6 STARS, 0 EXCUSES. ENDURANCE CARVED IN STEEL: WELCOME TO THE WORLD MARATHON MAJORS.

Written By Oli Kondo-Whitehurst

THE WORLD MARATHON MAJORS (WMM).

Up to 4000 marathons are held yearly but none shine as bright as the prestigious BIG 6. This is a haven for the most serious, the most determined and those who run with NOTHING LEFT UNCLAIMED. Iron sharpens iron but when gold grinds gold, you reach a diamond ribbon and stand tall, ‘six stars’ dangling from your neck with a chain no icebox can replicate. Starting in 2006, WMM celebrates diversity, motivation, and culture at the six most sought after marathons in the world:

  • London Marathon

  • Tokyo Marathon

  • Berlin Marathon

  • Boston Marathon

  • New York City Marathon

  • Chicago Marathon


LONDON

The Pop in your step as you race through the big Smoke, with the crowd showing out to Welcome to the Party, in your Element running like you’re Invincible as you cross that start line in Greenwich. 2025 was one for the record books, the 56,000 finishers etching themselves in history, being a part of a movement so iconic you’d have the Queen, rolling stones as the blur of runners cross the finish line. Co-founded by an Olympic gold medallist, the marathon started in 1981 to boost London culture to the world. Gunners running to the noise of the crowd as they hammer down your favourite London landmarks, crossing the river blues at Tower Bridge, celebrating London and celebrating the grind they went through to get here.

TOKYO

The most recent in 2007, the Land of the Rising Sun flood the marathon race day like a sea of pirates looking for their one piece. No army in history holds more aura than the Samurai warriors raising their swords to fight and every runner feels like Yasuke as they touch Tokyo turf, taking every step to the finish line. Clocking more motion than a bullet train, every runner like “hold my asahi, I’m running overtime” and let me rain my own Shibuya incident to finish what Nanami started. Nowhere in the world honours respect like the Japanese and it’s serious respect for those who can collect this one.

BERLIN

Stacking P’s like you’re The Professors, big bro, this one’s for the speed and Eliud Kipchoge came and made this race his own Money Heist as he took World Record in the Berlin streets in 2022. Berlin loves the exclusivity; this medal isn’t a currywurst anyone can get their hands on and the serious pace on display to match the techno BPM Berghain has to offer makes the marathon one of the most prestigious in the World. 12 world records broken at this event makes it as untouchable as Bayern with Kane at the helm with a gold shine on the medal brighter than any DFB Pokal a Bundesliga can lay their eyes on.

BOSTON

The oldest in the game, the marathon holds more weight than the ring on each of Bill Russell’s fingers and the Boston legacy needs an anomaly to take it off track. BQ or DQ might be the motto with a qualification time needed to enter, the race prestige is unmatched. It’s been here since 1897, and there’s a reason they say legends never die with the race interlude telling you to get through it, you’ll never see an event this righteous.

NEW YORK

NYC the crown jewel of the six stars is the most dynamic, cultural and diverse WMM, running through all five boroughs, the 26.2 oozes with a street culture no kith has the supreme idea to comprehend. A race symbolising progress woven into every fabric of the city, you run like you’re part of a super team: stepping back to admire the route like Harden, or pulling up in the mid of the race like Durant, or finishing strong like Kyrie. People might call them a Yank, but here you’re a Yankee and you represent the burst of culture flowing through every street corner as you make you’re way to the Central Park finish.

CHICAGO

The Windy City gives this race its fear factor. Catch it on a good day and you have a fast paced, competitive world record-threatening race; catch it in the wind, and you might be hustling harder than a prime Rodman off a rebound. Pulling up to this start line, you better be ready for a crazy story, as every runner is a neighbourhood hero spreading love sosa with every step to get you to the finish. The Chicago community know exactly how to show out, with 2 million spectators cheering those on a journey of 26.2.

Six Stars

Complete all six and you earn yourself that special medal. A spot in the haven for those that go past where others stop. We salute anyone who can make it there and the only ticket that the door to the room takes is hard work, motivation and the grit you give to take yourself on the most prestigious running journey in the world. This is the World Marathon Majors.

NOTHING LEFT UNCLAIMED.

Oli Kondo-Whitehurst
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CHASING GREATNESS IN TOKYO: RUNNING THE RISING SUN.