As runners, we’re always looking for our next big goal to push ourselves further. There’s no better feeling than smashing your time goals or being able to run that extra mile without over-exerting yourself. However, running the same races repeatedly can take away from the excitement of a challenge.
If you’re looking for something new that will test not only your running skills but also your determination, then the Abbott World Marathon Majors may be the perfect goal. Featuring seven prestigious races around the world, the marathon majors offer runners the ultimate challenge. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about the 7 major marathons, from gaining entry to how to train for these huge events.
What are the Abbott World Marathon Majors?
If you’re an avid runner, you’ve most likely heard about the World Marathon Majors before. They consist of seven elite marathons worldwide, recently expanding from six with the addition of Sydney. These marathons are:
- Berlin
- Boston
- Chicago
- London
- New York
- Tokyo
- Sydney
Runners who finish all of these marathons receive a coveted six-star medal. These races must meet strict criteria to be part of the world's major marathons, including course regulations and timing standards.
Completing this challenge can take years, especially since new marathons may be added to the lineup. If you’re looking for your next major running challenge and are eager to travel the globe to complete this major feat, then keep reading to find out more about these races and how to enter.
When and where are the marathons being held in 2025?
These races generally take place on the same weekends each year, making it easier to plan your participation. Below are the 2025 dates for the seven World Major Marathons:
| Marathon | Date |
| Tokyo | Sunday, 2 March 2025 |
| Boston | Monday, 21 April 2025 |
| London | Sunday, 27 April 2025 |
| Sydney | Sunday, 31 August 2025 |
| Berlin | Sunday, 21 September 2025 |
| Chicago | Sunday, 12 October 2025 |
| New York City | Sunday, 2 November 2025 |
How to qualify for the Abbott World Marathon Majors?
Entry to these marathons is primarily through a lottery, with runners selected at random. However, there are alternative ways to secure a spot, including meeting qualifying times, running for charity, or booking through sports tour operators. Charity partners are a popular option, but they often require a minimum fundraising commitment.
The entry process for the Abbott World Majors
Each marathon has its entry requirements, which include qualifying times and registration periods. Below, we’ve outlined the qualifying standards for each race.
Tokyo World Marathon Major
Registration for the Tokyo marathon usually begins in August of the year before. They also have a semi-elite entry known as the “run as one” programme if you’re a speedy runner. However, for this, you need to achieve the qualifying times in events that are either World Athletics Label, World Athletics Elite Label, or World Athletics Elite Platinum Label, within a specific time frame that you can find below.
Qualifying times:
| Category | Time |
| Women | 3:09 |
| Men | 2:28 |
Boston World Marathon Major
The registration process for Boston opens in the second week of September and stays open for about a week. It will be from September 9th through to September 13th in 2025. For this race, most runners need a qualifying time from another race to be successful - however in recent years and with the amount of people signing up, even some qualifying runners have been turned away, in these cases it's a first come first served. You can find the qualifying times for men and women below.
| Age Group | Women | Men |
| 18-34 | 3:25 | 2:55 |
| 35-39 | 3:30 | 3:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:35 | 3:05 |
| 45-49 | 3:45 | 3:15 |
| 50-54 | 3:50 | 3:20 |
| 60-64 | 4:20 | 3:50 |
| 65-69 | 4:35 | 4:05 |
| 70-74 | 4:50 | 4:20 |
| 75-79 | 5:05 | 4:35 |
| 80+ | 5:20 | 4:50 |
Sydney World Marathon Major
The newest addition to the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the entry applications open on the 10th of December and don’t close until the 30th of December every year. Plenty of time to get your ballot in! They have a High-Performance Program based on the below qualifying times from other marathons and there are approximately 600 spaces based on a first come first served basis. This guarantees allocation, however, this first goes to Australian and New Zealand citizens. There’s also a general ballot that you can enter.
Qualifying times:
| Age Group | Women | Men |
| Under 40 | 2:35 | 2:50 |
| Over 40 | 2:55 | 3:10 |
Berlin World Marathon Majors
The Berlin world majors entry opens in mid-October and rolls through to early November. This marathon has tough time qualification standards. The qualifying time also has to be achieved within the last three years. However, even if you don’t have a qualifying time you can still enter the lottery for a chance to be picked at random.
Qualifying times:
| Age Group | Women | Men |
| 18-44 | 3:10 | 2:45 |
| 45-59 | 3:30 | 2:55 |
| 60+ | 4:20 | 3:25 |
Chicago World Marathon Majors
The Chicago qualifying process is almost the same as the Berlin one with some minor changes. You can also get guaranteed entry if you’ve run this race five or more times in the past decade. The applications for this race open around October 21st and close November 21st every year, so you have a whole month to get your application in.
| Age Group | Women | Men |
| 18-34 | 3:25 | 2:55 |
| 35-39 | 3:30 | 3:00 |
| 40-44 | 3:35 | 3:05 |
| 45-49 | 3:45 | 3:15 |
| 50-54 | 3:50 | 3:20 |
| 55-59 | 4:00 | 3:30 |
| 60-64 | 4:15 | 3:45 |
| 65-69 | 4:30 | 4:00 |
| 70-74 | 4:45 | 4:15 |
| 75-79 | 5:00 | 4:30 |
| 80+ | 5:20 | 4:50 |
New York City Marathon Majors
Applications for the New York Marathon take place from the 11th to the 25th of February. Non-complementary, guaranteed entry is given to any athlete who meets the time qualification standards at an in-person New York Road Runners marathon or half marathon within the qualifying window. (For 2025 this is January 1st 2024 to December 31st 2024).
There are also limited entries for qualifying times from non-New York Road runners events but this doesn’t include half marathons.
Qualifying times:
| Age Group | Women (Half) | Men (Half) |
| 18-34 | 3:13 (1:32) | 2:53 (1:21) |
| 35-39 | 3:15 (1:34) | 2:55 (1:23) |
| 40-44 | 3:26 (1:37) | 2:58 (1:25) |
London World Marathon Major Process
The London marathon applications opened on April 24th 2024 and closed in May, while the general lottery ended on the 26th of April 2024. If you’re aiming for the 2026 London race then the ballots will open after the 2025 race is complete on the 26th of April 2025. The London race has a ‘Good For Age’ system which gives places to 3,000 men and 3,000 women using a ‘fastest first’ basis for each age category. These are only available to UK residents.
The qualification window for the 2025 event is from the 1st of October 2023 until the 30th of September 2024. Your age category is how old you were when you achieved your qualifying time and not your age on race day.
| Age Group | Women | Men |
| 18-39 | Sub 3:40 | Sub 2:55 |
| 40-44 | Sub 3:45 | Sub 3:00 |
| 45-49 | Sub 3:48 | Sub 3:05 |
If you’re looking to qualify for any of these events by meeting the time requirements, then improving your speed is your best bet. Our guide on how to improve your running speed has everything you need to know about working on your stride so you can meet the time requirements with ease.
How to train for the Abbott World Majors
Now that you know the entry dates and requirements, it’s time to train! Whether you’re aiming for a place in the next upcoming event, or wish to train for a qualifier, a 16-week marathon training plan is a great way to prepare, ensuring that you’re in peak condition for race day.
While these races may seem intimidating from the outside, individually, they’re like most other marathons and should be treated as such. You can train for these events just as you would for any other marathon.
Essential training equipment for a World Major Marathon
The type of gear you have can make all the difference when it comes to training for a marathon.
Running Shoes
The first thing to consider is your shoes. Having the right running shoes means you can enjoy better comfort and extra bounce to push yourself further and make training a breeze. The right shoes are also paramount to preventing chafing and blisters.
We recommend the Adizero Adios Pro 4 running shoes to enjoy lightweight comfort like never before. Perfect for both training and marathon day use. The premium foam technology offers both flexibility and an efficient stride, making these shoes perfect for the Abbott World Major Marathons.
You can also read through our guide to the best running shoes of 2025 for more options tailored to you and your running style.
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| Adizero Adios Pro 4 Mens Running Shoes - Black (£212.90) | Adizero Adios Pro 4 Womens Running Shoes - Black (£212.90) |
A running tracker
Of course, the best way to train is by tracking your progress. Being able to see your stats and make amends or change your focus accordingly is the fastest way to improve your running.
The Garmin Forerunner 965 allows you to dive into all the important analytics of your running style to help you improve your speed or reach new distances with ease - perfect for training for a marathon. If you want to know more about the best GPS running watches in 2025 to support your training, you can read through our blog to find the best watch for your needs.
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| Forerunner 965 HRM With GPS Watch - Black (£599.90) |
Compression clothing
Compression wear is also a great option for training as it can help improve your physical performance, promoting essential blood flow to ensure optimal amounts of oxygen get to your muscles. These Under Armour compression leggings are great for runners looking for enhanced performance, featuring a quick-dry fabric to prevent chaffing while you train.
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Under Armour HeatGear Compression Men's Long Running Tights - Black (£35.99) |
Under Armour HeatGear Rush Run Women's Long Running Tights - Black (£74.99 |
Compression socks are not something everyone considers, however, these small items can offer additional support for both your training and on the day of your World Major Marathon. For example, these More Mile Compression socks help to improve circulation and muscle activation to minimise the risk of injury while you’re training and ensure a more effective workout.
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| More Mile California Long Compression Socks (2 Pack) - Multi (£17.99) |
FAQs
What's the easiest World Marathon Major race to complete?
The Berlin marathon is considered the easiest out of the seven. It’s flat and fast, making it ideal for any first-time major runners wanting to test their skills.
What's the hardest World Marathon Major race to get into?
The London World Major Marathon race is the hardest to get into via lottery out of the seven major marathons. Not because the entry process is harder but simply because of the sheer popularity of this event. The number of applicants has been steadily growing since 2020, with 578,374 applications for the 2024 London race, a big step up from the 457,861 for the 2020 event. From these numbers, only around 17,000 are accepted, making the entry success rate low.
However, while The London race is hard to get into via lottery, the Tokyo Marathon is the hardest to get into if you’re trying to go for a qualifying space. With only 25 places for men and 25 for women reserved for the race.
Which World Marathon Major is the toughest to run?
Each course has its challenges and all of them should be prepared for accordingly, however, the New York and Boston races are the most hilly and are known as the hardest World Major Marathons to run because of this.
Get ready for the Abbott World Marathons with Start Fitness
Completing the Abbott World Marathon Majors is a huge challenge for any runner. Whether you’re aiming for Berlin or heading off to Tokyo, these events push runners to their limits while offering an unforgettable experience.
If you’re serious about taking on the seven-star challenge, having the right gear is key. Here at Start Fitness, we have everything from running shoes to GPS watches to help you prepare for race day. Browse our selection and get started on your marathon journey today!