Six Star Finisher

Title earned by completing all six Abbott World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York.

six starworld marathon majorsabbottachievement

Understanding Six Star Finisher

The Six Star Finisher medal is awarded to runners who complete all six Abbott World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. It's one of the most coveted achievements in recreational distance running, requiring years of marathon running, travel, and in several cases, lucky lottery entries.

Each of the six races presents unique challenges: Tokyo is famously well-organized with incredible crowd support; Boston requires a qualifying time and features significant hills; London is a world-class spectacle; Berlin is the world's fastest course (flat, fast, where world records fall); Chicago is flat and fast with lakefront winds; and New York City traverses all five boroughs with challenging bridges and hills.

Completing the six majors typically takes 3–10 years, depending on how quickly you can gain entry to each race. Boston requires a BQ, Tokyo and London have lotteries with single-digit acceptance rates, and New York has both lottery and guaranteed entry options. The journey itself — training for and traveling to six different world-class cities — is as meaningful as the medal.

Key Facts: Six Star Finisher

Key facts and insights about six star finisher that every endurance athlete should know.

Six races

Six races: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City

Organized by Abbott World Marathon Major

Organized by Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) since 2006

No time limit to complete all six

No time limit to complete all six — you can spread them over your entire running career

The medal is a large, six-pointed star w

The medal is a large, six-pointed star with each race represented

Pro Tips: Six Star Finisher

Start with the easiest-to-enter races: Chicago (lottery with good odds), Berlin (lottery), New York (lottery + guaranteed options)

Apply to Tokyo and London early and every year — their lotteries have the lowest acceptance rates

Plan Boston qualification strategically: run a fast, flat marathon to secure your BQ

Combine race travel with tourism — each city deserves more than just race weekend

Frequently Asked Questions About Six Star Finisher

Most runners take 4–10 years. The bottleneck is entry: Boston requires a qualifying time, and Tokyo/London have very competitive lotteries. If you're lucky with lotteries and have a BQ, you could do it in 3–4 years with 1–2 marathons per year. There's no deadline — take your time and enjoy each one.

If you love marathons and travel, absolutely. Each of the six races is a world-class event with unique character, and the pursuit gives structure and motivation to years of training. But don't force it — running one major is already a tremendous achievement.