The Boston Athletic Association made headlines this week for its decision to add an option to register as “non-binary in regards to gender,” according to their announcement.
When is the next Boston Marathon?
Boston Marathon registration opened on September 12 for the 127th running of the race, which will take place on April 17, 2023.
What does this mean for nonbinary athletes?
People who identify as nonbinary have the ability to register for the race, outside of the men’s and women’s divisions. According to the Boston Athletic Association website:
Non-binary athletes who have completed a marathon as a non-binary participant during the current qualifying window (September 1, 2021 through September 16, 2022) may submit an entry application into the 2023 Boston Marathon between September 12-16, 2022. Entry into the event will be determined by an athlete’s submitted time and based on the Boston Marathon’s overall field size limit. The Boston Marathon registration application will feature the option to select non-binary in regards to gender.
Furthermore, in regard to questions about what qualifying times will be for this new category of the race, “As we prepare for future races, participants can expect nonbinary times to be updated accordingly,” organizers said. “We view this first year as an opportunity to learn and grow together.”
The 2023 Boston Marathon will have 30,000 spots for runners. The Boston Marathon is both the world’s longest continually run marathon and of the most prestigious. But more importantly in Boston it is one of the cornerstone cultural events held in Boston each year, with runners, families and visitors coming into the city from all corners of the globe.
For more ideas on the best things to do in Boston check out our guide to the best things to do this weekend and the best things to do in Boston.