# Your Essential Guide to Running the Abbott World Marathon Majors
The Abbott World Marathon Majors represent the pinnacle of global marathon racing. These eight races attract elite runners and serious amateurs seeking to test themselves against the world's best competition and most challenging courses. Understanding how to enter, when to apply, and what awaits you at each event separates dreamers from actual participants.
The eight races that comprise the Majors are Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, New York City Marathon, Tokyo Marathon, and two others rotating through the calendar. Each event draws 30,000 to 50,000 runners and features world-class elite fields that often produce course records and sub-2:03 performances.
Entry methods vary dramatically by race. The Boston Marathon uses a lottery system combined with qualifying times. You need to run a certified marathon within specific time standards relative to your age and gender, then hope the random draw selects you. The standards are fast. A 40-year-old male needs to run 2:52 or faster within the past calendar year to qualify.
London Marathon operates a ballot lottery separate from qualifying standards, though time standards help your odds. New York City Marathon uses a similar ballot system where hundreds of thousands enter for roughly 50,000 spots. Tokyo Marathon employs a lottery format as well.
Chicago and Berlin take different approaches. Chicago uses a lottery with priority for Time Qualifying runners who've completed a certified marathon between 2:47 and 3:15 depending on age and gender. Berlin favors fast runners, with entry prioritized for those running near or under 2:45.
Timing matters intensely. Most lotteries for fall marathons open in January for the same year's race. London and Boston lottery entries typically open in specific windows during fall or early winter for spring races. You need to mark your calendar months in advance and prepare documentation proving qualifying times.What to expect at each race varies. Boston offers a fast, downhill course from rural Massachusetts to downtown Boston. Berlin features a flat, fast profile in former East Berlin with a powerful elite field. New York City navigates all five boroughs with dramatic elevation changes and intense crowd support.
Chicago presents a fast lakefront course. London combines historic bridges with flat terrain ideal for quick times. Tokyo offers an early-morning start for Northern Hemisphere winter conditions.
The race experiences differ from typical marathons. Elite runners train at different times, warming up hours before your start. Corrals separate by pace and predicted finish time. Course support stations appear every mile or two with trained volunteers. The atmosphere at Majors races carries electricity from start to finish.
Pacing strategies matter more at these events. The best approach involves running controlled early miles and letting fitness carry you through final kilometers. Many runners target negative splits, running the second half faster than the first.
Preparing for a World Major requires 16 to 20 weeks of dedicated training. Building aerobic capacity through long runs, tempo work, and speed sessions creates the fitness foundation. Most plans include one marathon-pace workout weekly during build phases.
Getting into even one World Major represents a legitimate achievement. Most runners attempt three to five lottery entries before gaining acceptance. Qualifying with fast times removes lottery randomness and guarantees entry, though achieving those times requires serious dedication. The payoff comes when you line up among thousands of runners competing at the world's premier marathon venues.