Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics! Today we’re talking about the Abbott World Marathon Majors! The Abbott World Marathon Majors consist of six marathons – New York City Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Tokyo Marathon and the London Marathon.
This week’s topic – Do you want to run any of the Abbott World Marathon Majors?
Is it possible to answer yes and no to this question? I have run two of the WMM races – New York and Chicago (twice). Would I recommend these two races – absolutely!! Both cities are amazing and the crowd support is awesome.
NYC Marathon 2016
Chicago Marathon 2017
Chicago Marathon 2019
That being said, I “retired” from the marathon distance after last year’s Chicago Marathon. I honestly have no desire to run a marathon at this point and time. Will that change in a few years? Who knows, but for right now I’m happy with that decision.
But if I were still running marathons, I would definitely want to do the London Marathon. I visited London many years ago on a business trip and I really enjoyed it there. I didn’t get a chance to explore the city that much so I would love the opportunity to go back and run the race and explore the city. Plus I still keep in touch with co-workers that live there and it would be great to visit them!
I’ve never had a desire to run Boston because of the hills and I have no desire to run Berlin or Tokyo just because those aren’t cities on my bucket list to visit. Those are the only reasons I wouldn’t run these 3 particular races.
Tell me – Do you want to run any of the Abbott World Marathon Majors?
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Yes, London! That is one that I would love to do! I just have to sit down and plan it for 2021. And get a slot – I’ve heard it’s tricky. The only one that I’ve done is the New York Marathon in 2010, and I loved it.
Here in the US it’s basically impossible to get into the London Marathon via the lottery. I think I know two people that have gotten in via the lottery, lol, but I’ll probably keep trying 🙂
If I did a marathon, it would probably be a much smaller one . . . with a really generous time limit. I have thought about it, but haven’t come up with any that really call to me. So far.
I’m not sure how large it is, but the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii doesn’t have a time limit. That’s actually one marathon I probably would do, just because it’s Hawaii!
I’ve run Chicago 3 times and I’d do it again! I’ve always wanted to run Boston because it’s a race you have to qualify for. The other races? Not so much.
To be honest, I’d probably run Chicago again. You know how much I love that city, lol.
I love this topic! I’ve never been interested in collecting World Marathon majors but everyone says that Chicago and New York are amazing so I would love to run them one day! Last summer I visited Germany for the first time and I’d actually love to do Berlin – I didn’t get to run at all while I was there. But really, half marathons would be more my speed, haha!
Half marathons are definitely more my speed right now too!
Chicago and NYC are so much fun because the crowd support is crazy! The crowds always have a way of picking me up when I’m tired during a marathon.
I actually would love to run Berlin…put in for it last year and didn’t get in, so I was gonna try again either this year or next year. With everything going on this year I’m pretty sure that timeline will be pushed. But I’d also love to run Tokyo because I’d love to go to Asia! It’s been on my bucket list for years. New York I’d like to run just for the experience because I’ve heard its amazing and Chicago and I have unfinished business. Honestly London is the only one that’s far down on my bucket list. I’ve already been and explored the city. It was cool and I liked it, but don’t need to go there again anytime soon. Boston I do want to run but I want to qualify for it which will take me like another 10 years haha so…
I hope that you get into Berlin! I think that luckily that is one of the WMM races that have a pretty good lottery entrance rate (unlike NYC and London). If you decide to do NYC let me know so we can meet up!
Idk if I will ever run a marathon, but it’s a fun question. NY would be my top choice and Chicago #2 because I have family there.
Chicago is such a fun city – it’s my favorite place to visit!
I’m a “yes” and “no” on this as well. I’d like to run all of them, but the expense in getting to them tells me to stay home LOL Let’s not forget the work in getting there (qualifying by time and/or the crazy lottery systems). But what an accomplishment to have them all done!!
Totally understand! When I think of all the travel and hotel expenses for some of the races, it makes my head spin!
I studied in the UK but I wasn’t a runner then. That’s one of my biggest regrets because I would have loved to explore the whole country on the run! So London would definitely be on my list. Isn’t Berlin flat? If yes, that would be another one I’d try! LOL.
I have the same regret about when I was in grad school in Michigan. I wasn’t a runner then but I really want to run the Detroit Half Marathon. It would have been awesome to run that while I was living there.
I actually have not ever run a full marathon! Don’t see myself doing any of the world majors but I do want to do the London landmark half and the New York half one day. I guess it’s good I did not get into either of them this year.
I’ve never heard of the London Landmark Half but that sounds really cool!
I’ve run the Chicago Marathon and maybe I’ll do it again. Would love to run Boston but would need to get a “free” bib for that one since I know I won’t qualify.
Same, I would never qualify for Boston…maybe when I’m 80? LoL
I would love to run London, because I did parts of the course while there on vacation. I love Tokyo, but can’t imagine running with all the pollution there. Like you, I have no interest in doing another marathon so if NYC is my one and only, it’s a damn good one
Oh wow that’s awesome that you ran part of the London course before.
Yup – if you choose to do one marathon, NYC should be it so you selected well!!
I stayed near the Thames so I ran along it a few times as sightseeing and when I read Runnng the Smoke I realized it was also portions of the course. If you haven’t read that, totally recommend. It’s like the NYC course – if you’re running in Manhattan or Brooklyn, odds are good you’re running part of it
Thanks for the book recommendation!