The phrase “World Major Marathons Exploding—and reshaping the sport” is no longer hype. From record‑shattering entry numbers in London to Berlin’s swelling start lists and Olympic ambitions, the world’s biggest city marathons are in a full‑blown boom cycle—and everyday runners are feeling the impact in their training plans, race choices, and even their travel budgets.
This running news blog pulls together the latest developments from London and Berlin, explains why the world major marathons are exploding—and what that means for your goals, your odds of getting in, and how to prepare smartly for this new era of mega‑events.
Table of Contents
- Why World Major Marathons Are Exploding—and What It Means
- 1. London Marathon’s 1.1 Million+ Entries: A New Era of Demand
- 2. Berlin Marathon’s 80,000 Participants: The Super‑Sized Start Line
- 3. Berlin’s Olympic Ambitions and the Power of the Marathon
- How Runners Can Adapt to the New Major‑Marathon Reality
- Gear, Tech, and Training Tools for an Overheated Marathon Market
- Conclusion: World Major Marathons Exploding—and Your Next Move
Why World Major Marathons Are Exploding—and What It Means
Across London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, Boston, and Tokyo, demand is outpacing supply at a stunning rate. The world major marathons are exploding—and the recent news out of London and Berlin proves it with hard numbers: more than a million entries requested for one race and nearly 80,000 participants confirmed for another.
For runners, this boom shapes almost every decision:
- When and how to apply
- Whether to chase qualifying standards or rely on lotteries
- How to structure training around uncertain race entries
- Which alternative events to consider if the majors are out of reach
Below, we unpack three major stories from the past week and connect the dots to the broader trend of world major marathons exploding—and redefining modern distance running.
1. London Marathon’s 1.1 Million+ Entries: A New Era of Demand
The headline numbers: 1,133,813 applications for 2026
The TCS London Marathon has again redefined what “popular” means in endurance sport. Organizers reported a staggering 1,133,813 applications for the 2026 edition, smashing their own previous world record of 840,318 for the 2025 race—a 36% year‑over‑year surge, according to ITV News London and official event updates.
This isn’t just incremental growth. It’s exponential evidence that the world major marathons are exploding—and London is currently the epicenter.
What’s driving the London explosion?
Several forces are converging to drive London’s ballooning demand:
- Global prestige: For many runners, London is now “the” bucket‑list marathon, rivaling New York and Boston.
- Post‑pandemic FOMO: Runners who lost races in 2020–2021 are still eager to reclaim missed goals.
- Storytelling and social media: Viral finish‑line clips, charity stories, and pro performances keep London constantly in view.
- Accessible branding: London leans heavily into charity, diversity, and community, making it feel inclusive even for slower runners.
Add those together, and it’s no surprise the world major marathons are exploding—and London’s entry numbers are blowing past old limits.
Near‑parity in gender and non‑binary participation
One of the most important subplots is London’s gender diversity. Organizers report almost equal numbers of male and female entrants, with additional applications from non‑binary runners. That’s a significant shift from the sport’s once male‑dominated history.
For recreational runners, this means pacing groups, corrals, and support structures that better reflect the actual running community—not just the sharp end of the field.
What this means for your odds—and your strategy
With more than a million people vying for spots, the public ballot is now a long‑shot lottery. That doesn’t mean you should skip it, but you do need a more layered strategy if you’re serious about running London:
- Apply every year: The simplest way to give yourself a chance is consistent entry, year after year.
- Explore charity entries: Secure your spot while committing to fundraising; start early to avoid last‑minute stress.
- Use time qualifiers (if available): Focus training on hitting qualifying standards where they exist.
- Have a Plan B race: Don’t hinge your entire yearly training around one uncertain ballot result.
This is where a structured, flexible plan becomes critical. A tool that lets you adjust around specific target races—or swap goals if you don’t get in—can save your season. A tailored marathon program like the ones offered on RunV’s Marathon hub helps you pivot without losing fitness or motivation.
Training under uncertainty: how to time your peak
With lottery results often announced months after applications, many runners are stuck in limbo: train hard now, or wait? A practical approach:
- Build a solid base while you wait for entry results.
- Plan a “backup” marathon 4–8 weeks after London’s date.
- Use adaptable training blocks—12–16 weeks you can dial up or down.
- Focus on general strength, durability, and moderate mileage.
The reality of world major marathons exploding—and narrowing your access—means your plan must be more dynamic than ever before.
2. Berlin Marathon’s 80,000 Participants: The Super‑Sized Start Line
80,000 participants from 160 nations
On the continent, Berlin is flexing its own mega‑marathon credentials. Race organizers for the 2025 BMW BERLIN‑MARATHON project nearly 80,000 participants, including runners, wheelchair athletes, and inline skaters, representing 160 countries.
That’s not just a big race. It’s a small city in motion—and another example of world major marathons exploding—and expanding their global footprint.
A younger field: what the age trend says about the sport
Organizers also report a slightly younger participant profile, with the average runner now between 41 and 45 years old, trending down from prior years. Combined with rising participation from first‑time marathoners, this signals:
- More mid‑career adults taking on endurance challenges
- Growing influence of social fitness culture and wearables
- A longer lifetime arc of potential marathon participation
As the world major marathons are exploding—and capturing new demographics—training, content, and coaching must adapt to first‑timers as much as to veterans chasing PRs.
Inclusivity, charity, and social impact
Berlin is leaning into more than just scale. Event communications highlight initiatives like clothing and running shoe donations to support the city’s homeless community. This aligns with a trend across majors: using mass‑participation events as platforms for tangible social impact.
For runners, that may influence which events you prioritize. Many now choose races not only for the course but also for what the event stands for. (Marathon running boom)
Global broadcasting: Berlin on more screens than ever
Broadcast rights for the Berlin Marathon are secured with RTL through 2026, alongside digital access including YouTube streams. As major marathons explode—and expand their media reach—you benefit in two ways:
- Better spectating: You can analyze pro tactics, pacing, and gear choices in real time.
- More motivation: Watching world‑class performances feeds into your own training and race ambitions.
High‑quality streaming also raises the stakes for performance: both elites and age‑groupers know friends and family are watching, which can sharpen focus—and nerves.
Logistics of a mega‑race: what 80,000 bodies really means
When the world major marathons are exploding—and start lines scale to 80,000 people, logistics become a central part of your race strategy:
- Start waves: Expect staggered starts; practice being ready but patient.
- Nutrition stations: Crowding can be intense; rehearse grabbing cups and gels on the move.
- Bathroom queues: Plan pre‑race timing carefully and arrive early.
- Course congestion: Train mentally to run your own race even in dense packs.
Big‑city races require “logistics fitness” as much as physical fitness. Build this into your marathon plan: simulate crowded conditions during training runs, and rehearse everything from breakfast timing to gear check.
3. Berlin’s Olympic Ambitions and the Power of the Marathon
Berlin as the backbone of Germany’s Olympic pitch
In a separate but related development, Berlin’s Sport and Interior Senator Iris Spranger recently argued that Germany’s Olympic bid would “have no chance” without Berlin. Her reasoning leaned heavily on the city’s proven ability to host major events, prominently including the Berlin Marathon.
This political positioning reinforces how central marathons have become to a city’s global identity. As world major marathons are exploding—and attracting 160‑nation fields—city leaders see them as proof of organizational muscle and international appeal.
From EURO 2024 to NFL and NBA: Berlin’s event résumé
Spranger pointed to a string of successful mega‑events: EURO 2024 matches, NFL games, and upcoming NBA appearances, all staged in Berlin. The marathon fits naturally into this lineup as a recurring, globally televised showcase.
For runners, the implications are encouraging:
- Improved long‑term infrastructure (transport, security, venues)
- Greater political will to support mass‑participation sport
- Potential funding for course improvements and community running projects
What an Olympic lens means for the Berlin Marathon experience
If Germany’s Olympic bid gains traction with Berlin at its center, expect the Berlin Marathon to benefit from:
- Enhanced course refinement and spectator zones
- More investment in timing, safety, and accessibility
- Higher media stakes, possibly more elite fields and deeper competition
World major marathons exploding—and intersecting with Olympic ambitions—could create a virtuous cycle: bigger races, better experiences, and more global attention for the everyday runners who line up alongside elites.
How Runners Can Adapt to the New Major‑Marathon Reality
1. Build a multi‑year race strategy, not a one‑off dream
With London’s million‑plus ballot and Berlin’s 80,000‑strong fields, the days of casually deciding to “do a major next year” are fading. To thrive while world major marathons are exploding—and getting harder to access—think in three‑ to five‑year cycles:
- Year 1–2: Build experience at smaller marathons, chase time standards.
- Year 2–3: Target one or two majors via lottery and one backup race.
- Year 3–5: Refine based on outcomes: re‑apply, pivot to new cities, or double down on performance goals.
2. Use flexible training plans that don’t collapse with one email
When an acceptance or rejection email can redirect your entire season, you need plans that can stretch, compress, or shift dates. Runners are increasingly moving toward adaptive coaching and modular training blocks.
If you’re working with a coach or app, look for features that let you easily adjust race dates and intensity without rebuilding from scratch. Platforms that offer an AI Dynamic Plan or similar adaptive tools are well‑suited to an era where world major marathons are exploding—and lottery uncertainties are the norm.
3. Diversify your goals beyond a single race bib
To avoid burnout and disappointment when you don’t get into London or Berlin, diversify your success metrics:
- Personal best at any certified marathon, not just a major
- Process goals: weekly mileage consistency, strength training adherence
- Tiered race calendar: a key marathon plus tune‑up 10Ks and half marathons
That way, even if the world major marathons are exploding—and your ballot odds shrink—you still have meaningful targets and progress markers.
4. Use smaller races strategically
Smaller marathons are becoming smart staging grounds for major bids. You can: (Marathon momentum 2025)
- Earn time qualifiers (where applicable)
- Test pacing and nutrition in a lower‑stress environment
- Practice race‑week logistics without the scale of a mega‑city event
Think of them as essential checkpoints rather than consolation prizes.
Gear, Tech, and Training Tools for an Overheated Marathon Market
Super shoes and tech: tools, not magic
As the competition for majors increases, so does the gear arms race. Carbon‑plated “super shoes,” advanced GPS watches, and recovery tech are everywhere on elite and amateur feet and wrists.
Used wisely, they can help you squeeze extra performance from your training. But they’re not shortcuts. If you’re weighing shoe choices as your races get more serious, this deep dive—Do You Really Need a Carbon Plate in Your Running Shoes?—is a useful reality check.
Data discipline in a world of constant metrics
As more runners jump into the marathon boom, many also flood their training with numbers: pace, power, heart rate variability, sleep scores. These can guide you, but they can also overwhelm you.
To stay grounded:
- Pick 1–3 key metrics (e.g., weekly mileage, long‑run pace, recovery score).
- Review them weekly, not obsessively after every run.
- Link data back to how you actually feel and perform.
Choosing plans, products, and support in a crowded market
When world major marathons are exploding—and bringing in new waves of runners—training products multiply too: plans, apps, clubs, and online coaches.
To choose wisely, ask:
- Does this plan fit my current life constraints?
- Can I adjust it if my race entry changes?
- Is there guidance on injury prevention and recovery?
- Does it scale from half to full marathon if my goals evolve?
If you want to compare coaching and plan options systematically, exploring an overview like RunV’s All Plans page can help you map what kind of structure you actually need before committing time and money.
Protecting your mental health amid the hype
The psychological load of racing in this era is real. Social feeds showing major‑marathon medals, PR announcements, and sign‑up screenshots can lead to comparison fatigue.
Combat that by:
- Anchoring success to your own baselines, not strangers’ times
- Limiting pre‑race doom‑scrolling
- Scheduling offline “recovery days” from both training and social media
Remember: the world major marathons are exploding—and that visibility can inspire, but it can also pressure. Use the inspiration; ignore the pressure.
Conclusion: World Major Marathons Exploding—and Your Next Move
The signals from London and Berlin are unmistakable. With more than 1.1 million entries for the 2026 London Marathon, nearly 80,000 participants expected in Berlin, and a German Olympic bid leaning on marathon prestige, the world major marathons are exploding—and reshaping what it means to be a distance runner today.
For you, that shift means:
- Planning further ahead and applying more strategically
- Using adaptable training systems that can handle lottery uncertainty
- Leveraging gear and tech intelligently—not as crutches, but as tools
- Protecting your mental game in an era of high visibility and constant comparison
If you’re serious about stepping into this new landscape—whether your dream is London, Berlin, or another world‑class race—now is the moment to put structure behind that ambition. Build a flexible, evidence‑based plan, choose races intentionally, and let the global boom work for you, not against you.
Ready to turn the world major marathon surge into your opportunity? Explore structured training options, lock in a plan that can adapt as you apply for races, and start building the fitness base you’ll need when that coveted acceptance email finally lands.
