Choosing between Boston Marathon and Soweto Marathon? This page puts the essentials side by side — next race date, elevation, typical weather, field size, and entry difficulty — with a short overview of each course below.
The headline differences between both races. Follow each marathon link for the full route map, elevation chart, and entry details.
| Detail | Boston Marathon | Soweto Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Monday, 19 April 2027 at 10:00 am | Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 6:00 am |
| Elevation | Net downhill with famous Newton hills - approx. 50m above sea level. ↑ 248 m · ↓ 388 m · net −140 m | Rolling with gentle hills - approx. 1,767m above sea level. ↑ 150 m · ↓ 140 m · net +10 m |
| Typical weather | Cool to mild; often windy | Mild spring |
| Typical participants | Approximately 26k finishers | Approximately 35k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Very competitive | Moderate |
The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and the only major requiring qualification for most runners. Starting in Hopkinton and finishing on Boylston Street, the course features the challenging Heartbreak Hill and legendary New England crowd support. It is the pinnacle race for competitive amateur marathoners.
The Soweto Marathon is one of Africa's largest marathons, drawing about 35,000 finishers each November through Johannesburg's historic Soweto township. The course passes the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street (home of Mandela and Tutu), and FNB Stadium. November summer weather and powerful historical symbolism make it South Africa's most significant mass-participation marathon.
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