World Marathon Majors

The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) started in 2006 and is based on six major city marathon races recognized as the most-high profile on the calendar.  The series comprises of marathons in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City. 

Six-star finishers are marathoners who have completed all 6 of the World Marathon Majors.  As of April 2018, there were a total of 3,786 Six Star Finishers! 

All six of these marathons are extremely hard to get into as you either have to qualify (run fast enough) or get selected in the draft. 

For example, according to several newspaper articles etc. that I have seen, the odds to get into the NYC Marathon are around 16-18%.  In 2017, for example, 98,247 runners applied for the NYC Marathon, the NYC Marathon lottery drew 16,211 (16.5%).  The odds are not great!  It is not uncommon for a runner to apply for several years before getting selected.  Many marathoners will opt to raise money for a charity to get into the race.  

Boston Marathon 4-21-2008 – Qualified

 Running Boston had been my dream since I was a little girl.  Once I ran my first marathon, I began to think about how I would need to train to run fast enough to qualify for Boston.  After a few failed attempts, I started to think that I’d have to wait until I was really old as the qualifying times weren’t as bad the older you got!! 

Instead, I researched marathons that had the most runners who qualified for Boston.  I decided to run Tucson and that qualified me for the 2004 Boston marathon.  My husband, Eric, and I had such a great time in Boston that weekend that we decided that I should try and qualify again!!  Which race this time?  I chose the Chevron Houston Marathon. 

What is so awesome about running Chevron Houston is that if you qualify for Boston, you can run that years Boston Marathon AND next years.  It was because of the qualifying standards which are:

• Qualifying times must be run within 18 months of the marathon
• Qualifying times are based on the chip time
• Qualifying times are based upon the athletes age on the date of the Boston Marathon

Age Group	Male	Female
18-34	3:00:00	3:30:00
35-39	3:05:00	3:35:00
40-44	3:10:00	3:40:00
45-49	3:20:00	3:50:00
50-54	3:25:00	3:55:00
55-59	3:35:00	4:05:00
60-64	3:50:00	4:20:00
65-69	4:05:00	4:35:00
70-74	4:20:00	4:50:00
75-79	4:35:00	5:05:00
80++	4:50:00	5:20:00

 I finished the Chevron Houston Marathon in 3:55: 23 and therefore qualified for Boston in 2007 and 2008!  At the time when I was going after my Six Star Finisher, they were only counting those marathon majors run from 2008 and after.  Therefore, I am writing about the marathon I used for my Abbott Six Star Finisher.

Boston Marathon 2008 race day was fantastic.  Perfect weather.  Saturday before the race, the Red Sox were playing Texas Rangers and Boston won 5-3.  They announced that a lot of the baseball players were out due to the flu.  Bummer.  The night before the race, Eric and I had gone to the Celtics vs Hawks first playoff game.  Celtics won 104 to 81.  Feeling this was good luck as both games, the home team won! 

We were at the game early and met the winner of the 2007 Boston Marathon; Robert Kipkoech Cheriuyot.  He was waiting by the side as he was going to be one of two throwing out the first pitches.  I asked if he would sign my bib.  The look on his face was priceless.  He said “me?”.  Yes, you!!  He happily signed! 

Soon, Lance Armstrong showed up and stood by Mr. Cheriuyot.  Lance was also asked to throw out the first pitch.  Eric reached out to Lance and spoke to him about how his wife was going to be running the marathon the next day.  I told him that I was so looking forward to being able to run this race with Lance Armstrong!  We asked if Lance would sign my bib and he did!  Eric then asked Lance if he would give me the Livestrong yellow band he was wearing on his wrist.  You could hear the gasp of people who were standing around us, shocked that Eric would ask.  Lance took it off and handed it to me then asked his handler to get him another! Many then said “I wish I had asked him”.   Wow…so cool!  I decided I was going to run the race wearing this!  Has to be good luck, right?

The autographs on my bib not only included Lance Armstrong and Robert Kipkoech Cheriuyot but also Greta Weitz and Bill Rodgers who were both at the expo!  This bib is definitely a keeper. 

Arose the next morning with a bit of a belly issue which is not that uncommon before a race.  Eric and I headed to the busses at the Boston Commons that take the runners to the Athletes Village near the start.  This is where everyone gathers for a few hours until the race starts.  You basically use this time to stretch, talk to other racers, drop off your extra clothing/food/etc., stand in long lines for the porta potties, eat whatever one typically eats before a race, and some actually lie down and rest. 

You can feel the excitement in the air!  It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time at Boston or your 10th, it is such a blessing to have the opportunity to run a race with this kind of history! 

Soon we hear the announcement to make our move towards the start line and to line up based on your corral assignment.  The announcers remind racers that radio/music is not permitted (so I had to hide mine), to make sure we drink enough water as it’ll be a bit warm, and listen to the course volunteers. 

Off we go!  The start was around noon compared to the times it starts now.  The organization moved the times up to allow runners to take advantage of the cooler weather earlier in the day. 

Boston is fantastic with approximately 500,000 spectators over the course.  Off we go through Hopkinton.  I was so surprised by how many people were out cheering for us.  It is a statewide holiday, Patriot’s day.  And with the weather being so nice, many people were out.  This course drops about 500 feet from beginning to end.  It starts downhill at the beginning. We were running through Ashland and then through Framington.  Along the way we saw a group of spectators who all had black Harley Davidson t-shirts.  They were holding beers and cheering us! 

We entered Natick.  I believe it was this small town where I saw a HUGE blue and white sign in someone’s yard that said “Shortcut – this way” and it pointed to their backyard.  Too funny! 

As we approached Wellesley, I could hear the roar of the Wellesley girls screaming their encouragement and support of the runners.  These girls had hand-made signs that said things like “kiss me – I am 21 today” and they wore t-shirts that had arrows pointing that said “Boston 13.5 miles”.  When I entered the infamous “scream tunnel” it was deafening!  This would be one of my best memories of Boston, the ‘run through history’, because it was one of those Boston Marathon scenes I have imagined for years.  Wow, I was really running the Boston Marathon!  I still couldn’t believe it!  I was feeling good at the halfway point. 

Boston College up ahead.  I started up the last of the 4 hills on my way to Heartbreak Hill.  Eric and I had agreed to meet on the right-hand side of the road at the top of Heartbreak Hill.  There he is! I ran up to him and he said that I looked ‘great’!  He said that he was at the official top of Heartbreak Hill designated by a huge tree.  He had a beer too!  He opened it and I took a huge swig…it was so warm…but it was so good! 

I was at the 20.5-mile mark and had another 6 miles to go.  It was pretty much downhill from here.  We passed the famous place where a runner a few years ago, took the subway and jumped in at the end and ‘won’ the race.  I was so looking forward to getting to Boylston Street.  Around mile 23, we passed Fenway Park. 

As we got to Commonwealth Avenue and then onto Hereford Street, I knew we were so close.  Run up the small hill on Hereford Street and turned left onto Boylston Street and you can see the finish line.  Yay!  I finished in 4:27:22. 

Chicago Marathon 10-12-2008 – Charity

Rumor on the street was this is a great race!  A must do!  I tried to get in via the lottery but was unsuccessful so it was  “let’s see if getting in via a charity will work”.  I chose St. Jude’s Research Hospital.  I was accepted and needed to raise some money.  I am horrible at asking people for money but was able to get some people to donate.  The majority of the required donation came from us.  It was well worth it. 

Eric and I went to the expo the day before the race.  We were told that I could change corrals as my time from other races showed I should be nearer the front.  It did not matter where I was in the corral as I knew everyone had a chip.  That proved to be a mistake.  There were over 30,000 runners and the course was very narrow.  Once you got into a ‘pack’ you pretty much stayed there.  I also wanted to take pictures so I’d pop out for a second, grab a photo and then try to get back into the crowd.  Yikes.  However, the race was awesome.

The St. Jude’s Research Hospital had a special tent set up at the beginning of the race for all those who raised money.  I believe they also had something for the end of the race but we didn’t partake.  However, the morning event was very nice.  We were treated like royalty.  I’m sure the party after the race was fantastic.  I finished Chicago in 4:26:18. Off we go to eat the renowned Deep-Dish Chicago Style pizza!  After eating, we had some time so we went to Wrigley Field and went to the top of the bleachers in the left field and took a ton of pictures.  So much fun and it was awesome.  We love Wrigley Field. This marathon weekend did not disappoint!  

New York City Marathon 11-6-2011 – Lottery

In 2011, I put in for the lottery and finally got accepted to run the TCS New York City Marathon.  I had been putting in for the lottery for several years and after so many rejections, you eventually get accepted.  That was me this time!! 

I was so excited.  Finally figured out how to get to the busses that took the racers to the start of the race at Fort Wadsworth.  You then walk about ½ mile to the athlete’s village and wait for the start.  Very much like Boston.  Since it was November in NYC, it was cold and dark.  I brought a large garbage bag to cover up with and Dunkin Donuts staff were handing out these cute green and pink hats.  I took one!!  So many people were writing their names, with sharpies, on their arms and legs.  

After a couple of hours, the announcers asked us to walk towards the start of the race.  They broke the group up where certain runners would start at the top of the Verrazano-Narrows bridge while the other half ran on the lower half. 

I was on the lower half and we met up with all the other runners around mile 6 or 8.  There were so many people cheering and offering assistance, it was just amazing.  Running through all of the boroughs was fantastic.  You could tell when you were in a different area as the culture changed.  Simply amazing.  A friend of mine recalled that running NYC marathon was much like you were running in a parade the entire 26.2 miles.  If they could read your name on your body, the crowd would scream comments like “you’ve got this, Linda”, “looking good, Linda” or whatever.  That was encouraging for all the runner. 

I was coming up towards Central Park where I saw Eric!!  He asked if I was okay and offered me some goodies but all I had left was a 5k.  I headed into the hilly part of the race!  I crossed the finish line and what I thought was fantastic, since there were so many of us finisher being shuttled to the support tables and exits, the organizers handed out bags/backpack with food and water already in them!  Fantastic!!  No fighting through the crowd to grab a banana or water.  Brilliant. 

It took me a while to exit and I found Eric at our established meeting point and we headed back to the hotel for a quick shower and some food.  What a fantastic race.  I finished it in 4:40:11. 

The next day, as a celebratory token, we played Bethpage, the Black course.  What a beautifully difficult golf course.  It definitely kicked my butt but I’d do it all over again.  I must be a glutton for punishment!  

Berlin Marathon 9-30-2012 – Lottery

I applied for the Berlin Marathon and got in with no problem.  What I soon discovered is that the day before the actual Berlin Marathon, they have an inline skating marathon.  I have never seen this before.  I noticed that there was padding put around parts of the Brandenburg Gate where the race begins and ends.  I believe it was to protect the skaters in case they crashed. 

Berlin Marathon was a fantastic race!  One of my absolute favorites outside of the Boston Marathon.  Boston is a race everyone should strive to do if just for the history.  Berlin, however, had such a great atmosphere!  The crowds were filled with people from all different countries and they flew their countries flags but cheered on everyone.  The streets, along the water stops, were sponsored by various people/companies and many were painted or chalked. 

After the half-way point, at one of the water stops there were massage chairs where runners could stop and have an upper body massage.  Also, at these water stops, I noticed there were small Dixie cups filled with a darker liquid.  My first thought was beer; we are in Germany after all.  I asked one of the volunteers and she told me it was tea.  Hmmmm, stop and have a quick massage while drinking tea.  Who wouldn’t want to run the Berlin Marathon?

What I also found entertaining was that near the end of the race, they had a very tall platform with loud music and a man dancing on that platform.  It was way above the trees.  Fascinating!  After the marathon, we grabbed food and a shower and the next morning headed to Munich.  This marathon is at the same time of the Oktoberfest.  It’s a must do.  I finished Berlin in 4:41:56.  

London Marathon 4-13-2014 -Tour group

I have been trying to get into the London Marathon race for years, at this point.  I started looking at getting in via a charity.  However, even the charities are hard to enter.  London is the largest charity race in the world.  The amount of money I’d have to raise was outside of what I felt comfortable raising.  I am horrible at asking people for money for whatever cause and I typically end up paying, what I am required to raise, myself, like I did for Chicago.  I decided to ask for suggestions from another running friend.  She has run in all 50 states, on all the continents and a lot of the major races.  She might know a way to get into London and she did.  She suggested I contact Marathon Tours. 

Marathon Tours and Travel is a great organization.  They are an official North American travel agency that has limited number of guaranteed entries for many of the world’s most popular running events including the Virgin Money London Marathon.  I contacted this organization and put my name in for one of the guaranteed entries for the London Marathon.  I got in!   Marathon Tours and Travel, gets you a guaranteed race entry, hotel for 3 nights, buffet breakfast daily, trip to the expo, and even a post-race celebration reception.  They also offer additional few day tours after the races; Edinburgh tour is an example. 

Eric went with me to London as we made this race a short vacation.  We met some of the other runners who used Marathon Tours and Travel.  We chatted with the Marathon Tours and Travel staff about some questions we had.  As I usually do, we looked at the route for the marathon and chose a place or two where Eric could meet up with me.  He really wanted a picture of me crossing the Tower Bridge so he decided that he’d be on the down side of the bridge, on the right side and I was to look for him. 

London is such a pretty place.  The race was awesome.  Weather was good, huge crowds, great sights, and friendly support staff.  This race is pretty flat.  It runs pretty much around the River Thames.  Early on you see sights like the Old Royal Naval College and Cutty Sark, which is drydocked in Greenwich. 

It was around the half-way point when I was to cross the Tower Bridge and when I planned to see Eric.  As I was coming up over the bridge, I was looking for him.  People were easily 5-deep.  So many spectators and lots of cheering.  I hear Eric yell my name and I finally see him reaching over several people.  I stop quickly to give him a kiss as he hands me a small bag of sweets.  He asked how I was feeling and I replied positively.  I waved and he yelled for me to look back so he could take a picture, which I did.  And when I turned back around to continue running, he yelled “Run fat girl run!”.  The crowd gasped and then booed Eric.  It was hilarious.  You’d have to know that this was an inside joke between the two of us.  Months before, we had seen a British-American comedy film called Run Fat Boy Run.   After seeing that movie, every time I’d go for a run in the morning, Eric would drive by me and yell out the window, Run Fat Girl Run!  Although I am not ‘fat’, it would make me laugh and keep me running. 

As I entered the last few miles of the marathon, I could see Big Ben and Westminster!  What a beautiful sight!  What a superb race!  I finished Virgin London Marathon in 4:38:14.

Tokyo Marathon 2-22-2015 -Lottery

All I have left to complete the Abbott World Marathon Majors is to run the Tokyo Marathon.  The had recently added this as one of the majors.  I got online and I registered for the lottery.  Within a few months, I received the positive email that I was selected.  I was beyond excited. 

Work was a little crazy busy, as usual, but I started my training as I typically do.  Nothing different.  I was feeling good and very positive about reaching the completion of the Abbott World Marathon Majors. 

I wasn’t able to take a lot of time off due to work commitments and Eric was traveling for work, so I decided to make this a short trip from Seattle to Tokyo.  I would take Friday off work to travel and with the time difference I would be back at work by 9:00 a.m. Monday morning.  I heard the words “crazy” a few times from my friends and co-workers. 

I was contacted by a new media organization from Tokyo who wanted to talk to me about why I wanted to run this marathon.  They agreed to meet me at the airport.  There was a camera man, a male interviewer and a woman interpreter.  Although the woman was interpreting, her accent was so strong that I could barely make out what she was asking me.  As well, I was so tired after flying for about 20 hours and that, I am sure, played a part in it.  She told me she would try to meet me after the race to ask what I thought of the race.  I gave her my expected finishing time. 

The expo for this race was one of the largest I have ever been to.  Although most of the communications were in Japanese, you could usually find something or someone who spoke English.  I took some time to eat a rice dish while listening to a quest speaker.  That rice dish was delicious.  I have no idea what was in it or what it was called but I can tell you it was good. 

With all of the recent terrorist events happening, the security around the day of race was very tight.  Lot’s of check points and security.  However, it didn’t really impact the ability to move around quickly.  This is a very large race but it was so well organized and run that the amount of people didn’t really matter.  The course took you along some routes where you could see things like the Tokyo Imperial Palace, the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo Tower, and the Tokyo SkyTree.  The crowds were huge and loud!  It was a fun day! 

After the race, I took a shower and headed to the train station.  The train station is the largest in the world.  Miles and miles underground.  I was making notes as to which entrance I took so I could be assured of getting out at the same place to find my way back to the hotel.  After spending some time at the train station, I decided to find a bus to take me to this Japanese garden I found listed in a travel guide.  Absolutely beautiful and peaceful garden. 

Time for me to head back to Seattle.  I boarded the plane and landed in Seattle on time and was at work by 9:00 a.m. Monday morning!  What a whirlwind trip.  I finished Tokyo Marathon in 4:24:13 and received my Six Star Finisher medal!