The World Marathon Majors are hands down the six most prestigious long-distance annual races in the world. Every year, Olympic and world champion track and field athletes compete in the 26.2-mile races to earn points. While you don’t need to be an athlete to compete, there’s another incentive that makes these races even more special. However, another new series will replicate the same incentive.

Besides the opportunity to run on routes with World Athletics’ Elite Road Race Labels, completing all six of the Majors races grants competitors a bonus medal. Anyone who completes the Chicago, Boston, New York, Tokyo, London, and Berlin marathons within five years earns a bonus seventh medal. Now, the SuperHalfs series aims to make things easier.

While anyone can qualify for the World Marathon Majors through various events, not everyone is willing to run 26.2 miles. Running a full marathon requires significant commitment and specialized training to handle such long distances. Half-marathons offer a more accessible option, reducing the distance to 13.1 miles. However, the SuperHalfs series plans to elevate half-marathons to new heights.

Just like the Majors, the SuperHalfs series consists of six half-marathons in different countries. While the Majors take place in all three continents, the SuperHalfs, which started in 2022 happen exclusively in Europe. However, that doesn’t mean the half-marathon routes are not World Athletics’ Elite Road Race Labels. Some are even “World Athletics (IAAF) World Championship courses.”

Prague, Lisbon, Berlin, Cardiff, Copenhagen, and Valencia are home to some of the best half-marathon routes in the world. Notably, Cardiff, Copenhagen, and Valencia have even hosted the Half Marathon World Championships. However, the SuperHalfs series stands out for more than just replicating the bonus seventh medal concept from the World Marathon Majors—it offers a truly unique experience.

The SuperHalfs organizers have projected the event to grow by 25% in the coming years and become a huge draw for those who find 26.3-mile races daunting. CEO Mark Janik has even called SuperHalfs, “a super series for the ordinary runner.” However, challenging the numbers of the nearly two-decade-old WMM won’t be an easy task.

Will Chicago become the World Marathon Majors’ record-setting answer?

With the 2024 World Marathon Majors underway, the track and field world is abuzz with excitement about the upcoming Chicago Marathon. Last year’s event was historic, with multiple records shattered. The late Kelvin Kiptum set a new marathon world record in Chicago, finishing in 2:00:35, while Sifan Hassan broke the European and women’s course record with an impressive time of 2:13:44. But that’s not where the excitement ends.

The flattest track of the World Marathon Majors attracted set a new participant record with over 48,000 runners on the streets of Chicago. However, that record is in danger of falling as over 50,000 marathoners have registered for the long-distance race this year. So come October 13, the 2024 edition of the Chicago Marathon may set a new record for the number of participants.

While the World Marathon Majors races may not be growing at the 25% pace projected for the SuperHalfs, the fledging half-marathon series has a long way to go before challenging the dominance of the WMM races. What will make it even harder is the fact the Olympics do not include half-marathons.