What is WMM

WMM (World Marathon Majors) is a series consisting of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City.

When do they take place

Tokyo: Last Sunday of Feb/First Sunday of March

Boston: 3rd Monday of April

London: Last Sunday of April

Berlin: Last Sunday of September

Chicago: Mid-October

New York City: First Sunday of November

How to enter

Via Lottery

Due to the huge demand for entries, all the WMMs have instituted a lottery system for entry. You have to enter your details in the lottery drawing, and if your entry is selected (via random drawing) then you have to pay the entry fees and can run the marathon. The only exception to the above is the Boston Marathon which does not have a lottery but can only be entered via the other methods listed further below.

Currently most WMMs get almost 10 times the lottery applications as compared to their entry limit. There is no criteria or running experience required for entering the lottery (except possibly permission from your coach :)). The lottery drawing can be entered from the respective official websites for each marathon, which are listed later in this article. The lottery application window for the next years marathon typically starts a few days after this year’s marathon has taken place.

Via Timed Qualification

If you are a fast runner able to run a marathon (or half marathon in case of NYC) within a certain time, then you can bypass the lottery and get a guaranteed entry.

The qualification times usually differ by age group and are as follows (correct as of November 2019):

Boston Marathon

• 18 to 34 years old (3:00 for men, 3:30 for women)
• 35 to 39 (3:05 for men, 3:35 for women)
• 40 to 44 (3:10 for men, 3:40 for women)
• 45 to 49 (3:20 for men, 3:50 for women)
• 50 to 54 (3:25 for men, 3:55 for women)
• 55 to 59 (3:35 for men, 4:05 for women)
• 60 to 64 (3:50 for men, 4:20 for women)
• 65 to 69 (4:05 for men, 4:35 for women)
• 70 to 74 (4:20 for men, 4:50 for women)
• 75 to 79 (4:35 for men, 5:05 for women)
• 80-plus (4:50 for men, 5:20 for women)

Chicago Marathon

• 16 to 29 years old (3:05 for men, 3:35 for women)
• 30 to 39 (3:10 for men, 3:40 for women)
• 40 to 49 (3:20 for men, 3:50 for women)
• 50 to 59 (3:35 for men, 4:20 for women)
• 60 to 69 (4:00 for men, 5:00 for women)
• 70 to 79 (4:30 for men, 5:55 for women)
• 80-plus (5:25 for men, 6:10 for women)

New York Marathon

Full marathon qualifying times

• 18 to 34 years old (2:53 for men, 3:13 for women)
• 35 to 39 (2:55 for men, 3:15 for women)
• 40 to 44 (2:58 for men, 3:15 for women)
• 45 to 49 (3:05 for men, 3:38 for women)
• 50 to 54 (3:14 for men, 3:51 for women)
• 55 to 59 (3:23 for men, 4:10 for women)
• 60 to 64 (3:34 for men, 4:27 for women)
• 65 to 69 (3:45 for men, 4:50 for women)
• 70 to 74 (4:10 for men, 5:30 for women)
• 75 to 79 (4:30 for men, 6:00 for women)
• 80-plus (4:55 for men, 6:35 for women)

Half Marathon qualifying times

• 18 to 34 (1:21 for men, 1:32 for women)
• 35 to 39 (1:23 for men, 1:34 for women)
• 40 to 44 (1:25 for men, 1:37 for women)
• 45 to 49 (1:28 for men, 1:42 for women)
• 50 to 54 (1:32 for men, 1:49 for women)
• 55 to 59 (1:36 for men, 1:54 for women)
• 60 to 64 (1:41 for men, 2:02 for women)
• 65 to 69 (1:46 for men, 2:12 for women)
• 70 to 74 (1:57 for men, 2:27 for women)
• 75 to 79 (2:07 for men, 2:40 for women)
• 80-plus (2:15 for men, 2:50 for women)

London Marathon

Timed qualification is only applicable to UK residents and is as follows:

• 18 to 39 (3:00 for men, 3:45 for women)
• 40 to 44 (3:05 for men, 3:50 for women)
• 45 to 49 (3:10 for men, 3:53 for women)
• 50 to 54 (3:15 for men, 4:00 for women)
• 55 to 59 (3:20 for men, 4:05 for women)
• 60 to 64 (3:45 for men, 4:30 for women)
• 65 to 69 (4:00 for men, 5:00 for women)
• 70 to 74 (5:00 for men, 6:00 for women)
• 75 to 79 (5:15 for men, 6:20 for women)
• 80-plus (5:30 for men, 6:40 for women)

Tokyo Marathon

• 2:21:01 to 2:45:00 (men)
• 2:52:01 to 3:30:00 (women)

Berlin Marathon

• Age 18 to 44 (2:45 for men, 3:00 for women)
• Age 45 to 59 (2:55 for men, 3:20 for women)
• Age 60 and up (3:25 for men, 4:10 for women)

Via Tour Operators

You can get an entry via an official tour operator. Check the marathon website for a list of official tour operators for your country. Tour operators usually offer a package consisting of a guaranteed entry, along with hotel accommodation and other ground support and logistics (like transfer to/from race start.finish, etc). Entry via this route usually costs a premium.

Via Charity Entry

WMMs offer a super-premium charity entry which runs into a few thousand dollars. The premium money goes to the charity (usually an NGO or a health research organization). This is a good way to get an entry and at the same time support a cause that is close to your heart, though this route is the costliest of all.

What is Six Star Finishers

Those runners who have finished all six of the WMMs are called Six Star Finishers. When you finish your last and 6th WMM, you get a special medal (pictured below) along with that marathon’s medal.

Links

Official Tokyo Marathon Website

Official Boston Marathon Website

Official London Marathon Website

Official Berlin Marathon Website

Official Chicago Marathon Website

Official New York Marathon Website

Official Abbott World Marathon Majors Website

You can also follow them on social media to stay up-to-date about the latest happenings including when the lottery application starts.