World Marathon Majors Qualifiers

💪 A global championship designed for everyday runners

Created alongside the Abbott World Marathon Majors circuit (Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, New York), the AbbottWMM Age Group championship rewards the most successful amateur runners in their age category, in five-year increments starting from 40 years old. The principle? Run one of the 370 AbbottWMM MTT Age Group Qualifiers certified marathons, earn points based on time and age, and be among the best in your group by the end of the season. 💯 The lucky ones then receive their invitation to the world final, often held in one of the majors. In 2024, Sydney had this honor. In 2025, it will be New York, then heading to South Africa in 2026 with the Cape Town Marathon. 🇦🇺➡️🗽➡️🇿🇦

⏱️ Qualifying times for the 2026 edition

To qualify and receive an invitation, runners must meet the minimum times in a program partner race and be registered online on the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

➡️ 40 to 44 years old

Men: 2h35

Women: 3h04

➡️ 45 to 49 years old

Men: 2h42

Women: 3h12

➡️ 50 to 54 years old

Men: 2h48

Women: 3h20

➡️ 55 to 59 years old

Men: 2h57

Women: 3h32

➡️ 60 to 64 years old

Men: 3h10

Women: 3h49

➡️ 65 to 69 years old

Men: 3h26

Women: 4h13

➡️ 70 to 74 years old

Men: 3h40

Women: 4h32

➡️ 75 to 79 years old

Men: 4h06

Women: 5h15

➡️ Over 80 years old

Men: 4h40

Women: 5h30

200 entries are also allocated to members of the Global Run Club through challenges completed on the official Abbott World Marathon Majors Global Run Club app. 📱

🌐 Partner races around the world

The organization includes more than 370 partner races worldwide, on all continents. Among them are, of course, the 7 marathons of the prestigious World Marathon Majors circuit (Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago, New York) but also international races such as:

The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon 🇿🇦

The TCS Amsterdam Marathon 🇳🇱

The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon 🇨🇦

The Yorkshire Marathon 🇬🇧

The Wizz Air Venice Marathon 🇮🇹

✨ A simple, competitive... and deeply inspiring format

With this championship, the World Majors organization creates a unique event, driven by the passion for running and the desire to excel at any age. What makes this event so exceptional? 🤔

Running alongside runners from around the world, 🌍

Representing your age group with pride, 🏅

Wearing a personalized bib,

Receiving an exclusive finisher medal, 🎖️

Enjoying a dedicated welcome, 🤝

And experiencing the race with an extra touch of soul. ❤️

No podium pressure, but a genuine excitement and the desire to run increasingly faster. Whether they are 42, 56, or 71 years old, they all share the same motivation: proving that at their level, performance remains a legitimate and deeply inspiring goal.

📝 Key takeaways

Who can participate? 🤔 All runners 40 years old and above, categorized by their age group (e.g., 45 – 49 years old).

How to qualify? 🎟️ By running in a partner marathon (there are over 370 of them) and earning points through your times.

What do you gain? 🎁 A spot in the world final + an amazing experience in a major marathon.

Why is it good? 👍 Because it's professional, fair, demanding, and tailored for passionate amateurs.