Baystate Marathon
The Lowdown
The Baystate Marathon is a Boston Marathon-qualifying race held every October in Lowell, Massachusetts, organized entirely by volunteers from the Greater Lowell Road Runners since its first running in 1990. Runners can enter the Marathon, Half Marathon, or Half Marathon Relay, all following a flat, fast double-loop course that starts and finishes at the Tsongas Center, with rolling terrain concentrated in miles 3-8 and 13-18. The race is consistently ranked among the top Boston-qualifying marathons in the country: in 2025, 22.9% of marathon finishers hit a BQ time, and FindMyMarathon named it one of the Top 50 Best Boston Qualifying Marathons for 2025 and 2026. Ashworth Awards was the longtime title sponsor before Hannaford Supermarkets became the event's new partner in April 2026. As of mid-2026 registration, the Marathon field is full with a waitlist only, while the Half Marathon, Half Marathon Relay, and both Wheeled Participant divisions still have open spots.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Moderate rolling hills
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
Boston Qualifier
This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event. Achieve your qualifying standard here on a verified course.
Tsongas Center start/finish
Downtown Lowell historic mill district
Merrimack and Concord River crossings
Lowell National Historical Park
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
US
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 16 for the full marathon
- Minimum age 14 for the half marathon and relay
Required Documents
- Government-issued photo ID for packet pickup
Entry Methods
- Online registration via RunSignUp
- Marathon waitlist entry once general registration fills
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable outside the official transfer window (through September 30, 2026)
Organized by the Greater Lowell Road Runners, a volunteer-run club dating to 1979
First run in 1990; held every October since
Ranked 29th nationally and 3rd in Massachusetts for BQ percentage among 2025 finishers (22.9%)
FindMyMarathon Top 50 Best Boston Qualifying Marathons, 2025 and 2026
Hannaford Supermarkets became the event's title partner in April 2026, succeeding longtime sponsor Ashworth Awards
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Community
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