The standard lets you apply. The cutoff is the extra buffer under the standard you needed to be accepted that year.
How do I calculate my buffer?
Subtract your finish time from your age-group standard. The result is your buffer, and it is compared against the cutoff.