The Abbott World Marathon Majors are the seven most prestigious marathons in the world: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Sydney, Chicago, and New York City. Completing all seven earns a runner the coveted Seven Star Finisher medal — a goal pursued by tens of thousands of amateur runners globally. Each Major has a distinct character: Berlin is the fastest, Boston has the most demanding qualifying standard, London is the toughest to enter, NYC is the largest by participants, Tokyo is the only Asian Major, Chicago is the flattest US Major, and Sydney is the youngest.
This is Marathon Handbook’s complete World Marathon Majors hub: a guide to all 7 races, how they compare, how to enter each, and the Seven Star Finisher journey.
The 7 World Marathon Majors At A Glance
| Race | Country | Month | Field Size | Course Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Marathon | Japan | March | ~38,000 | Flat, fast (CR 2:02:40) |
| Boston Marathon | USA | April | ~30,000 | Hilly, net-downhill, qualifying-only |
| London Marathon | UK | April | ~50,000 | Flat, urban, ballot-dominated |
| Sydney Marathon | Australia | August | ~35,000 | Net-downhill, point-to-point |
| Berlin Marathon | Germany | September | ~45,000 | The fastest course in marathon running |
| Chicago Marathon | USA | October | ~50,000 | Flat, fast, central-city loop |
| NYC Marathon | USA | November | ~55,000 | Five boroughs, rolling hills, world’s largest by finishers |
Which Major Is The Hardest To Get Into?
- Hardest by ballot odds: Tokyo and London — both under 5% acceptance for international runners
- Hardest by qualifying time: Boston — the only Major with hard time cutoffs (and even meeting BQ doesn’t guarantee entry)
- Easiest ballot odds: Berlin — 25-35% acceptance
- Easiest qualifying-time entry: Berlin Good-For-Age — similar to Boston BQs but no cutoff drama
- Most accessible for late entry: Sydney and Chicago — best charity-place availability
Which Major Is The Fastest?
Berlin — by every measurable criterion. Of the 11 official marathon world records ratified since 2003, nine were set on Berlin’s flat, cool, low-altitude September course. The combination of negligible elevation change, optimal late-September weather, wide straight sections, and a culture of fast pacing produces the fastest finishing times across the entire field — not just elites.
The current marathon world records (men’s 2:00:35 by Kelvin Kiptum; women’s 2:11:53 by Tigist Assefa) were both set in Berlin.
Which Major Has The Best Atmosphere?
Atmosphere is subjective, but consistent finisher surveys put NYC at the top — running through all five boroughs with continuous crowd support from the Verrazzano Bridge to Central Park is unmatched. London is a close second, with deep crowd support across the entire course. Tokyo rates surprisingly high for the orderly, deeply enthusiastic Japanese crowd. Chicago is widely considered the best Major for runner support per mile (less crowded course than NYC, very deep crowds). Boston has a unique competitive-runner-focused atmosphere — the field is more elite-leaning than the others.
The Seven Star Finisher Medal
Runners who complete all 7 Majors receive the Seven Star Finisher medal — introduced in 2025 when Sydney joined the series. The previous Six Star medal (introduced in 2016) remains valid for finishers of the original 6 (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, NYC) — Sydney is an optional 7th.
As of 2025, approximately 14,000+ runners worldwide have completed all 6 original Majors. The number completing all 7 (including Sydney) is in the low thousands and growing rapidly. The cost of completing all seven typically runs $25,000–$45,000 USD when factoring in race entries, charity fundraising minimums, flights, accommodation, and travel time.
Major-By-Major Difficulty Rankings
Fastest course (PB-friendly)
- Berlin (CR 2:00:35)
- Chicago (CR 2:00:35)
- Tokyo (CR 2:02:40)
- London (CR 2:01:25)
- Sydney (CR 2:06:18, net-downhill but rolling)
- NYC (rolling hills + bridges)
- Boston (hilly + net-downhill, not WR-eligible)
Hardest course (toughest for amateurs)
- NYC — bridges + rolling hills, October heat occasional
- Boston — Heartbreak Hill at mile 20, weather variable
- Sydney — rolling eastern suburbs, late summer warmth possible
- Tokyo — mostly flat but March can be cold + windy
- London — flat, mild, fast
- Chicago — flat, fast, October cool
- Berlin — the easiest to run a PB
Annual Calendar Of The 7 Majors
- March: Tokyo Marathon (first Sunday)
- April: Boston Marathon (Patriots’ Day, third Monday) → London Marathon (typically the following Sunday)
- August: Sydney Marathon (late August)
- September: Berlin Marathon (last Sunday)
- October: Chicago Marathon (second Sunday)
- November: New York City Marathon (first Sunday)
This produces a natural year-round Major calendar with no two races within the same week. Runners pursuing the Seven Star Finisher can typically complete all 7 in 2-3 years if entry is secured.
How To Plan Your World Marathon Majors Journey
- Start with the easiest entries: Berlin (ballot odds) and Chicago (charity availability) are the most accessible
- Qualify for Boston as soon as you can: BQ standards tighten over time, and meeting them in your 30s is much harder than your 40s
- Plan Tokyo around lottery cycles: Apply 2-3 years in a row; if unsuccessful, switch to charity
- Use NYC for the experience: Even if you don’t PB, NYC’s atmosphere is consistently the most-cherished by finishers
- Don’t underestimate travel logistics: Sydney, Tokyo, Berlin and London require significant international travel — bundle your training cycles to recover between events
FAQs
What are the World Marathon Majors?
The Abbott World Marathon Majors are 7 elite marathons: Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. Together they form a global championship-level series with prize money, ranking, and the Seven Star Finisher amateur achievement.
How many World Marathon Majors are there?
Seven, as of 2025 when Sydney officially joined. The original six were Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and NYC (Tokyo joined in 2013 as the sixth Major).
What is a Six Star Finisher?
A runner who has completed all six original World Marathon Majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, NYC). The Six Star Finisher medal remains valid even after Sydney joined — Sydney is treated as an optional 7th star for the Seven Star Finisher medal.
Which Major is the easiest to qualify for?
Berlin has the best ballot odds (25-35% acceptance). Boston has the most accessible qualifying-time route but the standards are competitive (sub-3:00 for men 18-34, sub-3:30 for women 18-34). For charity entries, Chicago and Sydney typically have the most available bibs with the lowest fundraising minimums.
How much does it cost to complete all the Majors?
Approximately $25,000–$45,000 USD total when factoring in race entries, charity fundraising (if used), flights, accommodation, and time off work. Costs vary significantly by entry route — ballot entries are cheapest, tour-operator packages most expensive.
Each Major’s Complete Race Guide
- The Tokyo Marathon — race guide, course details, ballot entry, course records
- The Boston Marathon — qualifying times, course guide, hill strategy, race coverage
- The London Marathon — race guide, ballot info, charity routes
- The Sydney Marathon — course, Major status, how to enter
- The Berlin Marathon — why it’s the fastest course, course records, ballot
- The Chicago Marathon — race guide, course profile, weather strategy
- The NYC Marathon — five boroughs, entry, race day strategy
