Breaking Down the SEVEN World Major Marathons: A Guide to Joining the Hype.

On October 13, 2024, I completed my sixth marathon. The weather was perfect. The crowd support was energizing. The course was consistently flat, if not even slightly downhill. I ran my personal best time. I shared the weekend with some great friends. I got to celebrate in an iconic city. Everything went according to plan and better. But had the weather been awful, the crowd support been meager, the course hilly; had I have ran my worst time yet, alone, in a bland location - Just the title of the race alone would have made it one of the most sought after races amongst long distance runners. THE Chicago marathon - one of THE World Marathon Majors. Did it live up to the hype? Absolutely. Was it the most unforgettable 3 hours and 40 minutes of my life? Absolutely not. I barely remember a thing about the specifics of the course. I think I blacked out from the overstimulation of the event as a whole. I must have been too completely focused on clenching that PR, while avoiding stepping on others’ heels in my heavily packed pace group, or twisting an ankle whilst traversing the courses many pot holes. I was full-on tunnel vision to the finish - hence why this is not a race recap post, and rather an exploration of the question: where does this hype around these Major Marathons come from?

The Abbott World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City and as of November 3rd, 2024, Sydney —are considered the pinnacle of marathon running, each offering its own unique blend of challenge and prestige. Complete the original six, and you will receive a special six-star medal. Oooh. Ahhhh. The Abbott World Marathon Majors (originally called the World Marathon Majors) were established in 2006 to bring together six of the most renowned marathons. The aim was to create a global competition for the best marathon runners, with an emphasis on both men's and women's races. Abbott Laboratories became the title sponsor in 2016, which led to the current name.

I’ve exhaustedly searched for a public list of criteria that led to these seven races being chosen, however, it appears Abbott is keeping their specific qualification criteria under wraps. Generally speaking, history, international elite field, logistical infrastructure, course terrain, global exposure, sponsorship, and commitment to athlete welfare and inclusion, in alignment with the AWMM brand are all analyzed when determining if a particular race makes the cut. The Shanghai Marathon and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon are currently under this assessment process to evaluate whether they meet the mark to join this esteemed race series.

While checking off each race is no small feat, is the hype around the major series simply a marketing campaign to get the non-elite running addicts to shell out their pockets for a weekend long-run with a price tag of an upwards of $250? Even if you are prepared for the hefty cost, entrance to these races isn’t just that simple. Most entries require either a competitive qualifying time, a lottery draw, or significant charity donation. Is it the barrier to entry what makes these seven races special? Perhaps it is the slim chance that we could run these glamorized races that keeps us seeking entry to the majors. In the end, it’s the consistent demand we as runners have provided that really give these races their value and world-wide recognition.

I can’t say I’m above the hype though. I’ve taken the bait and now I’m set on one day completing each major, no matter how many races might continue to be added. What can I say - I’m a sucker for a good marketing campaign and bucket list full of big goals. I’m also quite “Type A” when it come to planning race schedules. So here I’ve complied a little table to keep organized an idea of each of the seven Majors’ entry windows and race dates that you as a victim of your love for running, which by default probably makes you “Type A” alike, might also find useful.

Month	Lottery Entry Window Opens	Time Entry Submissions Due	Race Date
February	New York City	New York City
March			Tokyo
April	London		Boston & London
August	Tokyo		Sydney
September		Tokyo & Boston	Berlin
October	Chicago & Berlin	Chicago & London	Chicago
November		Berlin	New York City

**Dates subject to change depending on the year. The table is solely to give a general reminder of when to be on the lookout to enter.

Of course you might want more details about each race, your odds getting in and how exactly to enter or qualify. Click on the quick links below to jump to any particular race.

Tokyo, Japan

London

Boston

Sydney

Chicago

Berlin

London

Tokyo, Japan

The Stats: Tokyo kicks off the yearly cycle of the Marathon Majors in March. Originally launched in 2007, the Tokyo Marathon quickly gained international recognition for its strong organization and large participation numbers. By joining the AWMM in 2013,  it elevated its status among the world’s top marathons, attracting elite runners and bolstering its reputation as one of the most sought-after marathon events globally. One of the smaller races amongst the Majors, permitting 38,000 runners, with an average of 300,000 applicants in recent year, entry to the Tokyo Marathon is highly competitive. There are a few different entry options however.

How to Enter:

• Application Window: June-August

• Depending on entry type: There are several different lotteries depending on eligibility and membership for various groups. If applicants are not selected for one of the first lottery groups, they will automatically be entered into the general lottery.

• See chart of 2025 Entry Schedule for reference:

• Semi-Elite Qualifying Times:

Category	Time
Men’s Full Marathon	2hrs 28min
Women’s Full Marathon	3hrs 09min

Boston, USA

When: April

The Stats: The Boston Marathon, arguably the pinnacle of marathon greatness, just lowered its already insanely competitive qualifying times. While I was quite disheartened when first hearing this news as a Boston hopeful, it makes sense after hearing taking a look at the stats. For the 2025 application cycle, 36,939 people applied with qualifying times, yet only 24,069 of those applicants got accepted. That means 12,324 people that met the qualifications still did not get accepted due to the high amount of demand. Athletes ended up having to run 6 minutes and 51 seconds faster than their respective qualifying time. Therefore, why set a qualifying cutoff when that “BQ” labeled time might not even get you close to a race entry? Since so many qualifiers in recent years have been rejected due to field size, I can at least appreciate that less false hope will be given with the new stricter cutoff times. Here’s what you need to know about entering if you’re freaky fast.

How to enter:

• Entry Window: The qualifying window for the 2026 Boston runs from September 2024- Fall of 2025 (exact date TBD).

• This means a runner must complete a Boston certified course within this time frame and submit their qualifying time before the entry window closes to be considered for the current application cycle.

• No lottery Option - Qualify times only! See below the 2026 requirements.

Age Group	Men	Women	Non-binary
18-34	2hrs 55min	3hrs 25min	3hrs 25min
35-39	3hrs 00min	3hrs 30min	3hrs 30min
40-44	3hrs 05min	3hrs 35min	3hrs 35min
45-49	3hrs 15min	3hrs 45min	3hrs 45min
50-54	3hrs 20min	3hrs 50min	3hrs 50min
55-59	3hrs 30min	4hrs 00min	4hrs 00min
60-64	3hrs 50min	4hrs 20min	4hrs 20min
65-69	4hrs 05min	4hrs 35min	4hrs 35min
70-74	4hrs 20min	4hrs 50min	4hrs 50min
75-79	4hrs 35min	5hrs 05min	5hrs 05min
80+	4hrs 50min	5hrs 20min	5hrs 20min

London, UK

When: April

The Stats: First held in 1981, the 2025 London marathon general ballot just broke the world record for most lottery entries in Marathon history - A whopping 840,318 hopefuls entered with only 17,000 selected via general lottery. This gives you about an about 2% odds. If you’re feeling lucky, super fast, or maybe just British, here’s what you need to know about your chances.

How to enter:

• General Lottery: One week in April, the week prior to that year’s Race.

• Championship Place: Must be a member of a running club and have a qualifying time in a race certified by the association for International Marathons and Distance Races.

Distance	Men	Women
Marathon	2hr 40min	3hr 14min
Half Marathon	1hr 12min 30sec	1hr 28min

• Good for Age Place (UK Residents only)

• Qualifying period: Oct-Sept the year prior

• Example: 2025 period - Oct 1, 2023-Sept 2024.

Age Group	Men	Women
18-39	Sub-2:55	Sub-3:40
40-44	Sub-3:00	Sub-3:45
45-49	Sub-3:05	Sub-3:48
50-54	Sub-3:10	Sub-3:55
55-59	Sub-3:15	Sub-4:00
60-64	Sub-3:37	Sub-4:25
65-69	Sub-3:55	Sub-4:55
70-74	Sub-4:55	Sub-5:55
75-79	Sub-5:10	Sub-6:15
80-84	Sub-5:30	Sub-6:40
85-89	Sub-6:10	Sub-7:10
90+	Sub-7:20	Sub-7:45

Sydney, Australia

When: Late August/Early September

The Stats: The latest and greatest, The Sydney Marathon joins the Abbott World Major Marathons November, 2024. Sydney’s first year as Major will take place on Sunday, 31st August 2025. The race underwent a multi-year process to reach Major level status. From a field size jumping from just 5,300 a few years ago to 25,000 in 2024, this race is now prepared to showcase the best this epic Australian city has to offer.

How to Enter:

• General Lottery: There has not been an entry window yet made public, but if are interested, join the mailing list to be the first to know.

• There currently are no qualifying time standards for the race.

Berlin, Germany

When: September

The Stats: The Berlin Marathon began in 1974, starting as a small race with only 286 runners and has since grown to major level prestige. Entry is in high demand, with spots allocated through a lottery system or fast Runner Entry. About 45,000 runners participate each year, making it one of the largest marathons globally. One of the biggest enticements of this race however might be its timing with Oktoberfest. Munich, an easy train ride from Berlin, hosts the world largest and most infamous Oktoberfest, perfectly coordinated with the scheduling of the Berlin Marathon for the ultimate race celebration.

How to enter:

• Entry Window: October- November

• Single Runner Entry

• Team Entry: sign up with of up to three people to increase your odds. If one of your team members gets drawn, you all get to run!

• Fast Runner’s Entry:

• The qualifying time must have been achieved within the past two years in an official race that is part of the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings, certified by AIMS or listed by USTA TFZ.

• Qualifying Times:

Age Groups	Men	Women
18-44	2hr 45min	3hr 10min
45-59	2hr 55min	3hr 30min
60+	3hr 25min	4hr 20min

Chicago, USA

 When: October

The Stats: Known for is flat, fast course, Chicago has grown in popularity from its first introduction in 1977. Since then, the race has grown from a merger 4,200 finishers, to over 45,000 in recent years. The energizing event brings in the spectators alike, topping out at over 1.7 million estimated on course viewers. Now, who said the Midwest was boring? If you want to tour the Windy City in running shoes, here’s what you need to know about joining the hype.

How to enter:

• General Lottery: October - November

• Time Qualifications:

Age	Male	Female	Non-Binary
18-34	2hr 55min	3hr 25min	3hr 25min
35-39	3hr 00min	3hr 30min	3hr 30min
40-44	3hr 05min	3hr 35min	3hr 35min
45-49	3hr 15min	3hr 45min	3hr 45min
50-54	3hr 20min	3hr 50min	3hr 50min
55-59	3hr 30min	4hr 00min	4hr 00min
60-64	3hr 45min	4hr 15min	4hr 15min
65-69	4hr 00min	4hr 30min	4hr 30min
70-74	4hr 15min	4hr 45 min	4hr 45min
75-80	4hr 30min	5hr 00min	5hr 00min
80+	4hr 50min	5hr 20min	5hr 20min

New York City, USA

When: November

The Stats: The New York City Marathon, founded in 1970 with just 55 finishers, officially became the world’s largest this past 2024 race with 55,646 finishers. The race spans all five boroughs of New York City, attracting participants from over 120 countries and millions of spectators. Known for its challenging course and iconic finish in Central Park, here’s what you need to know about securing an entry. 

How to enter:

• Three different Lottery Types: Open from ~February - March.

• NYC Residents

• US Residents

• International Applicants.

• Time qualifying options: Marathon and Half marathon Times.

Full Marathon Times:

Age Group	Men	Women	Non-binary
18-34	2hr 53min	3hr 13min	3hr 13min
35-39	2hr 55min	3hr 15min	3hr 15min
40-44	2hr 58min	3hr 26min	3hr 26min
45-49	3hr 05min	3hr 38min	3hr 38min
50-54	3hr 14min	3hr 51min	3hr 51min
55-59	3hr 23min	4hr 10min	4hr 10min
60-64	3hr 34min	4hr 27min	4hr 27min
65-69	3hr 45min	4hr 50min	4hr 50min
70-74	4hr 10min	5hr 30min	5hr 30min
75-79	4hr 30min	6hr 00min	6hr 00min
80+	4hr 55min	6hr 35min	6hr 35min

Half Marathon Times:

Age Group	Men	Women	Non-binary
18-34	01hr 21min	01hr 32min	01hr 32min
35-39	01hr 23min	01hr 34min	01hr 34min
40-44	01hr 25min	01hr 37min	01hr 37min
45-49	01hr 28min	01hr 42min	01hr 42min
50-54	01hr 32min	01hr 49min	01hr 49min
55-59	01hr 36min	01hr 54min	01hr 54min
60-64	01hr 41min	02hr 02min	02hr 02min
65-69	01hr 46min	02hr 12min	02hr 12min
70-74	01hr 57min	02hr 27min	02hr 27min
75-79	02hr 07min	02hr 40min	02hr 40min
80+	02hr 15min	02hr 50min	02hr 50min

If these stats and scheduling were more overwhelming than reassuring, don’t give up too fast! There’s always options for charity entries or through various travel running agencies. These routes may require a bit more money up front, but as they say, you can’t put a price on a dream. Best of luck on your Major Marathon Journey!