Which of the Seven Marathon Majors will you do?

by Perri Williams

Sydney has recently been added to the list of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) making it seven in total. That is seven dream destinations from which runners can choose their marathon holiday. For elite athletes this is a much more serious affair and far from a holiday. For this cohort the destination is more about the elevation, the competition and the possibility of achieving a qualifying standard at the right time. 
For most of the running population running an iconic marathon is to experience that sense of achievement and the ability to soak up the cultural experience in its aftermath. Currently the ‘big seven’ consists of; Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York. Plus in the next few years there are plans to make it the ‘Big Nine’ with Cape Town and Shanghai being possibilities. Thereby creating more of a ‘Marathon Series’ than ‘Marathon Majors’. But that is another story for another day.
These seven marathons are the most prestigious and sought-after in the world as elite and the not so elite scramble to seek entry in an effort to run 42.195km through some famous city scapes. For many it is part of an endeavor to collect all seven medals to certify their completion and stare at them for the rest of their lives, smitten with accomplishment.
Apart from Boston, general entry for the other six majors is via a lottery. However, you can run as an elite athlete or for a charity. Each category has a cap on participation.
In this article we offer you some facts about each of the seven destinations.
 

Tokyo
The Tokyo marathon is the first marathon major of the year with a cap of 38,000 participants, with general entry being by lottery. It remains as one of the most elusive and mysterious to those seeking global marathon experiences with fewer foreign runners than most. The course itself is relatively flat with just a 60m elevation gain, thus making fast times possible. Five of the other marathon majors are fundamentally large, looped courses or point to point efforts. However, the Tokyo course consists of about five large out-and-back routes which means you cover much of the same ground a few times. For some this can over the 42km race be mentally challenging. But you can wave to other runners you know from the other side of the road as you pass each other. Each year over one million spectators line the course offering participants from all over the world encouragement. The Japanese voice of encouragement is however much quieter than that of their European or American counterparts. 
Benson Kipruto holds the course record with a time of 2:02:16 which he recorded on 3 March 2024. The ladies record is held by Sutume Asefa Kebede recorded at 2:15:55. 
 

Boston
The Boston Marathon is the oldest marathon major in the world. The inaugural marathon was held in 1897 just one year after the first Olympic Games in Athens. It is usually held on the third Monday in March, aligning it with Patriot’s Day with a cap of 30,000 participants where qualification is based on standards. It is famed for having the strictest qualifying times outside of the Olympics and World Championships itself. The course is a point-to-point one that starts in the picturesque town of Hopkinton and finishes in downtown Boston. Throughout the 42km you wind past beautiful small towns and scenic countryside, the majority on a two-lane road, which widens in Boston itself. While most of the course is downhill, the second half presents a number of hills the most challenging of which is the famous heartbreak hill. The elevation gain is 248 meters.
The course record is held by Geoffery Mutai (Kenya) with a time of 2:03:02. Bezunesh Deba (Ethiopia) has the ladies record which is 2:19:59.
 

London
Inaugurated in 1981 London is regarded as one of the fastest courses with just a 75m elevation gain. The largely flat route is centered around the river Thames. The race starts in Blackheath and finishes on the Mall. It winds past several famous landmarks such as the Cutty Sark, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, St James Palace to name but a few. Like most of the other major’s general entry is via a lottery. The total race participation has a cap of 50,000. London is one of the more popular races for Irish runners, mostly because of the proximity to Ireland which lowers the overall cost for the experience.
The current course records are held by Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya) 2:01:25 and Englands Paula Radcliffe with a rather rapid time of 2:15:25
 

Sydney
This was added as a marathon major in 2024, capped at 35,000 and held in August/September each year. The marathon runs on a point-to-point course that begins in Bradfield Park, crosses over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and ends in front of the Sydney Opera House, thereby completing your grand tour of all things Sydney. With its elevated status to World Marathon Major, 2025 will be the first time that entry to the Sydney will be via a lottery system. However, if you did run the marathon in 2022, 2023 and 2024 you will receive a guaranteed entry for one of the next three years. Watch out for details of the general entry lottery in December 2024.
The course is not a loop like Berlin or a point-to-point like Boston; it’s most reminiscent of the Tokyo Marathon with several straightaways, a few out-and-back sections, and one loop of Centennial Park. It is not regarded as an easy course with two sharp downhills at the start, steady climbs followed by lots of rolling hills thereafter. At the 24.5km mark there is a mile long climb. The elevation gain is 317m making it the highest net elevation gain of all the marathon majors.
The course records are held by Brimin Kipkorir at 2:06:18 with Workenesh Edesa holding the ladies at 2:21:41 both of which were set in 2024.

Berlin
One of the most popular races for Europeans including Irish runners, Berlin has is held at the end of September with a capacity of 58,000 runners. Like most of the other marathons general entry is via a lottery system.
With a particular penchant for breaking world records, the Berlin Marathon has been labelled the fastest marathon on the planet. Thirteen world records have been set there since its first running in 1974 and, up until 2023, the previous eight men’s records were broken at Berlin.
The race starts at the famous Brandenburg Gate, then passes through 10 of the city’s neighbourhoods. En-route you will see the Reichstag building, the Victory Column, Potsdamer Platz before concluding back at the Brandenburg Gate. The first half of the course itself is seriously flat with just a few gentle climbs on the second half, hence the fast times. The net elevation gain is just 73m – substantially lower than Sydney. 
The men’s course record is 2:01:01 which was set by Eliud Kipchoge in 2022. The ladies record is 2:11:53 which was set by Tigist Assefa in 2023. 

Chicago
Held in mid-October each year, the 50,000 participants set out on what is well regarded as a fast-record-breaking course. Like Berlin it has played host to several world record breaking moments. The Chicago Marathon starts and finishes in Grant Park. Overall, the course is flat, with just one pinch of a hill to ascend right before the finish line. This has been dubbed “Mount Roosevelt.” At the crest of the hill is the usual cue to run as hard as you can to the finish line just a few hundred metres away.
The first few miles are through downtown Chicago, before heading past the Zoo, through Lincoln Park and past Ridleys Field (home to the Chicago Cubs). Then its Union Station. At mile 19 you reach Pilsen and hear the Latino music and join the party on the streets (if you are up to it!!!). At mile 22 you enter Chinatown giving you loud and exciting vibes. From here to the finish, the crowds get deep and loud all the way to the finish line.
The current world men’s and women’s word records were set in Chicago. The men’s record of 2:00:35 was set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023 with the ladies time of 2;09:56 being set this year by Ruth Chepng’etich of Kenya.

New York
Billed as the biggest marathon major, it has a participation total in excess of 55,000 and is held in November each year – the final marathon in the series. Like all marathons, the number wanting to participate is far more (over 165,000 applications for the 2024 marathon). During the course of the race, runners will cross five bridges, each with its own unique views (if you can spare the energy to take it all in). Since 1976 the course takes in all five New York Boroughs with the start being on Staten Island. This is the location for those iconic photos on the upper and lower tiers of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge being filled with runners. Before finishing, the race enters New Yorks most famous park Central Park and concludes beside the Tavern on the Green. Participants must finish in eight and a half hours.
The fastest ever men's time was 2:04:58, set by Ethiopian runner Tamirat Tola in 2023. Meanwhile, the fastest ever women's time was 2:22:31, set by Margaret Okayo (Kenya) in 2003.