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The World’s Most Important Marathons: The Ultimate Global Guide

The World’s Most Important Marathons: The Ultimate Global Guide

Marathon running has become a truly global sport. Every year, millions of runners participate in races across continents, from historic European cities to modern Asian metropolises.

Among thousands of races worldwide, about 50 marathons stand out as globally representative events.

πŸ“Š World Top 50 Marathon Summary Table

TierMarathonCountryCityMonthParticipantsCompetition
SNew York City MarathonUSANew YorkNov50,000Very High
SBoston MarathonUSABostonApr30,000Extreme
SChicago MarathonUSAChicagoOct48,000High
SBerlin MarathonGermanyBerlinSep47,000High
SLondon MarathonUKLondonApr50,000Extreme
STokyo MarathonJapanTokyoMar38,000Very High
SSydney MarathonAustraliaSydneyAug35,000Medium
AValencia MarathonSpainValenciaDec33,000Medium
AParis MarathonFranceParisApr45,000Medium
ASeoul MarathonKoreaSeoulMar20,000Medium
ARotterdam MarathonNetherlandsRotterdamApr17,000Medium
AAmsterdam MarathonNetherlandsAmsterdamOct20,000Medium
AFrankfurt MarathonGermanyFrankfurtOct15,000Medium
ABarcelona MarathonSpainBarcelonaMar20,000Medium
BOsaka MarathonJapanOsakaFeb32,000Medium
BShanghai MarathonChinaShanghaiNov38,000Medium
BSingapore MarathonSingaporeSingaporeDec15,000Medium
BHong Kong MarathonHong KongHong KongJan25,000Medium
BTaipei MarathonTaiwanTaipeiDec28,000Medium
BGold Coast MarathonAustraliaGold CoastJul27,000Medium
BDubai MarathonUAEDubaiJan15,000Medium
BCape Town MarathonSouth AfricaCape TownOct18,000Medium
BIstanbul MarathonTurkeyIstanbulNov25,000Medium
CLos Angeles MarathonUSALos AngelesMar25,000Low
CHonolulu MarathonUSAHonoluluDec30,000Low
CRome MarathonItalyRomeMar15,000Low
CVienna MarathonAustriaViennaApr12,000Low
CAthens MarathonGreeceAthensNov15,000Low
CPrague MarathonCzechPragueMay10,000Low
CCopenhagen MarathonDenmarkCopenhagenMay15,000Low
CToronto MarathonCanadaTorontoOct10,000Low
CVancouver MarathonCanadaVancouverMay18,000Low
CMexico City MarathonMexicoMexico CityAug30,000Low
CBuenos Aires MarathonArgentinaBuenos AiresSep10,000Low
CRio MarathonBrazilRioJun12,000Low
CAuckland MarathonNZAucklandNov15,000Low
CMelbourne MarathonAustraliaMelbourneOct15,000Low
CQueenstown MarathonNZQueenstownNov8,000Low
CMumbai MarathonIndiaMumbaiJan40,000Low
CBangkok MarathonThailandBangkokNov10,000Low
CKuala Lumpur MarathonMalaysiaKuala LumpurOct12,000Low
CLisbon MarathonPortugalLisbonOct10,000Low
CStockholm MarathonSwedenStockholmJun15,000Low
CJerusalem MarathonIsraelJerusalemMar10,000Low
CMarrakech MarathonMoroccoMarrakechJan8,000Low



The World Marathon Majors: The Ultimate Goal

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The World Marathon Majors are the most prestigious marathons in the world.

These include:

  • Boston

  • London

  • Berlin

  • Chicago

  • New York

  • Tokyo

  • Sydney

Completing all of them is considered one of the greatest achievements in marathon running.


Europe: The Home of Marathon History

Europe hosts some of the fastest and oldest marathons.

Berlin is known as the fastest course, while Athens represents the original marathon route.

Valencia, Paris, and Amsterdam have also become global destinations for runners chasing personal best times.


Asia: The Fastest Growing Region

Asian marathons like Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai have grown rapidly.

These races feature modern organization, large participation, and increasing global importance.


Beyond Majors: The Global Marathon Experience

Other races such as Dubai, Cape Town, Gold Coast, and Los Angeles offer unique experiences and attract runners from around the world.

Each marathon reflects the culture and geography of its region.


Conclusion

Today, marathon running is a global movement.

From the historic streets of Boston to the modern skyline of Tokyo, these 50 races represent the best of marathon running worldwide.

For many runners, completing even one of these races is a lifetime achievement.

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