How to get an entry into the 6 sold out Marathon Majors

The biggest events of the worldwide Marathon calendar are those that make up a series called the Abbott World Marathon Majors. These include in date order: Tokyo Marathon, Virgin Money London Marathon, The Boston Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and the New York City Marathon. With the rise in popularity of running worldwide, the most popular international running events are getting increasingly difficult to get an entry into.

The 6 World Marathon Majors are not the only sold out events that we offer guaranteed entry into. For an overview of other sell out Half Marathons and Marathons, have a look here.

In general there are a few set ways in which you can get hold of an entry into one of the World Marathon Majors which are:

• Running really fast. A lot of events have a ‘Good for Age‘ programme which means that if you run below the time limit for your age then you gain direct entry into the event. Qualifying times and entry fees are different for every event
• The ballot. The event ballot is a lottery and depending on which event it is, you may have to pay to enter the ballot. If you are successful, you can pay to enter the event
• Running for charity. If your ballot is not successful then you can buy an entry package through a charity. You will usually have to commit to a minimum fundraising target which can vary per charity and per event
• Booking with Sports Tours International. We provide guaranteed entry with a travel package into a big range of sold out events

With the exception of the London Marathon where we act as global partner to distribute entries to tour operators worldwide, Sports Tours International has guaranteed entry to all Marathon Majors for those requiring individual entries. You can find a list of our World Marathon Majors travel packages here

Tokyo – The newcomer on the Marathon block

In 2013, Tokyo joined as a sixth race to the Abbott World Marathon Majors. Unlike the other five marathons in the World Marathon Majors, Tokyo Marathon started as a massive race from its very first year. Over 25,000 runners finished the Tokyo Marathon in 2007. Five years on and nearly 36,000 runners started the race. Applications for the 2015 Tokyo Marathon drew over 304,825 applicants. This equates to an over-subscription rate of 10.6 times.

Find out more here 

Entry availability:

36,000 places. Free to register, and a lottery system to pick entrants. Less than a 10% chance though. Every year about 300,000 people register and the limit is usually about 35,000. The ballot system opens at the start of August for 1 month.

For just 200 international runners there is the Run as One entry where women and men can guarantee participation by running a sub 3.40 marathon and sub 2.55 marathon respectively.

There are also limited charity entries available.

Guaranteed entries are available with travel packages through Sports Tours International – More Information or join our 2019 waitlist – Tokyo Marathon

Boston – The world`s oldest marathon

Boston is the world’s oldest annual marathon which started in 1897. This is the place where 19-year-old Katherine Switzer changed the rules. She is best known for being the first woman to take part in the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry, in 1967.

Find out more here 

Entry availability:

Participants who want direct entry have to meet a qualifying standard. However this time does not guarantee entry: the fastest are accepted first until places are full. This means that you could meet the qualifying standard by some margin but you still don’t get in. The entry system opens up to those who are in one by one September. Your qualifying time needs to have been achieved before September to be taken into consideration for entry the following year. Entries for US runners cost about $180 and International runners who qualify will have to pay about $240.

You can try to gain entry through a charity but there are only about 2,500 up for grabs.

Guaranteed entries are available with travel packages through Sports Tours International and you do not need a qualifying time when booking through us but interest is high so you will need to join our waitlist. Click here for more details: The Boston Marathon

London Marathon – The experience of a lifetime

Since its first event in 1981, the London Marathon has developed a reputation for its fast, record setting course. The marathon was founded by former Olympic champion Chris Brasher and athlete John Disley and is organised by Hugh Brasher (son of Chris). The marathon is set largely around the River Thames and begins at three separate points around Blackheath and finishes on the Mall alongside St James`s Park. A record total of 247,069 people entered the ballot for the 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon and the organisers expect approximately 38,000 runners to line up on the start line on Sunday 24th April.

It is very difficult to get into the London Marathon through the ballot and ballot entry opens for just 5 days some time in May. You will find out if you are in when you receive a magazine in October. Once you do get a ballot place, the entry costs just £35 for UK residents. There are plenty of charity options but with hefty fundraising requirements.

Running clubs receive an allocation of entries each which you may be able to get if you’re a member. Otherwise, you might qualify for a ‘Good for Age’ spot but the times are pretty tough to achieve and you need to apply for this by mid June.

The Good for Age qualifying times for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon are:

Men	Time (in hours)	Women	Time (in hours)
Age 18-39	sub 3:00	Age 18-39	sub 3:45
Age 40-44	sub 3:05	Age 40-44	sub 3:50
Age 45-49	sub 3:10	Age 45-49	sub 3:53
Age 50-54	sub 3:15	Age 50-54	sub 4:00
Age 55-59	sub 3:20	Age 55-59	sub 4:05
Age 60-64	sub 3:45	Age 60-64	sub 4:30
Age 65-69	sub 4:00	Age 65-69	sub 5:00
Age 70-74	sub 5:00	Age 70-74	sub 6:00
Age 75-79	sub 5:15	Age 75-79	sub 6:20
80+	sub 5:30	80+	sub 6:40

Berlin Marathon – The World record holder

The Berlin marathon started in the Grunewald forest in 1974 and moved to West Berlin in 1981. The most world records have been set on the streets of Berlin. Set in this beautiful city, it’s easy to see why the Berlin is one of the 6 World Marathon Majors. The Berlin Marathon is famous for being flat and fast. Whether you are running your first marathon or you are a seasoned runner, Berlin is the marathon to achieve a personal best. Over recent years the Berlin Marathon has provided nine world records, with Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich running 2.03.23 at Berlin 2014 to hold the current world record.

Find out more here

Entry availability:

With being the World Marathon record course came an increased popularity so this Marathon sells out and you have to enter the ballot to have a chance of directly entering. In excess of 80,000 people enter the ballot but there is a limit of participants of 40,000. Entering the ballot is free and the ballot for 2019 opens mid October. It costs €110 to enter if you win a spot in the ballot and you’ll find out in November. If you don’t get in through the ballot, you can gain entry through a charity but these usually have a minimum fundraising target.

Guaranteed entries are available with travel packages through Sports Tours International. Click here. 

Chicago Marathon – Flat as a pancake

Since the first Chicago Marathon took place back in 1977, the numbers of runners have massively increased from 4,200 to 45,000. The race has always been one of the largest marathon road races in the world. In 2015 around 71,040 runners applied to through the lottery system. Guaranteed entries are available with travel packages through Sports Tours International. The limit of 45,000 registered entrants is usually reached as early as 6 months before race day.

Entry availability:

Runners who meet qualifying times specific to their age and gender will gain an automatic ticket to the starting line. The new time standards are a strategy for race organizers to give participants of all ages an equal chance to qualify for guaranteed entry. In the past, the time qualifier guaranteed-entry option only applied to men who ran 3:15 or faster and women who had a sub-3:45 race to their names, no matter what their age.

The following standards, achieved on an IAAF-certified course after January 1, 2016, will guarantee entry to Chicago in 2018:

Age Group	Men’s	Women’s
16-29	3:10	3:40
30-39	3:15	3:45
40-49	3:25	3:55
50-59	3:40	4:15
60-69	4:00	4:55
70-79	4:30	5:45
80+	5:10	6:30

The ballot system opens at the end of October and it shuts at the end of November and results are announced in the second week of December. Entering the ballot entry is free. You can earn a guaranteed entry if you’ve run the race five times in the previous ten years. There are numerous charities that typically have fundraising minimums.

Guaranteed entries are available with travel packages through Sports Tours International. Find out more here.

New York Marathon – The biggest

The TCS New York City Marathon is the most popular and diverse marathon in the world. The marathon attracts some of the world`s top athletes and an extensive range of recreational runners. The race began back in 1970 with just 127 competitors and cost just $1.

Find out more here

Entry availability:

50,000 places. Entry through the ballot system. The application period for the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon opens mid- January with the entry drawing, and the period to claim guaranteed entry, ended February 15, 2018. The entry drawing took place on February 28, 2018. Runners not accepted into the event can still get entry via charities or book a guaranteed entry with a travel package through Sports Tours International.

Guaranteed entries are available with travel packages through Sports Tours International. Find out more here.

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