Cutoff Time

Maximum allowed time to reach checkpoints or finish. Miss a cutoff and you're pulled from the race.

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Understanding Cutoff Time

Cutoff times are the maximum allowed times to reach specific checkpoints or the finish line in a race. Miss a cutoff and you're pulled from the course — no exceptions. Cutoffs exist for safety (organizing resources, course closures, nightfall) and are most significant in ultramarathons, where they can be the difference between a finish and a DNF.

Cutoffs add a strategic layer to ultra racing. You need to know the cutoff schedule and manage your pace to stay ahead of them, especially at early checkpoints where runners are most likely to fall behind. Spending too long at an aid station or hiking too slowly can put you behind the cutoff pace even if you feel fine.

Some races have famously tight cutoffs that define the event's character. The Western States 100 has a 30-hour cutoff with intermediate checkpoints. The Barkley Marathons has a 60-hour cutoff for 5 loops that fewer than 20 people have ever made. Knowing the cutoff schedule is part of race planning.

Key Facts: Cutoff Time

Key facts and insights about cutoff time that every endurance athlete should know.

Intermediate cutoffs exist at aid statio

Intermediate cutoffs exist at aid stations; miss one and you're pulled regardless of how you feel

Ironman cutoff

Ironman cutoff: 17 hours total (2:20 swim, 10:30 swim+bike, 17:00 total)

Boston Marathon unofficial cutoff

Boston Marathon unofficial cutoff: 6 hours (course re-opens to traffic)

Ultra cutoff times are often non-negotia

Ultra cutoff times are often non-negotiable — even a 30-second miss means a DNF

Pro Tips: Cutoff Time

Study the cutoff schedule before race day and calculate the required pace for each checkpoint

Build a "cutoff buffer" — plan to arrive 15–30 minutes ahead of each intermediate cutoff

Don't linger at aid stations if you're running close to cutoff pace — get in and get out

Start stronger if early cutoffs are tight — you can afford to slow later but can't recover lost time at the beginning

Frequently Asked Questions About Cutoff Time

Race officials will stop you at the aid station and record a DNF. You'll be transported to the finish area. It's disappointing, but cutoffs exist for safety. Arguing with officials won't help — the rules are clear. Use the experience to inform better pacing in your next race.

Look at previous finisher data for your goal race. If the median finisher arrives at checkpoints with 30+ minutes to spare, and your predicted pace is similar, you should be fine. If you're targeting the back of the pack, map out the minimum pace needed for each cutoff and train accordingly.