• Fri. Mar 24th, 2023

What are the six Planet Marathon Majors?

ByEditor

Mar 17, 2023

Further than 800 marathons are organised each and every year, but only six have the title of Planet Marathon Considerable: Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York City Marathon.

These marathons are some of the most prestigious and sought-just right after in the planet, as amateur and elite athletes race 42.195 km across some of the most renowned city streets on earth.

Lots of runners dream of taking portion in just a single distinct Marathon Considerable, but some of the further ambitious do not just want a single distinct finisher’s medal, they want all six. Performing so puts you into an exclusive club and earns you a Six Star Medal.

On the elite side of concerns, the Planet Marathon Majors have observed a slew of records broken much more than the years, such as the present men’s planet record of two:01:09, set by Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge at the 2022 Berlin Marathon and Brigid Kosgei’s women’s planet record of two:14:04 set at the 2019 edition of the Chicago Marathon.

Study on for the Olympics.com guide to the Planet Marathon Majors.

Tokyo Marathon (2020 Getty Photographs)

Tokyo Marathon

Traditionally the 1st crucial of the calendar year, taking spot on the 1st Sunday in March, the Tokyo Marathon – which was 1st run in 2007 – is the youngest of the Planet Marathon Majors, reaching its status in 2012.

The course runs from the Metropolitan Government Making in Shinjuku ahead of winding by signifies of the city and turning back on itself so the second half is practically a looped replica of the 1st. En route to the finish line, runners take in views of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, the old town of Asakusa and further, and ends at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre.

The 1st men’s winner was Kenya’s Daniel Njenga in 2007, when the 1st lady to pass the tape was Japan native Niiya Hitomi.

Tokyo marathon in numbers

Men’s course record:

  • Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2022 (two:02:40)

Women’s course record:

  • Brigid Kosgei, Kenya, 2022 (two:16:02)

Men’s wheelchair course record:

  • Suzuki Tomoki, Japan, 2020 (1:21:52)

Women’s wheelchair course record:

  • Kina Tsubasa, Japan, 2020 (1:40:00)

Quantity of runners (2023)

Boston Marathon - BostonBoston Marathon – Boston

Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon traditionally needs spot on the third Monday in April – on Patriots’ Day in the USA.

The race is the oldest annual marathon in the planet, obtaining 1st been run in 1897 just right after its organisers took inspiration from the marathon race at the Olympic Games Athens 1896.

Even although initially exclusively a men’s race, that all changed in 1966 when Roberta Gibb gatecrashed the celebration and completed the course in 3:21:40. Eventually, girls have been officially permitted to participate in 1972.

The course of the Boston Marathon begins at Hopkinton State Park, passing by a quantity of regional attractions such as Ashland Clock Tower, Natick Center Cultural District and The Forever Young statue – commemorating Johnny Kelley, a 61-time Boston Marathon finisher who passed away in 2004 – ahead of reaching the finish line at Copley Square.

The 1st men’s winner was the USA’s John J. McDermott who came residence in two:55:ten in 1897, when the 1st female to win the official women’s race was American Nina Kuscsik in 1972.

Boston Marathon in numbers

Men’s course record:

  • Geoffrey Mutai, Kenya, 2011 (two:03:02)

Women’s course record:

  • Bezunesh Deba, Ethiopia, 2014 (two:19:59)

Men’s wheelchair course record:

  • Marcel Hug, Switzerland, 2017 (1:18:03)

Women’s wheelchair course record:

  • Manuela Schar, Switzerland, 2019 (1:34:19)

Men’s planet records set at the Boston Marathon:

  • Suh Yun-bok, Republic of Korea, 1947 (two:25:39)

Women’s planet records set at the Boston Marathon:

  • Joan Benoit, USA, 1983 (two:22:43)

Quantity of runners (2022):

Virgin Money London Marathon - LondonVirgin Income London Marathon – London

London Marathon

Seven planet records have been set at the London Marathon, which boasts a single distinct of the quickest courses in the planet. The marathon, which 1st took spot in 1981, was the brainchild of Melbourne 1956 3,000m steeplechase gold medallist, Chris Brasher, who had been inspired by operating the 1979 edition of the New York City Marathon.

Runners navigating the course will be treated to a smorgasbord of London attractions, such as the renowned Cutty Sark ship, the London Eye, Huge Ben and even the Tower of London ahead of reaching their final place on The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

The inaugural London Marathon saw a tie for 1st in the men’s race, with the USA’s Dick Beardsley and Norway’s Inge Simonsen passing the finish line with each and every other in two:11:48. The women’s race that year was won by residence favourite Joyce Smith who also won the second race in 1982.

London Marathon in numbers

Men’s course record:

  • Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2019 (two:02:37)

Women’s course record

  • Paula Radcliffe, Fantastic Britain, 2003 (two:15:25)

Men’s wheelchair course record:

  • Marcel Hug, Switzerland, 2021 (1:26:27)

Women’s wheelchair course record:

  • Manuela Schar, Switzerland, 2021 (1:39:52)

Men’s planet records set at the London Marathon:

  • Khalid Khannouchi, USA, 2002 (two:05:38)

Women’s planet records set at the London Marathon:

  • Mary Keitany, Kenya, 2017 (two:17:01)
  • Paula Radcliffe, Fantastic Britain, 2005 (two:17:42)
  • Paula Radcliffe, Fantastic Britain, 2003 (two:15:25) – mixed
  • Ingrid Kristiansen, Norway, 1985 (two:21:06)
  • Grete Waitz, Norway, 1983 (two:25:29)

Quantity of runners (2022):

Athletics | Berlin MarathonAthletics | Berlin Marathon

Berlin Marathon

If you are looking for the quickest Marathon Considerable course on earth, seem no further than Berlin. A total of 12 planet records (such as the final eight men’s) have been set at the Berlin Marathon, such as the present men’s planet record of two:01:09 set by Eliud Kipchoge just final year.

Held on the final weekend in September, the Berlin Marathon has a flat and speedy course that starts and ends at the city’s renowned Brandenburg Gate. The race was 1st introduced in 1974 by regional baker Horst Milde with West Germany’s Gunter Hallas (two:44:53) and Jutta Von Hasse (3:22:01) triumphing in the inaugural edition.

Berlin Marathon in numbers

Men’s course record

  • Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2022 (two:01:09)

Women’s course record

  • Tigist Assefa, Ethiopia, 2022 (two:15:37)

Men’s wheelchair course record:

  • Heinz Frei, Switzerland, 1997 (1:21:39)

Women’s wheelchair course record:

  • Manuela Schar, Switzerland, 2018 (1:36:53)

Men’s planet records set at Berlin Marathon:

  • Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2022 (two:01:09)
  • Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, 2018 (two:01:39)
  • Dennis Kipruto Kimetto, Kenya, 2014 (two:02:57)
  • Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, Kenya, 2013 (​​2:03:23)
  • Patrick Makau Musyoki, Kenya, 2011 (two:03:38)
  • Haille Gebrselassie, Ethiopia, 2008 (two:03:59)
  • Haille Gebrselassie, Ethiopia, 2007 (two:04:26)
  • Paul Tergat, Kenya, 2003 (two:04:55)
  • Ronaldo da Costa, Brazil, 1998 (​​2:06:05)

Women’s planet records set at Berlin Marathon

  • Takahashi Naoko, Japan, 2001 (two:19:46)
  • Tegla Loroupe, Kenya, 1999 (two:20:43)
  • Christa Vahlensieck, West Germany, 1977 (two:34:48)

Quantity of runners (2022):

Chicago MarathonChicago Marathon

Chicago Marathon

Established in its present format in 1977, the Chicago Marathon has grown a lot taking into consideration the reality that its initial race when only 4,200 runners took portion. Presently, close to 40,000 amateur and elite athletes take to the streets of the Windy City to brave the 42.195 km course that begins and ends at Grant Park. Sports fans will be delighted by a race that passes by three of the city’s most nicely-loved stadiums, Wrigley Field, the United Centre and Assured Value Field.

Like Berlin and London, the Chicago course has made some of the quickest occasions observed in history, such as Brigid Kosgei’s planet record of two:14:04 set in 2019. That mark is much more than 45 minutes much more immediately than the 1st female winner’s time of two:50:47 set by the wonderfully named Dorothy Doolittle in 1977, when the men’s winner that year, Dan Cloeter, ended the race in two:17:52.

Chicago Marathon in numbers

Men’s course record:

  • Dennis Kimetto, Kenya, 2013 (two:03:45)

Women’s course record

  • Brigid Kosgei, Kenya, 2019 (two:14:04)

Men’s wheelchair course record:

  • Heinz Frei, Switzerland, 2010 (1:26:56)

Women’s wheelchair course record:

  • Tatyana McFadden, USA, 2017 (1:39:15)

Men’s planet records set at the Chicago Marathon:

  • Khalid Khannouchi, Morocco, 1999 (two:05:42)
  • Steve Jones, Fantastic Britain, 1984 (two:08:05)

Women’s planet records set at the Chicago Marathon:

  • Brigid Kosgei, Kenya, 2019 (two:14:04)
  • Paula Radcliffe, Fantastic Britain, 2002 (two:17:17)
  • Catherine Ndereba, Kenya, 2001 (two:18:47)

Quantity of runners (2022):

New York City Marathon New York City Marathon 

New York City Marathon

Now it is time for the biggest marathon in the planet – the New York City Marathon. With about 50,000 competitors final year, New York’s 1st marathon in 1970 saw only 127 runners on the commence line with just 55 ending the race, precisely exactly where the USA’s Gary Muhrcke was declared the winner in two:31:38.

A year later, a single much more American, Anne Beth Bonner, became the 1st female winner of the race in a planet record time of two:55:22.

In 1976, a new course was introduced that travels across all five boroughs of the city, starting in Staten Island and ending in the planet-renowned Central Park. In amongst, runners cross five bridges, operate their way up some steep hills and pass by some of the most iconic net-web pages in the planet.

four planet records have been set on the course, all of them by girls, such as an remarkable three in a row by Norway’s Grete Waitz amongst 1978 and 1980.

New York City Marathon in numbers

Men’s course record:

  • Geoffrey Mutai, Kenya, 2011 (two:05:06)

Women’s course record

  • Margaret Okayo, Kenya, 2003 (two:22:31)

Men’s wheelchair course record:

  • Marcel Hug, Switzerland, 2022 (1:25:26)

Women’s wheelchair course record:

  • Susannah Scaroni, USA, 2022 (1:42:43)

Women’s planet records set at the New York City Marathon:

  • Grete Waitz, Norway, 1980 (two:25:42)
  • Grete Waitz, Norway, 1979 (two:27:33)
  • Grete Waitz, Norway, 1978 (two:32:30)
  • Beth Bonner, USA, 1971 (two:55:22)

Quantity of runners (2022)