By our 5-axis Green Score, the BMW Berlin Marathon is the easier race — 7.3/10 vs 7.1/10 for the Boston Marathon (a 0.2-point gap). The biggest difference is travel, where the Boston Marathon has the edge. Scores come from elevation profiles, 10 years of race-morning weather, entry odds, and field size — the full method is on the methodology page.
| Score (10 = easiest) | BMW Berlin Marathon | Boston Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Green Score (overall) | 7.3 | 7.1 |
| First-timer score | 8.7 | 8.0 |
| Terrain | 9.2 | 6.9 |
| Climate | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Entry | 3.6 | 2.0 |
| Travel | 2.0 | 5.0 |
| Field & support | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Distance | marathon | marathon |
| Date | September 26, 2027 | April 19, 2027 |
| Location | Berlin | Hopkinton, MA |
| Typical race-day weather (10-yr) | 58°F / dew 48°F | 49°F / dew 41°F |
| Elevation gain | 246 ft | 820 ft |
| Field size | 55,000 | 30,000 |
| Entry | lottery | qualifier |
| Entry fee | $230 | $255 |
| Boston qualifier course | Yes | No |
Sign in and connect Strava to see your projected finish time and qualifying odds at both races — heat- and course-adjusted to race day.