World Marathon Majors - a 6 star quest

31 watchers
Oct 2019
7:19am, 18 Oct 2019
263 posts
  •  
  • 0
Rog T
Thought i'd create a place where people can share advice/exoerience/tips with regards to completing the World Marathon Majors. Having recently decided to undertake this quest myself (New York 2019 will be my 2nd star following London 2015), I've seen from groups elsewhere the benefit of shared information and i bet there's a stack of it within the fetch community.

Please join the thread, tell us what you have done, what you plan to do and any lessons learned from your experiences.
Oct 2019
8:29am, 18 Oct 2019
1,259 posts
  •  
  • 0
oumaumau
Can't help, I've only done London of the 6. I imagine Tokyo is the tough one logistically.

Just giving the thread a bump, best of luck.
Oct 2019
8:35am, 18 Oct 2019
32,754 posts
  •  
  • 0
HappyG(rrr)
Club mate of mine did them last year. All sub 3 except Boston. So he went back there this year and did it in 2:52, beating all his other times. Boston is not an easy course to PB at!

He's since gone back to Berlin (a few weeks ago) and done 2:44:30 so his 6 x sub 3s are now a bit more understandable.

A great life quest. Good luck to you. Tokyo was v. expensive, ditto NY, I think. He took his mum, rather than his wife and kids, from a logistical perspective think it was easier! :-) G
Oct 2019
8:54am, 18 Oct 2019
18,900 posts
  •  
  • 0
DeeGee
That's my long term plan now. Boston's going to be the tricky one for me, I've done London three times and Berlin twice, and I'm going to throw my hat in the ring for Chicago next week. In fact, I've already booked a (refundable) hotel for that weekend.

I believe the lottery odds are worst for Tokyo, and the flight east will make the logistics that bit tougher. If only it were during half term - my son would love to go to Japan, as he loves NYC - I loved Tokyo when I visited a few years ago in the days before I was a runner.
Oct 2019
9:03am, 18 Oct 2019
264 posts
  •  
  • 0
Rog T
I'm going to wait until after New York to put in my Chicago entry for 2020, hopefully my time there will be give me guaranteed entry. I have the time already from a UK marathon but for some reason think they are more likely to accept a US one :)
Yes, I think Tokyo will be hardest for me and probably my last - definitely not fast enough to get guaranteed entry, the ballot seems tougher and it looks like it would be the most expensive. I might use Sports Tours for that one.
Oct 2019
9:16am, 18 Oct 2019
265 posts
  •  
  • 0
Rog T
And top tip ref the booking of a room for Chicago already - i'll get the boss onto that for me :)
Oct 2019
9:37am, 18 Oct 2019
605 posts
  •  
  • 0
JenLov
I did Tokyo as my last for the six star this year. Rog, I used 2.09 travel company. They have their own ballot, I don't know how Sports Tours manage theirs. Its expensive and unless you extend your trip it's quite a quick in and out (5 days). It was good to be with a group of people though. Oh and any rumours of Abbotts not taking times before 2006 are wrong. I contacted them as two of my times were from 2000 and they were OK with that. Best of luck to anyone going for it.
Oct 2019
7:44pm, 18 Oct 2019
2,820 posts
  •  
  • 0
FenlandRunner
I think Foxy has done them all?
Oct 2019
7:44pm, 18 Oct 2019
2,821 posts
  •  
  • 0
FenlandRunner
Yeah, just checked the list, he has. But then he has done over 300!
Oct 2019
8:08am, 19 Oct 2019
266 posts
  •  
  • 0
Rog T
Well done JenLov - did you have the special presentation of your 6 star medal in Tokyo then? I hadn't heard of 2.09 before - I shall look into them as well.

Thanks FenlandRunner for the info on Foxy - well done to him too. 300?! wow!

About This Thread

Maintained by DeeGee
All things relating to any or all of the 6 World Marathon Majors.
Last 6 majors, Wall Of fame:

-Boston: 17 April 2023, (Big_G: 3:41:36, Maccathecracker)
-London: 23 April 2023 (Big_G: 4:06, Maccathecracker, mattglen_: 05:01:14).
-Berlin: 24 September 2023. (Maccathecracker)
-Chicago: 08 Oct 2023. (Big_G: 3:52; Foxy)
-New York City: 05 November 2023 (DeeGee, Rossco Peeko, Maccathecracker.)

-Tokyo: 03 Mar 2024 (Big_G: 3:58:40)

Upcoming:

Boston: Mon 15 Apr 2024. Qualifying Window from 1 Sep 2022 until Sep 2023. No ballot. Time qualifiers, tour operators and charity only. 2024 race cutoff 5:29.
London: Sun Apr 21, 2024. Ballot odds 4-6%. Ballot closed. Ballot results known. Charity entries still available.
Berlin: Ballot window, 28th Sep-16 Nov. Odds have been about 3:1 in the past for this.
Chicago: Sunday October 13 2024, Ballot opens Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023 for 4 weeks.
NYC: Ballot open now.

worldmarathonmajors.com

****** - JenLove, KeithL, Becca7, Ian5, Foxy [Congrats all!]
***** Big_G
**** - Mrs Jigs, Jigs
*** - Trin, DeeGee
** - jabberknit, Rog T, Maccathecracker,

* -

Packages with guaranteed entry: sportstoursinternational.co.uk
209events.com

Related Threads

  • berlin
  • boston
  • chicago
  • events
  • london
  • majors
  • marathon
  • newyork
  • tokyo
  • vlm









Back To Top
X

Free training & racing tools for runners, cyclists, swimmers & walkers.

Fetcheveryone lets you analyse your training, find races, plot routes, chat in our forum, get advice, play games - and more! Nothing is behind a paywall, and it'll stay that way thanks to our awesome community!
Get Started
Click here to join 112,237 Fetchies!
Already a Fetchie? Sign in here