In every runner’s heart, there lies a sacred destination. Some dream of climbing Mount Everest, others of crossing the English Channel, but for marathon lovers, the ultimate call comes from the World Marathon Majors.
If tennis has its four Grand Slams, then running has its six shining jewels. Spread across continents, they are hailed as the grand stages of endurance, the temples of sweat and glory. To conquer them is to inscribe one’s name in the great epic of running.
The Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) bring together six of the most prestigious races on the planet. For professionals, they are arenas of speed and world records. For everyday runners, they are dreams to be chased step by step. Completing all six earns you the coveted Six Star Medal—a prize that symbolises not just distance, but perseverance, passion, and a global journey.
The first stop of our adventure takes us to the Tokyo Marathon, the only Major in Asia. Tokyo is a spectacle of order and enthusiasm, with more than thirty thousand runners coursing past iconic landmarks like Asakusa Temple, the Tokyo Tower, and the bustling streets of Ginza. Here, tradition and modernity meet, and for many Asian runners, this is the gateway into the Majors.
From East Asia, the journey leaps across the ocean to the Boston Marathon, the oldest marathon in the world, founded in 1897. Known as the holy grail of distance running, Boston is reserved only for those who qualify with a coveted “BQ”—the Boston Qualifier. To run Boston is to step into a living museum of marathon history, sharing the same road with legends.
Across the Atlantic lies the London Marathon, a race as much a festival as a competition. Imagine running through the heart of the city, with superheroes, charity teams, and costumed runners around you, while the Thames glimmers to one side and tens of thousands cheer you on. The finish line awaits before Buckingham Palace, transforming every runner into a hero.
Then comes Berlin, the cradle of speed. Its famously flat course and cool autumn air have made it the birthplace of countless world records. At the Brandenburg Gate, runners don’t just break personal bests—they break history. For those chasing time, Berlin is the promised land.
In the United States, Chicago offers warmth and inclusivity. Unlike Boston’s strict entry standards, Chicago embraces runners of all levels. The course is flat, scenic, and lined with enthusiastic supporters, giving every participant the feeling that the whole city is running alongside them.
And finally, there is New York City, the largest marathon in the world and perhaps the most exhilarating. More than fifty thousand runners surge across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, sweep through Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan, and thunder towards the finish in Central Park. It is not just a race—it is New York itself, alive, loud, and magnificent, turned into one grand symphony of human spirit.
Those who complete all six races join an elite club of Six Star finishers. The medal they receive is heavy not just in weight but in meaning. It tells a story of continents crossed, cities embraced, and thousands of miles conquered.
The World Marathon Majors are more than competitions. They are encounters between people and places, history and ambition, grit and joy. For runners, they are a pilgrimage. And one day, perhaps at the break of dawn, you may hear the whisper:“Come. Measure the world with your steps.”