Best marathons around the world, for those that love running
Thousands of people are travelling overseas to partake in these gruelling 42.2km destination runs in London, Berlin and New York. But how do you get in? And why would you want to?
There’s an old Buddhist saying, popularised by Japanese author Haruki Murakami in his 2007 memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: “Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.” Murakami was talking about the physical grind of running a marathon, but just securing an entry to one of the six World Marathon Majors has now become an inevitable pain, due to the stratospheric rise of marathon tourism.
A world record 840,318 runners entered the ballot for the 2025 London Marathon, obliterating the previous record of 578,374 for this year’s event, with 167,687 of those applications coming from international runners. And the odds of your name being plucked from the hat? A despairingly slender 2 per cent. September’s Berlin Marathon, meanwhile, saw a world record 54,280 runners cross the finish line. For recreational runners of all ages and abilities, travelling overseas to run a marathon major is now a bona fide bucket list experience.
The Sydney Marathon looks poised to join London, Berlin, Boston, Tokyo, New York and Chicago on the prestigious majors list, having completed a two-year candidacy process that assesses factors such as participant numbers and community support. Majors such as Boston and New York are famous for their street-party atmosphere, with more than a million spectators lining the 42.2km course to cheer runners to the finish line.
Entries in the Sydney Marathon have more than quadrupled from 5300 in 2022 to 25,000 this year, attracting runners from more than 100 countries. The course showcases the city’s most iconic landmarks, with participants crossing the Harbour Bridge, skirting Darling Harbour and looping through Centennial Park, before finishing at the Opera House. Destination NSW estimates the number of participants will increase to 37,800 by 2027 if the event becomes a major, contributing up to $300m to the state’s visitor economy.
The ballot system is not the only way to gain entry into a major. Runners can also qualify by achieving an age and sex-adjusted qualifying time (women aged 55-59 need to run 4:05 to qualify for the Boston Marathon, for example), by raising money for an approved charity, or by going through an approved international tour operator.
Forty-year-old Melbourne teacher Lisa Peplow started running socially six years ago, and had previously run the Melbourne Marathon and Australian Outback Marathon, before setting her sights on a major. Knowing that she wouldn’t make the qualifying time, she nabbed a spot in this year’s London Marathon through running tour operator Travelling Fit. She says the camaraderie among the group of 100 she travelled with was a big motivator during the trip, with everyone working towards a shared goal. Friendships were forged and, like many in the group, Peplow used the marathon as a springboard to a European holiday.
“In London, the whole community is involved,” she says. “Everyone is so supportive. I remember walking back to the hotel after the race, feeling pretty sore, and random people were coming up to me wanting to shake my hand, patting me on the back. In Melbourne they just ask you if the roads are open yet.”
Anna Liptak, managing director of Adventure Time Travel, says demand for running tours has skyrocketed in recent years. The company sold out its allocated 45 spots for next year’s London Marathon within 24 hours, and already has over 100 people expressing interest for the 2026 event. “The lottery system is becoming tougher each year due to the surge in interest, and time qualifications are out of reach for many recreational runners,” she says.
The benefits of using a running tour operator extend to more than just snagging an elusive entry in the event. Adventure Time Travel packages include training and fitness guidance, five nights’ accommodation in proximity to the course, city tours, exclusive events, and all the logistics associated with marathon entry. “Beyond running, the trips are about immersing yourself in the culture and beauty of the destination,” Liptak says. “We have local guides who give you insider knowledge about the city, and offer personalised tours … we want the marathon experience to be as memorable off the course as it is on.”
Liptak – who has run more than 40 marathons, including the New York Marathon with her 73-year-old mother – says the popularity of running surged globally during the pandemic, when people were cooped up and moods were low. “The simplicity and flexibility made it a perfect activity for people seeking to stay active during lockdowns. Running is accessible, social, and it has a direct impact on how good you feel physically and mentally.”
Liptak urges anyone who misses out on a spot in a major to consider alternatives such as the Paris Marathon. “It’s one of my favourite marathons. It has a unique blend of scenery, rich history, and a challenging course that passes landmarks like the Champs-Elysees and the Eiffel Tower. But because it isn’t a major we often struggle to fulfil our minimum number of eight runners to take to the event.”
Or you can get further off the beaten track. Marathon Tours & Travel takes runners to the sub-Antarctic archipelago of the South Shetland Islands to compete in the Antarctica Marathon, and is set to launch the Seven Continents Club Adventure Series, which will include events in Madagascar, Kangaroo Island, the Arctic and Patagonia.
While Peplow didn’t achieve the PB (personal best) she was hoping for in London (“I got stuck behind a giant inflatable armadillo!”), she says the experience of finishing a major was magical. She now has her heart set on completing the other five, earning the coveted Six Star Medal (perhaps soon to be seven). She says one of the best things about running is the community you become a part of, plus you never know where it might take you. “The great thing about running is you don’t have to be a super athlete – it doesn’t matter how fast or how old you are. As long as you’re putting your shoes on and running, you’re a runner.”
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