The New York Marathon 2024 proved that a 26.2-mile course can be fun. Yes, the distance under the clear sky may cause shivers down the spine for any average Joe. But for a huge number of New Yorkers, the marathon brings in a chance to celebrate the grit and glory of the city that they lovingly call The Big Apple. On one day each year, they see the streets of their town filled with more than 50,000 runners and admirers, who replace the honks and cars. Isn’t that something cherishable, away from the typical life in a metropolis? The beauty of a local marathon lies in its ability to tap into the city’s spirit and bring everyone together. And it won’t be long before another town marathon tries to steal the spotlight from New York!

For the last several years, the New York Marathon has been showing the enviable ability to include individuals from every rung of society. Last year, it set an impressive record with over 50,000 runners crossing the finish line, and this year, the 53rd edition continued that trend with just as many participants! This remarkable consistency has prompted the Abbott World Marathon Majors to cogitate on their next steps. Why? Well, alongside five other major marathons around the globe, the New York Marathon is part of their elite club, and they’re eager to keep the excitement going!

The neat result? On November 3, the Abbott World Marathon Majors confirmed another name as a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. Ultimately, as per the announcement, the TCS Sydney Marathon by ASICS will join the league as the seventh marathon in the Majors’ list. The esteemed chart, post-announcement, included the Tokyo Marathon, the Boston Marathon supported by Bank of America, the TCS London Marathon, the BMW Berlin Marathon, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and the TCS New York City Marathon. All these marathons have one thing in common. 

All those major marathons are habituated to see a huge number of footfalls year after year. The number in the New York Marathon has been a stunner. Apart from that, another league member, the Boston Marathon, has claimed some enviable digits. Last year, the event saw almost 23,000 runners heading to the streets on the special day. This year, a slight drop came. Yet the count touched the ceiling of 22,000 approximately. Now, do you want to know where the TCS Sydney Marathon stands compared to these big boys? 

From the authority, the record shows 20,272 runners being the finishers this year in the TCS Sydney Marathon. Remember, this number poses to be one of the biggest in Oceania marathons. Not just this, but last year as well, the mentioned marathon hit almost the same mark (around 17,000). These back-to-back results made the Majors include the Sydney Marathon in the group. So what now? 

The announcement has made it clear that the next installment of the TCS Sydney Marathon will take the street as the Major marathon. A big achievement for an event that has grown year by year and has become a centerpiece, attracting the eyes of more than 100 countries. Furthermore, the event’s inclusion has made the Majors elated. On a welcoming note, Dawna Stone, the Abbott WMM CEO, promoted such a vibe. 

In her note, Dawna said, “We cannot wait to see our community embrace this race as a Major and start planning their visits to run the streets of one of the finest cities in the world. Runners, your Sydney star awaits.” Notably, the current league may add two more marathons to the list in the coming years. After that, the list will ultimately become nine-member strong. That will also bring a special surprise for the runners. 

The inclusion in the New York Marathon’s list may bring certain good things 

The current list of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series is keeping an eye on two names that might join soon. Currently, those two marathons (Sanlam Cape Town Marathon and Shanghai Marathon) are under the candidacy process, and in the next two years, a certain outcome may come. This outcome will add something unmissable. How? After the final inclusion, the nine-member strong league will provide the Nine Star medals to those who will complete the nine marathons. A mindful way to popularize marathons worldwide! In the middle of this, Chris Minns has found a silver line after the Sydney Marathon entered on the list.

As the New York Marathon has significantly contributed to the financial growth of New York City, the NSW Premier is hopeful that Sydney can enjoy similar success in the coming years. In his statement, the Premier declared, “NSW is an unbeatable hotspot for tourists across the globe and we look forward to welcoming them next year, providing a multi-million dollar boost to the economy and an unforgettable experience for the runners on one of the most scenic marathon courses in the world.” He has solid reasons to back up his enthusiasm. All eyes will be on August 31 when the TCS Sydney Marathon takes center stage as the major marathon event! Will it live up to the hype? We’ll have to wait and see!