The World Marathon Majors, and how to actually get in

Cape Town, South Africa May or October

Cape Town is the window of opportunity in the series right now. It is the newest Major, demand has not yet caught up with its status, and entry is more attainable than the other six. Anyone chasing stars should prioritise it before the field catches on.

Sydney, Australia August or September

Sydney was the easiest Major to enter before it joined the series and it is getting harder every year as international runners chase the seventh star. If you are Australian, this is the one Major where you have a structural advantage, so use it early rather than assuming it will stay attainable.

Chicago, United States October

Chicago has the friendliest odds of the ballot Majors, so it is the one to enter first if your goal is to start collecting stars rather than to run a specific city. Runners often burn years on London and Tokyo before discovering that.

Berlin, Germany September

Berlin sells out its non-ballot routes early because it is the personal-best race everyone wants. If a specific year matters, secure a route as soon as the ballot result lands rather than waiting to see what is left.

New York, United States November

The 9+1 route is the one most overseas runners never hear about, and it is the only guaranteed route that costs nothing beyond race entries. It requires a year of planning and enough New York races, so it suits anyone who can combine trips.

Boston, United States April

The qualifying standard is a filter, not a ticket. When more qualifiers apply than there are places, entry is cut off by a margin below the standard, so runners who hit their time exactly are often still rejected. Aim to beat your standard by a clear margin rather than scrape it.

Tokyo, Japan March

Almost everyone treats the ballot as the only way in and stops when they are rejected. The ballot is the cheapest route, not the main one. If a specific year matters to you, plan the charity or operator route before results day, not after, because that is when the remaining places disappear.

London, United Kingdom April

The ballot window is the thing people miss. It opens in the week of the race itself, so if you watch London in April and decide you want to run it, you have days to enter for the following year, not months. Set a reminder for race week.