Tucson Marathon Fine-Tunes Course to Remain One of the Fastest Boston-Qualifying Marathons in the Nation

August 15, 2025

TUCSON, AZ /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Tucson Marathon has made a small but important tweak to its course for 2025, lowering its net-downhill from 1,549 feet to 1,493 feet. The change keeps Tucson’s route fully compliant with the Boston Marathon’s latest qualifying standards while maintaining its reputation as one of the best bet downhill marathons in the country.

The modification—achieved by slightly shifting the start and finish lines—means runners will have a short additional walk from the Biosphere 2 lawn to the start line. The scenic course, introduced in 2024, will remain otherwise unchanged:

• Start: The iconic Biosphere 2 – home of the 1991 & 1994 Biospherian Missions
• Route: Through the picturesque Sonoran desert with striking views of the Santa Catalina mountains and Oro Valley
• Finish: Pima Community College Northwest Campus and a spectator-friendly finish village

Tucson’s fast times speak for themselves—last year’s winning mark by Riley Nedrow of 2:12:47 set a new event record—making it a prime choice for runners chasing Boston-qualifying performances.

“We know how important a clear path to Boston is for our runners,” said Jamil Coury, Race Director of the Tucson Marathon. “This adjustment ensures our course stays both lightning fast and fully compliant with the latest standards.”

Why This Change Matters — New Boston Marathon Net-Downhill Standards

Why This Change Matters — New Boston Marathon Net-Downhill Standards

Beginning with the 2027 Boston Marathon registration window (opening September 13, 2025), the B.A.A. will add time penalties—called “downhill indexing”—to qualifying times from overly downhill courses:

• 1,500–2,999 feet net-downhill: +5 minutes added
• 3,000–5,999 feet: +10 minutes added
• 6,000+ feet: Not eligible for qualification

By lowering its net-downhill to 1,493 feet, Tucson avoids penalties, keeping times run here fully valid for Boston qualification.

Registration for the 2025 Tucson Marathon is now open at [www.tucsonmarathon.com].

About the Tucson Marathon

Founded in [1969], the Tucson Marathon is celebrated for its fast, scenic course, ideal winter running conditions, and high rate of Boston qualifiers. The event offers a full marathon, half marathon, 50 kilometer ultra and marathon relay, drawing athletes from across the U.S. and around the world.

Media Contact:

[Jamil Coury]

[Race Director]

[jamil@aravaiparunning.com]

[602-346-0554]