Charles River Marathon Invitational
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About the race
The Charles River Marathon Invitational (CRMI) is a small-field marathon held at Herter Park in Boston, MA, on a USATF certified course (MA23005JK) that is eligible as a Boston Marathon qualifier. The race uses a ten laps format on a 2.6 mile paved loop along the Charles River. The course is primarily flat with a short, roughly 50 foot climb and a sharp left to cross the Eliot Bridge.
Entry is capped at 200 runners and split between certified-time entrants and a limited number of time-waived fundraiser entrants. Certified entrants must have completed a full, certified marathon since Jan 1, 2024 with a finish time within 20 minutes of their 2027 Boston Marathon qualifying standard. Time-waived fundraiser entries require a $1,000 fundraising commitment with an initial $100 raised within 10 days of registration and the full $1,000 by August 15, 2026. Entry fees are tiered by registration date and are non-refundable; failure to meet fundraising minimums forfeits entry for fundraisers.
Race services include portable toilets at several course locations, three BODYARMOR hydration stations (two on Greenough Boulevard and one at the start/finish), and GU Energy gels at specific stations. Awards include top three overall women and men and age group prizes across standard age brackets. Event rules note time limits for finishers, a prohibition on dogs, strollers, and in-ear or over-ear headphones, and a pacer program requiring pacers to be official entrants; qualifying pacers receive modest cash stipends and an official finishing time. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
