Abbott World Marathon Majors

Origin and history

The Abbott World Marathon Majors is a series concept that originated from the marathon running community in the early 21st century. It was formally established in the 2000s as a collaborative effort among the organizers of several pre-existing major city marathons. The initial series, known then as the World Marathon Majors, launched with five founding races: Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. The series was created to bring a unified championship structure and points system to the elite level of professional marathon running. The Tokyo Marathon joined the series in the 2010s, solidifying the current six-race circuit. The series later entered a title sponsorship agreement with the healthcare company Abbott, leading to its current official name.

What it is for

The primary purpose of the Abbott World Marathon Majors is to crown annual world champions in professional marathon running for both men and women. It serves to create a structured, season-long competition that elevates the sport's profile beyond individual race victories. The series aggregates performances across its six constituent marathons to determine the best overall marathoners each year. It provides a clear and prestigious goal for elite athletes, shaping their annual racing calendars and strategies. For the sport's governing bodies and media, it offers a coherent narrative and championship framework. The series also aims to promote the global growth of marathon running by highlighting its premier events.

Overview

The Abbott World Marathon Majors is a championship series comprising six of the world's largest and most prestigious annual marathon races. These races are the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon. Athletes earn points for top-five finishes at these races during a defined scoring period, typically spanning two calendar years for each series cycle. The male and female athletes with the highest point totals at the end of a series are declared the Abbott World Marathon Majors champions. The series also includes a parallel wheelchair racing division with its own identical championship structure. It operates alongside but separate from World Athletics championships and the Olympic marathon, though many athletes compete in all.

What to know

Points are awarded on a scale of 25 for first place, 16 for second, 9 for third, 4 for fourth, and 1 for fifth place in the open and wheelchair divisions at each of the six marathons. An athlete's final series score is the total of their best four results from the six races during the scoring window, which typically lasts for about eighteen months. A series champion is crowned after each cycle, and a substantial prize purse is awarded to the top point-earners. The Abbott World Marathon Majors does not organize the individual races but sets the series rules and coordinates the championship. Participation for elite runners is by invitation from the individual race organizers, who control their own athlete fields.

Common questions

A common question is whether running all six marathons in a lifetime confers an official title or recognition; this is an unofficial achievement often called the "Six Star Finisher" medal, administered by the series but separate from the elite championship. Many ask if the Olympic Marathon or World Athletics Championships marathon is part of the series, and they are not, though they were included in earlier versions of the points system. People often inquire about how to qualify to run in these races, which varies significantly per event, from stringent time qualifications and lottery systems for Boston to general lotteries for London and New York. Another frequent question concerns the schedule, as the races are spread across the calendar from Tokyo in March to New York in November. Individuals wonder if weather or course conditions affect series points, and they do not; points are awarded based on finishing position regardless of time or conditions. The difference between the open division and the wheelchair division is also a point of inquiry, as they are parallel but separate competitions with identical point structures and prestige.

Pros and cons

A significant pro is that the series creates a clear, season-long narrative and a tangible world championship for the marathon, increasing fan engagement and media coverage. It provides top athletes with a structured career goal and the potential for substantial financial rewards beyond individual race prizes. For the sport, it fosters cooperation among major race organizers and elevates the status of marathon running globally. A primary con is that the series is entirely focused on the elite level, offering no formal recognition or structure for the overwhelming majority of amateur participants who run these races. The points system can be perceived as imperfect, as an athlete who wins two major marathons may lose the championship to someone with more consistent top-five finishes without a win. Some critics argue the closed, invitation-only nature of elite fields can sometimes exclude deserving athletes based on factors beyond pure performance, and the schedule can force athletes to race on courses or at times not optimal for their peak performance.

Who it suits

This championship series suits elite professional marathon runners who have the ability to consistently place in the top five of the world's most competitive races. It is designed for athletes with the durability to race multiple major marathons within an eighteen-month period while maintaining peak form. The series suits strategic planners who can optimize their race calendar to accumulate the maximum points from their best four performances. It is also well-suited to the organizing committees of the six member races, as it enhances their collective prestige and allows for shared marketing and operational initiatives. The series suits marathon fans and media seeking a coherent championship structure to follow throughout the year. It does not suit recreational runners seeking direct competition, as their participation in the races is unrelated to the elite championship standings.