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EnglishWhat Is the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) and What Does baa.org Cover?
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The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) is a non-profit founded in 1887 that promotes health, fitness, and community through running. Its website, baa.org, is the organization's home base and the primary source for the Boston Marathon, the B.A.A.'s other races, community programs, running clubs, and official news. If you are looking for Boston Marathon registration, qualifier status, charity entries, or B.A.A. race information, baa.org is the official place to find it.
What the B.A.A. Is
The B.A.A. describes itself as a non-profit committed to promoting health, fitness, and community through running events and programs. It has been operating since 1887, which makes it one of the older running organizations in the United States.
Its activities fall into a few broad areas:
- Major races, most prominently the Boston Marathon.
- Community programs that encourage active lifestyles year-round, including youth running, school initiatives, and local events.
- Clubs and teams, including the B.A.A. Running Club, which brings together athletes across road, track, and cross-country racing through High Performance, Racing, and Club teams.
What baa.org Covers
The site is organized around the races, the community mission, and news. Based on the homepage, the main sections are:
| Section | What it contains |
|---|---|
| The Races | Information on the Boston 5K, B.A.A. 10K, Boston Half, and the Boston Marathon |
| Community Programs | Youth running, school initiatives, and local events |
| Clubs & Teams | The B.A.A. Running Club and its High Performance, Racing, and Club teams |
| Official Charity Program | Charity entries granted to nonprofits that recruit runners to fundraise |
| Partners | Organizations that support the B.A.A.'s mission and healthy lifestyles |
| Featured News & Stories | Announcements and updates from the organization |
Boston Marathon Information
The Boston Marathon is the B.A.A.'s flagship event and the main reason many visitors come to baa.org. The site is where the organization publishes:
- Qualifier acceptances. For example, the site announced qualifier acceptances for the 2027 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, and noted that a record field of qualifiers was accepted into the 131st Boston Marathon.
- Registration updates. A September 21, 2026 update stated that 33,656 qualifier applications were received for the 2027 Boston Marathon.
- Charity program details. The Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program grants entries to nonprofits, who then recruit runners to fundraise for causes that build healthier communities. The 2027 charity programs were also announced on the site.
The marathon is presented by Bank of America, and the homepage includes a countdown to the 131st Boston Marathon.
Other Races and Programs
Beyond the marathon, baa.org covers a set of shorter and differently formatted races, including the Boston 5K, the B.A.A. 10K, and the Boston Half. These are listed together under "The Races," so the site functions as a single reference point for the B.A.A.'s full event calendar rather than just the marathon.
The community side of the site focuses on year-round activity: youth running, school programs, and local events intended to bring Boston together. The clubs section is aimed at runners who want to compete or train with the B.A.A. at different levels.
News and Partnerships
The "Featured News & Stories" section carries organizational announcements. Recent examples include the addition of five-time NCAA All-American Rosina Machu to the B.A.A. High Performance Team, and an extension of the B.A.A.'s partnership with MarathonFoto through 2033 — a relationship the site says began at the Boston Marathon in 1984.
The Partners section explains that B.A.A. partners support all aspects of the organization's mission and help promote healthy lifestyles through running.
When to Use baa.org
Use baa.org when you need official information rather than secondhand summaries:
- Checking whether you were accepted as a qualifier for an upcoming Boston Marathon.
- Looking for registration timelines and application volumes.
- Finding an official charity to run and fundraise for.
- Learning about the B.A.A.'s other races, community programs, or running clubs.
- Reading official announcements about the organization and its athletes.
Because the site is the organization's own publication channel, it is the appropriate source for entry decisions, deadlines, and program details. Specific registration windows, entry fees, and eligibility rules are published there as they are announced, so check the relevant race or program page directly rather than relying on older summaries.