What are the 7 major marathons

Okay, so you've heard people talk about the "7 major marathons" – and honestly, it gets confusing fast. The official thing is the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which is a series of six huge races. The six are: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. But then people keep saying there's a seventh. And that's where it gets messy. Some folks think the seventh is the Boston Marathon again, because it's the oldest. Others throw in the Olympic Marathon. The most common version? People just say "the seven majors" and mean the six official ones, with Boston getting a double mention because of its history. So for this article? Yeah, we're going with: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and – you guessed it – Boston again. It's circular, I know. But that's how it works in the running world. Don't overthink it.

What are the Abbott World Marathon Majors?

Abbott World Marathon Majors, or AbbottWMM, is basically the big league for marathon running. Started back in 2006 to give elite runners a global championship to chase. The six races are Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. If you finish all six, you get this cool Six Star Medal. The seventh major, again, is Boston. It's the oldest, dating to 1897. But it's already part of the six. So the seven are just the six with Boston counted twice. Some lists swap the seventh for the Olympic Marathon, but that's not part of the official series. So for us, the seven are Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and Boston. Simple, right?

Why is the Boston Marathon considered the seventh major?

Boston's the old-timer. Oldest marathon in the world, annual since 1897. It's got this legendary status – the history, the tradition, the crowd support. Plus, the course is a beast, with Heartbreak Hill and all. Even though it's already in the majors, runners treat it like its own thing. Completing Boston feels like a bigger deal sometimes than the other five. So when people list the seven, Boston gets a double entry. It's like a bonus major. Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and then Boston again. That's the list.

What are the 7 major marathons in order of difficulty?

Difficulty is subjective, but runners have a general consensus. Boston is the hardest – hills, weather, the whole deal. New York comes next with its bridges and humidity. Tokyo's got a late start and crowded streets. London's flat but can be windy. Chicago is fast but sometimes hot. Berlin is the flat, fast dream for a personal best. And the seventh? Boston again, which is already at the top. So the order is: Boston, New York, Tokyo, London, Chicago, Berlin, and Boston. Makes sense?

So yeah, Boston is number 1 and number 7. That's the list.

How many people have completed all 7 major marathons?

As of 2023, over 10,000 runners have finished all six majors and earned the Six Star Medal. But since the seventh is just Boston again, finishing the six means you've technically done the seven. So the number of people who've completed all seven? Same as the six. Over 10,000. It's a bit of a mind-bender, but that's the math. The seven majors are the six with Boston double-counted. So if you've done all six, you've done the seven. Simple, once you stop thinking about it.

What is the checklist for running all 7 major marathons?

Here's a checklist for runners wanting to tackle all seven – Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and Boston again:

• Register for Tokyo Marathon (lottery or charity entry)
• Qualify for Boston Marathon (BQ time or charity entry)
• Enter London Marathon ballot or charity
• Sign up for Berlin Marathon (lottery or guaranteed entry)
• Apply for Chicago Marathon (lottery or charity)
• Get into New York City Marathon (lottery, charity, or 9+1 program)
• Run Boston Marathon again (to complete the seventh)
• Train for each course's specific challenges (hills, heat, etc.)
• Plan travel and accommodation for each race
• Track your progress with the AbbottWMM app
• Earn the Six Star Medal after all six
• Celebrate completing the 7 major marathons

That checklist covers the seven: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and Boston.

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