Missed The Berlin Ballot? This New WMM Running Challenge Could Still Get You In

The Abbott World Marathon Majors have unveiled a new virtual challenge giving runners the chance to secure one of the hardest things to get in distance running right now: a marathon bib for either the 2026 Berlin Marathon or the 2026 Sydney Marathon.

Called the Start Line Scramble Challenge, the event begins in just three days time on May 17th and runs until May 30th, combining a mileage challenge with a prize draw system.

How The Challenge Works

The concept is fairly straightforward. Participants pay $26.20 to register and then attempt to complete mileage targets during the two week challenge window.

The more you run (or walk), the higher your chances of winning:

Hit 50 Miles: Earn a digital Finisher Badge and 1 entry into the draw.
Hit 75 Miles: Earn a digital Finisher Badge and 2 entries into the draw.
Hit 100 Miles: Earn a digital Finisher Badge and 5 entries into the draw.

While 100 miles in two weeks is a tall order, averaging about 7.1 miles a day, it quintuples your chances of winning compared to the base 50-mile goal.

The Prizes: Sydney or Berlin?

In total, ten runners will receive marathon entries through the challenge. Specifically, they are offering five entries for the Sydney Marathon (August 30th, 2026) and five entries for the Berlin Marathon (September 27th, 2026).

Crucially, you must choose which race draw you want to enter at the time of registration. If you're chasing a World Record course, Berlin is your go-to. If you want to be part of history at the newest Major in the series, Sydney is the place to be.

Key Dates For Runners

Opening/Closing Dates: The challenge officially opens on May 17th and closes on May 30th
No Manual Entries: Only tracked activities from a synced device or app (like Garmin or Strava) count. Treadmill runs are welcome, but simple "steps" will not be counted.
Deadline for Syncing: Your miles must be synced to your Global Run Club account by 7:00 AM BST on June 1st, 2026.
The Big Reveal: Winners will be notified by June 5, 2026.
Fast Turnaround: If you win, you have until June 15 to complete your official race registration. Don't snooze on this, or you'll forfeit the bib!
Entry: Here

For runners already piling up miles ahead of autumn marathon season, the challenge could be a handy bonus. And realistically, if you were planning to grind through 100 miles over the next two weeks anyway, you may as well give yourself a shot at Berlin or Sydney while you’re at it.