So, you’re dreaming of crossing the finish line at one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors? Well, you’re not alone! Many runners aim for those coveted spots, and the good news is that there are qualifying times to help you secure your place. Let’s dive into what you need to know about those times, which vary based on your age and gender.

The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) is an exciting series featuring six of the world’s most iconic marathons. These incredible events come together to elevate the sport, celebrate elite marathon athletes, and foster a global community of runners passionate about the marathon experience.

Here’s a look at the 2025 Abbott World Marathon Majors races:

  • Tokyo Marathon: March 2, 2025 
  • Boston Marathon: April 21, 2025
  • TCS London Marathon: April 27, 2025
  • Sydney Marathon: September 7, 2025
  • BMW BERLIN-MARATHON: September 21, 2025
  • Bank of America Chicago Marathon: October 12, 2025 
  • TCS New York City Marathon: November 2, 2025

What Are Qualifying Times?

Qualifying times are the magic numbers you need to hit if you want to enter one of the Majors by proving your running prowess. Each marathon sets its own standards, and they take a little different approach to how many spots they reserve for time qualifiers.

One thing to keep in mind: you’ll need to complete your qualifying run on a verified course. And yes, you’ll have to show proof of your time when you apply. Just remember, even if you hit that magical qualifying time, it doesn’t automatically grant you entry. You’ll still need to pay those race entry fees—no skipping that step!

Let’s break it down for you! Here’s what you need to know about running a qualifying time for each of the six major marathons: Tokyo, London, Boston, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.

 

Tokyo Marathon: The Tough Nut to Crack

Ah, Tokyo! This marathon is known for being one of the hardest to gain entry through qualifying times. They only reserve 25 spots for men and 25 for women in their Run As One initiative for semi-elite overseas runners. If you’re aiming for a spot here, you’ll need to run under:

Men’s Marathon:** Under 2:28
Women’s Marathon:** Under 3:09

If that feels daunting, don’t worry! For non-residents, your best bet might be entering the lottery, snagging a charity place, or going through an international tour.

London Marathon: Good For Age

The London Marathon has a Good For Age system, which allocates 3,000 spots for both men and women. Just a heads up, this is only for UK residents! The window to achieve qualifying times for the 2025 race runs from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024.

Here’s how the qualifying times break down by age category:

AgeMaleFemale
18-39Sub 2:55Sub 3:40
40-44Sub 3:00Sub 3:45
45-49Sub 3:05Sub 3:48
50-54Sub 3:10Sub 3:55
55-59Sub 3:15Sub 4:00
60-64Sub 3:37Sub 4:25
65-69Sub 3:55Sub 4:55
70-74Sub 4:55Sub 5:55
75-79Sub 5:10Sub 6:15
80-84Sub 5:30Sub 6:40
85-89Sub 6:10Sub 7:10
90+Sub 7:20Sub 7:45

If you’re fast enough, there’s also the Championship Entry option, but you’ll need to be a member of a UK Athletics club and wear your club vest. The qualifying times for this are a bit stricter, so make sure you’ve got your game face on!

Boston Marathon: The BQ Mecca

Now, let’s chat about the Boston Marathon! This race is legendary for its qualifying standards. To even get a spot, you’ve got to have previously run a BQ (Boston Qualifier). For the 2025 Boston Marathon, the qualifying window is from September 1, 2023, to September 13, 2024.

Like London, your age on race day matters! Here’s how the times look:

AgeMaleFemale/Non-Binary
18-342:553:25
35-393:003:30
40-443:053:35
45-493:153:45
50-543:203:50
55-593:304:00
60-643:504:20
65-694:054:35
70-744:204:50
75-794:355:05
80 and over4:505:20

Achieving your BQ doesn’t guarantee entry, but it does let you apply! Just remember, if the race is oversubscribed, they’ll take the fastest qualifiers first.

Berlin Marathon: Fast Track to Entry

If you’re aiming for a fast time, the Berlin Marathon has pretty strict qualifying standards but guarantees entry if you meet them. Your marathon time must have been run within the last three years. Here are the times you need:

AgeMaleFemale
18-442:453:10
45-592:553:30
60+3:254:20

Chicago Marathon: A Close Competitor

Next up is the Chicago Marathon, which has tightened its qualifying standards, making them closer to Boston’s. The times are based on your age on race day:

AgeMaleFemale/Non-Binary
18-342:553:25
35-393:003:30
40-443:053:35
45-493:153:45
50-543:203:50
55-593:304:00
60-643:454:15
65-694:004:30
70-744:154:45
75-794:305:00
80+4:505:20

New York City Marathon: Local Love

Last but not least, the New York City Marathon! For the 2025 NYC Marathon, which has a qualifying window of January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, here are the times you need to know:

AgeMaleFemale/Non-Binary
18-342:533:13
35-392:553:15
40-442:583:26
45-493:053:38
50-543:153:51
55-593:234:10
60-643:344:27
65-693:454:50
70-744:105:30
75-794:306:00
80+4:556:35

So there you have it! Each of the Abbott World Marathon Majors has its unique qualifying times. Ready to lace up those trainers? Happy running,