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Join us in boston, international tour program, recognized tour operators for the boston marathon., find more information on the international tour program operator  request process here ., north & south america, contact info.

International Tour Program

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Where will your next run take you?

Guarantee your entry to the world’s biggest events, event details, new york 2024 packages.

Sports Tours International is Ireland’s No.1 Running Tour Operator. We have been taking runners to the biggest events in the world for 50 years. What’s your next challenge?

📞 Call the team: + 353 1 903 6942

We offer guaranteed entry to all marathons including the Abbott World Marathon Majors without the need for a qualifying time.

A new iconic course was set in 2018 and was an instant hit with all! Starting in Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, on Flatbush Avenue, you will head north before crossing over the Manhattan Bridge into lower Manhattan. Next, you will pass through the Lower East Side, before heading north on the FDR drive where you will be greeted with spectacular views of the Brooklyn and Queens skylines.  You will approach the halfway point near East 42nd Street, and pass the United Nations building, before taking a turn towards Grand Central Terminal and Bryant Park.  You will then head up Seventh Avenue before passing by 1000 children running through Times Square.  Finally you will enter Central Park, and head north to 102nd Street Cross Drive. The crowd support will be incredible, as you make your final turn south on West Drive, and finish in style in the heart of the city, Central Park.

The St Patrick’s day parade route:

The St Patrick day parade will start on 44th Street and Fifth Avenue at 11.00. The spectacle moves on through Fifth Avenue and past St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which is located on 50th Street. It then goes up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Irish Historical Society, and finally to 86th Street and Fifth Avenue, where the parade concludes at about 16:30 – 17:00.

View this tour

The windy city is one of the largest cities in the United States. Chicago is well-known for its bold architecture, bristling skyscraper skyline and iconic landmarks such as the Tribune Tower and the John Hancock Centre. Renowned for its art galleries and museums, the city of Chicago is bursting with things to keep you busy. Whether you explore the depths of the ocean at the Shedd Aquarium, take in a show at The Chicago Theatre or ride the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, there is always something on offer in this wonderful city.

Towering buildings, bustling streets, world-famous landmarks. Add to this the excitement of running the world’s largest marathon and it can mean only one thing – it is time to guarantee your place in the TCS New York City Marathon! Taking you from Staten Island through the five boroughs of New York, en route to the finish in Central Park, the experience of running the TCS New York City Marathon will stay with you for life. Entries are highly sought-after and the race is one of only six Abbott World Marathon Majors – a bucket-list event for runners the world over.

Why book with us?

• Guaranteed race entry for all events
• Access to all six marathon majors
• Europe’s no.1 sports tour operator
• Our packages make competing hassle free

Chicago: Be blown away by the windy city

Triple the excitement next spring: half marathon series revealed, prague and berlin – run two half marathons in one weekend, sports tours rep eoin daly shares his tips to run the malaga marathon, must have running essentials for all seasons, the running channel runs the malaga marathon with sports tours, the superhalf series are coming to sports tours, tara carroll’s tokyo marathon journey: inspiring mental resilience, sports tours acquires us tour operator, destination marathons, ireland’s no.1 running tour operator.

Just a quick note to say we had a great weekend in Berlin. Weather was fantastic and Eoin did a great job looking after the guests from Ireland. Well organised and hotel was first class. The run went well and enjoyed a great rugby victory on the Saturday evening. Perfect weekend.

Patrick Moore, Dublin

I just wanted to say thanks for a really well organised tour to Chicago for the marathon. I got back this morning. The hotel was great and couldn’t have been better located for the race start and finish. Also all of your instructions were spot on and helped a lot. That was my fifth major with only Tokyo to do now! Once again thanks for a great trip.

Ciara and Padraic

We can’t wait to go on more trips with Sports Travel and having Eoin as our rep again. In relation to New York Marathon, Padraic and I can’t express how professional and helpful Eoin Daly was. From the moment we landed in JFK he has been outstanding. There was something very special having an Irish Rep for the last 5 days

Race For A Good Cause

We champion health and wellbeing initiatives through promoting the benefits of active living and a healthy lifestyle. Get fit, challenge yourself, raise awareness and funds for a great cause.

A Reason to Belong

Ireland’s leading tour operator for the active lifestyle community.

Every year we take thousands of participants and spectators to some of best and most popular events around the world. Whether it’s achieving a new goal, or a challenge on your best times, we create great experiences and memories that will last a life time.

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Official tour partner for the biggest races on the planet

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Tcs new york city marathon.

Please sign up to be notified when the next edition of the event goes on sale

The TCS New York City Marathon takes you past towering buildings, bustling streets and world-famous iconic landmarks. Be part of the largest marathon in the world and challenge yourself as you set out on an almighty route, with plenty of twists and turns and various bridge crossings. This marathon is a huge celebration and every runner is treated like a celebrity. Amazing crowds and music combined create a fantastic atmosphere while racing through the five boroughs.  Please note we are not permitted to sell packages to US residents.

Hotel & Guaranteed Entry package

Join team sports tours, vip hotel package, the biggest after-party in new york.

This is a great option if you are already in the USA on holiday or wish to book your own flights (flights and airport transfers are not included). Choose from a selection of different hotels all in Manhattan.

Join Sports Tours International and benefit from hotel and guaranteed entry into the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon.

Treat yourself to an extra special travel package and stay at the 5* Mandarin Oriental Hotel, one of the city’s most distinct and sophisticated hotels. (Flights and airport transfers are not included.)

Join our exclusive marathon after-party in New York at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square. Celebrate your achievement in style and feel like a star at this Rock ’n’ Roll themed party with high-energy vibes and food and drink included.

Included in your package

• The services of our overseas reps: Daily hotel visits and escorted to the marathon start line
• A complimentary 5k warm up run on Saturday morning
• Option to book the 5k Dash
• International Parade of Nations Parade and Fireworks
• A pre-race briefing at selected hotels
• A designated cheer zone for spectators to join our staff, to support your runners
• Celebration Party on Sunday 3rd November at the Hard Rock Cafe Times Square
• A Sports Tours bobble hat

The Westin New York at Times Square welcomes you to stay in the very heart of New York City and prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience in close range of the best offerings of Midtown Manhattan. Ideally situated in walking distance of Broadway theatres, Central Park, and dozens of famed attractions including Madison Square Garden and Times Square itself, our doorstep is the ideal first step for any experience in downtown New York, NY. Once you have had a full day of exploration, we are ready to help you unwind and relax with our on-side WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio, open 24 hours a day, and with our savory meals at our vibrant Foundry Kitchen & Bar where you can enjoy delicious American cuisine and craft cocktails.

Paid public parking nearby Wifi Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room Bar / lounge Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly ) Car hire Business Centre with Internet Access Conference facilities Allergy-free room Bathrobes Desk Dining area Coffee / tea maker Cable / satellite TV Sofa bed Whirlpool bathtub

There is no doubt the Marriott Marquis Hotel is one of the best hotels on Times Square. The hotel itself is ideal for the TCS New York City Marathon. From this location, you can choose from hundreds of different restaurants, plus have lots of various options for entertainment at night. All the rooms in the Marriott Marquis have luxurious en-suite bathrooms with hairdryers, air conditioning, minibar, iron and board, and safe. There are numerous excellent bars and restaurants in the hotel. Enjoy all this in a prime location overlooking the liveliest few acres on earth.

WIFI is complimentary in the hotel lobby. The hotel offers a marathon eve dinner and a marathon morning breakfast payable locally.

Towering 36 stories above the city, the InterContinental Times Square features 607 luxurious guestrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and Hudson River. Drawing upon natural elements, the rooms are designed to evoke the feeling of a chic Manhattan residence, and average at 350 sq. ft. amongst the largest in midtown. Each room includes spacious work station, 42 in" HDTV and a spa-inspired bathroom with walk-in rain shower accentuated with blue mosaic tile. Situated just off the Times Square neighbourhood, known as the "Crossroads of the World," the hotel brings the InterContinental touch to one of New York City's most popular areas. The hotel is close proximity to the Broadway Theatre District, Central Park, Fifth Avenue shopping, and many major transportation centres in Manhattan making it a convenient base to explore the city. Featured at the hotel is the Stinger Cocktail Bar and Kitchen; patrons are welcome to indulge in worldly comfort food alongside bespoke cocktails and an extensive offering of wine and beer. Offering signature cocktails three sized options and large batch punch-bowls the lounge at the Stinger brings the art of craft cocktails to Hell's Kitchen and the Theatre District.

Paid private parking nearby Wifi Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room Bar / lounge Babysitting Taxi service Business Centre with Internet Access Conference facilities

Ideally situated in the heart of dazzling Times Square, the Crowne Plaza Times Square Hotel is an excellent home base for exploring the excitement of New York City. This contemporary 46-story hotel features stylish, soundproofed guest rooms with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline through floor-to-ceiling windows. On-site dining options include Broadway 49, a bar serving globally inspired cuisine, creative cocktails, and specialty coffee drinks. The lobby's dramatic, light-filled glass atrium extends 46 stories to a skylight ceiling, flooding the space with natural light.

Valet parking Wifi Coffee shop Taxi service Business Centre with Internet Access Conference facilities 24-hour security Baggage storage Soundproof rooms Air conditioning Housekeeping Room service Safe Telephone Flatscreen TV On-demand films

The hotel is close to the New York Marathon race finish line at Central Park, which means an easy stroll back after the race. The view from the bar and some of the Central Park rooms, overlook Central Park South, so you can watch the New York Marathon runners race along the final mile of the marathon, before Central Park for the finish. Located more than 280 feet above ground level, providing a stunning hotel arrival experience. All rooms offer advanced in-room entertainment technology. The 14,500-square-foot Five-Star Spa at Mandarin Oriental, including a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a 75-foot lap pool, is a prominent feature of the hotel.

Parking Free internet Pool Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room Bar / lounge Babysitting Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly) Car hire Air conditioning Housekeeping Room service Safe Minibar Flat screen TV

The newly built Riu Plaza Manhattan Times Square hotel is located in the heart of Manhattan, surrounded by the most famous Broadway theaters and a few steps from the iconic Times Square, known throughout the world as the symbol of New York. This hotel is ideal for both leisure and business trips. The 656 modern design rooms are equipped with everything you need for a comfortable and relaxing stay. For lovers of gastronomy, what better way to start the day than with our delicious American buffet breakfast. Don't forget to buy drinks and snacks at our Grab&Go to take with you as you explore the city!

Free internet Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room Free breakfast Car hire Business Centre with Internet Access Conference facilities 24-hour security Baggage storage

*Please note, all prices above are per person and based on 2 people in a twin, twin share or double room. Single Occupancy rooms are available at a supplement. Triple and Quad rooms are available on a request basis and consist of 2 x double beds for 3 or 4 people. Triple and Quad rooms available at The Westin, Marriott Marquis, Intercontinental, Riu Plaza and the Crown Plaza hotels. Children sharing with 2 full paying adults will pay £145 each, hotel child ages vary and are detailed as follows:- The Westin 12 and under, Marriott Marquis 15 and under, Intercontinental, Riu Plaza and the Crowne Plaza 17 and under. Over these ages are charged as adults. The Mandarin Oriental child age is 15 and under with a charge of £95 per night for the extra bed plus the £145 child rate(max 1 child in room).

Race highlights

Arrival day.

Welcome to New York City! Check-in the your hotel today and start familiarising yourself with the Big Apple.

Pre-race briefing & Expo

Your Sports Tours Reps will then hold a race briefing in the morning. (time TBC) You will be able to hear information about what happens the following day and ask any questions.

In the evening from 5-7 join us for welcome drinks at the hotel bar – the perfect opportunity to meet fellow runners!

5k Dash / Warm Up Run

Runners, friends, family, children are all welcome to take part in the 5k dash warm up on the day before the main event. Starting on 47 th  Street and 1 st Avenue you will run down and turn onto 42 nd  Street past Grand Central and the New York Library before heading up 6 th Avenue towards Central Park where your will cross the famed Marathon finish line for a spectacular end to your run in the Park. Price: £35 per person (Sports Tours International customers only). Please only book places for the 5k dash if your flight arrives in good time for your to collect your race bib before the expo closes on Friday evening at 7pm. Bib collection is not possible on the Saturday morning .

Alternatively, we will also be holding a c omplimentary 5k run at 7:15am , all clients welcome.

New York Marathon 2024

Today’s the big day! Transport to the start of the race has been organised for you on the official New York Road Runners buses included within your race entry fee (ballot runners will need to purchase tickets from NYRR). These buses depart from various locations from between 04:00 am and 06:00 am (selected within your entry process). For spectators, if you wish to join, we will take you to our cheer zone to soak in the atmosphere & spot your loved ones. Once you arrive at the start area on Staten Island and proceed through security, you will head to the bag drop area (if you have chosen this option) and then into your corrals (your running bib will show this detail).

After the New York Marathon, join us for a celebration party at the Hard Rock Café Times Square – there will be a live band, a selection of cold & hot food and unlimited drinks from 7-11pm. Maximum capacity of venue will mean an invitation will be sent to all runners and RSVP required.

Departure Day/Extra Days

Today you have a full day to rest your legs, head out to sightsee, or finish off your shopping! Enjoy all the highlights of the Big Apple, there is so much to see and do in this bucket list city! Alternatively, you may be extending your stay in New York.

Guaranteed Race Entry For All Events

Europe's no.1 sports tour operator, our packages make booking hassle free, access to all 6 marathon majors.

£525 per entry

£35 per person

There are three airports in New York. JFK, Newark and La Guardia. Las Guardia is the closest in distance to the city centre, however international flights usually land in JFK or Newark.

The City’s fleet of yellow taxicabs and green Boro Taxis are licensed and regulated by the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission. Grabbing a cab can be ideal when tired feet, heavy luggage or shopping bags weigh you down.

Public buses are a scenic way to see the City and reach destinations not convenient to a subway stop. It’s also worth noting that mass transit is central to New York City’s efforts to become more environmentally friendly, and a growing number of NYC’s buses are hybrid-electric models.

The easiest and quickest way to travel around NYC is by public subway train. Riding the subway is also a fantastic way to feel like a local during your stay in New York.

Towering buildings, bustling streets, world-famous landmarks. Add to this the excitement of running the world’s largest marathon and it can mean only one thing – it is time to guarantee your place in the TCS New York City Marathon! Taking you from Staten Island through the five boroughs of New York, en route to the finish in Central Park, the experience of running the TCS New York City Marathon will stay with you for life. Entries are highly sought-after and the race is one of only six Abbott World Marathon Majors – a bucket-list event for runners the world over.

If airport transfers are included in your package, we will transfer you and your Luggage to the hotel. If you are on a cycling holiday, we will also transfer your bike.

Children are welcome on our trips with the exception of some Hospitality packages.

Any dietary requirements e.g., Vegetarian or Vegan etc needs to be advised to us at booking stage. We will then request the meals with the relevant hotel.

Stays can be extended beyond our standard packages subject to availability at the relevant hotel.

Packages can be paid for online or over the phone by Credit/debit card or Amex, payments can also be made by Bank transfer.

Travel insurance is always advised and is best taken out at the time of making a booking.

Cancelation charges are applicable in the event you cannot travel. Please refer to the booking conditions page.

Subject to amendment fees and hotel availability dates can be changed after initial booking.

Dependent on the trip booked we will have representatives on the package this will be outlined in the individual tour. If we have no representation a 24-hour telephone number will be provided.

Yes, we cater for solo travellers, we can offer single rooms or twin share rooms

On many of our travel packages we offer our free ‘Twin to Share’ service where you pay to share a room rather than the supplement for a single room. We encourage single travellers to join our tours and rooms for single occupancy are available on all our tours, but we also offer the opportunity to book our ‘Twin to Share’ service. This option which means that we pair you up with another athlete of the same sex so you can enjoy the event without having to pay the single occupancy supplement.

All our entries are Guaranteed there is no ballot, lottery or fundraising required once your entry is paid it is guaranteed.

A deposit will be required at time of booking to secure your place.

Once booked online you will be able to view and make payments on your account.

Itineraries will be sent on all trips around 14 days prior to departure

What is included in the price will be shown under each individual package.

What is not included in the price will be shown under each individual package.

Our Experience Will Make Yours

Europe's leading tour operator for athletes and sports enthusiasts.

Every year we take thousands of participants and spectators to some of best and most popular events around the world. Whether it’s achieving a new goal, or a challenge on your best times, we create great experiences and memories that will last a life time.

Official tour partner for the biggest races on the planet

TCS London Marathon

Please bear with us as we pull together all event details including hotels and entry!

Experience the most iconic and in-demand marathon in the world with Sports Tours International and Destination Marathons. As the official overseas tour operator for the TCS London Marathon, we offer guaranteed bibs and exclusive accommodation packages including VIP options. Secure your place at this globally renowned event by completing your booking now. Our four night packages include comprehensive support from our team of onsite reps, a ticket to London’s biggest marathon after-party and more.

Please note, our packages are only available for residents of the USA. Additional nights available on request.

VIP Package at The Dorchester

The experience of a lifetime, a world famous course.

Enhance your trip with our VIP package at the Dorchester, one of the UK’s most prestigious hotels, including a London bus sightseeing tour via the expo, a quintessential British afternoon tea experience and pasta party. On marathon day, enjoy an exclusive pre-race warm room next to the start line.

The London Marathon sets itself apart from the rest due to its incredible support from thousands of enthusiastic spectators  cheering you on every step of the way. It’s an unforgettable experience that will stay with you for life.

The race takes runners past many of England’s most iconic landmarks and historical sites such as the Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

Included in your package

• Guaranteed bib (USA residents only)
• 4 nights at your chosen hotel
• The Dorchester - VIP Package: a London bus sightseeing tour via the expo, a quintessential British afternoon tea experience, a pasta party and a pre-race warm room next to the start line
• Daily breakfasts including a special early breakfast on race day
• Welcome drinks, pre-race briefing & guided shake-out run
• Private coach transfer to the start from the hotel (runners only)
• An exclusive ticket to the biggest marathon after-party in London
• The support of our team at each hotel, throughout the entire event

Located in the heart of historic London, The Westminster is surrounded by some the capitals most alluring landmarks. The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey are a stone’s throw from the hotel. Each room is beautifully designed, featuring all the modern-day essentials, including our signature in room amenities. Guests can enjoy the use of our gym which is equipped with Peloton machinery or if indulgence is more your thing, then The Westminster Bar & Grill Restaurant in the hotel is the place to be.

24 hours reception and concierge service Complimentary WiFi Early and specialised breakfast on Marathon day Accessible Rooms Air Conditioning Same-day laundry service 30 underground parking spaces Fitness centre Room service

Situated in the heart of Mayfair and overlooking Green Park, Sheraton Grand London Park Lane offers a prime location in London with a restaurant, fitness center, private parking and WiFi. The elegant, art deco rooms feature en-suite bathrooms, interactive flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, designer beds, free toiletries and ample work space. Some rooms have original fireplaces and marble bathrooms. Guests can enjoy Italian dining at Mercante, crafted cocktails at Smith & Whistle and English Afternoon Tea in the Art Deco Palm Court. The hotel is a short walk from Bond Street, Knightsbridge, Buckingham Palace and Westminster. It is 20 minutes from the West End, 5 minutes from Green Park Underground Station and 10 minutes from Piccadilly Circus.

Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room Bar/lounge Massage Wifi Coffee shop Restaurant Breakfast available Breakfast buffet Breakfast in the room Complimentary Instant Coffee Kids' meals Taxi service Banquet room Meeting rooms 24-hour security Baggage storage Concierge Shared lounge/TV area Doorperson First aid kit Umbrella 24-hour check-in/24-hour front desk Dry cleaning Laundry service Ironing service

The Londoner offers a guest-only club, six unique restaurants and bars including a rooftop lounge, a spa with a pool, gym, superfood clinic and beauty salon. Each room features a table, flat-screen TV and private bathroom. Guests have exclusive access to The Residence, a residents-only club with The Drawing Room for relaxation, The Y Bar for work and socializing, and The Whisky Room. Complimentary antipasti, soft drinks, tea and coffee are available throughout the day. Located in Leicester Square, the hotel is a short walk from Soho, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, and local transport links. It is also part of the Preferred Hotels and Resorts Legend Collection.

Pool Fitness Centre with Gym/Workout Room Bar / lounge Evening entertainment Airport transportation Banquet room Wifi Indoor pool Heated pool Fitness/spa changing rooms Restaurant Breakfast buffet/Breakfast in the room Complimentary Instant Coffee/Complimentary tea Rooftop bar Taxi service Meeting rooms Spa Facial treatments Massage Baggage storage Concierge Newspaper Non-smoking hotel Doorperson 24-hour front desk Express check-in/check-out Dry cleaning Laundry service

Enhance your stay in London with our VIP package at the Dorchester Hotel including a London bus sightseeing tour via the London Marathon expo, followed by a quintessential British afternoon tea experience and pasta party. On marathon morning, enjoy exclusive access to a pre-race warm room next to the start line. Located in Mayfair, the hotel overlooks Hyde Park and features a spa, Michelin-starred restaurant and boutique bedrooms. The spa boasts South-Pacific pearl chandeliers and a fitness center. Luxurious rooms include Italian-marble bathrooms. Dining options include fine French cuisine by Alain Ducasse, modern British dishes at The Grill by Tom Booton. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from Knightsbridge and a 20-minute walk from the Museum Mile, with Oxford Street just a mile away.

Fitness Center with Gym/Workout Room Bar/lounge Bicycle rental Airport transportation Paid private parking on-site Wifi Sauna Coffee shop Restaurant Spa Facial treatments Massage Baggage storage Concierge Butler service Doorperson 24-hour check-in/24-hour front desk Laundry service

Set in the heart of London's most exclusive neighbourhoods, The May Fair Hotel embraces and embodies the essence of art, culture, entertainment and gastronomy - all under one roof. The hotel is near Bond Streets exclusive jewellery stores and fashion boutiques, as well as world famous restaurants and landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and Piccadilly Circus.

Paid public parking nearby Free High Speed Internet (WiFi) Fitness Centre with Gym / Workout Room Bar / lounge Nightclub / DJ Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly ) Airport transportation Business Centre with Internet Access Air conditioning Housekeeping Room service Safe Iron Coffee / tea maker Minibar Flatscreen TV

Price per person, based on 2 people with 2 race entries, sharing a room (King/Queen or 2 twins). Discount applied for non-runner. Single supplement fee applied for solo-occupant in a room.

London Marathon 2024 Highlights

Arrival day.

After check in, you can head to the London Marathon Expo at the London Excel centre. It’s open until 08:00PM today. At the Expo you will find all the latest booths from the world of running and fitness. We operate a big stand at the London Marathon Expo. Come and meet us!

This evening we will also host welcome drinks for you to meet your fellow runners, with whom you are about to experience a race like no other.

Pre-race briefing, expo and sightseeing

This morning, we will hold our pre-race briefing, providing an opportunity to learn what to expect on race day and to ask any questions you may have to our experienced team. If you didn’t get to the London Marathon Expo yesterday then you have the opportunity today. If you arrived, and visited the Expo yesterday, this afternoon you are free to discover the sights, sounds and exciting vibes of the City!

If you are joining us on our VIP package: our sightseeing bus tour will take you to the expo after the briefing. The sightseeing bus tour will then continue with a visit to some of London’s most iconic landmarks before you indulge in a quintessential British afternoon tea at The Dorchester.

Expo day and sightseeing

Join our team this morning for a 5KM shakeout run from your hotel. If you didn’t get to the London Marathon Expo yesterday then you have the opportunity today. Please take note that the London Marathon will be busy today and the Expo closes at 5:00PM today. Please arrive there before 4:00PM to give yourself plenty of time to check out all the incredible booths. If you arrived, and visited the Expo yesterday, this afternoon you are free to discover the sights, sounds and exciting vibes of the city!

If you have joined us as part of our VIP Package: a pasta party will be available this before so that you can carb-load before the big day.

Today is the day you have spent months waiting and training for. The day of the London Marathon is finally here. After an early breakfast at the hotel, our coach, for runners only , will leave at 07.00 am. Its destination is the start of the Marathon of a lifetime. Spectators will be able to ask the hotel based representative to recommend all of the best viewing points. After the Marathon, you can head back to the hotel (by your own means) before joining us at our exclusive after-party.

Our VIP Package: On marathon morning, enjoy exclusive access to a pre-race warm room next to the start line.

Departure day

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and, depending on your onward travel, head out to enjoy the city.

Guaranteed Race Bibs For All Events

Usa's no.1 running tour operator, our packages make booking hassle free, access to abbott world majors.

From $3,799.00 per person for 4 nights with guaranteed entry included.

There is a discount of -$869.00 for non-running guests.

If airport transfers are included in your package, we will transfer you and your Luggage to the hotel. If you are on a cycling holiday, we will also transfer your bike.

Children are welcome on our trips with the exception of some Hospitality packages.

Any dietary requirements e.g., Vegetarian or Vegan etc needs to be advised to us at booking stage. We will then request the meals with the relevant hotel.

Stays can be extended beyond our standard packages subject to availability at the relevant hotel.

Packages can be paid for online or over the phone by Credit/debit card or Amex, payments can also be made by Bank transfer.

Travel insurance is always advised and is best taken out at the time of making a booking.

Cancelation charges are applicable in the event you cannot travel. Please refer to the booking conditions page.

Subject to amendment fees and hotel availability dates can be changed after initial booking.

Dependent on the trip booked we will have representatives on the package this will be outlined in the individual tour. If we have no representation a 24-hour telephone number will be provided.

Yes, we cater for solo travellers, we can offer single rooms

All our entries are Guaranteed there is no ballot, lottery or fundraising required once your entry is paid it is guaranteed.

A deposit will be required at time of booking to secure your place.

Once booked online you will be able to view and make payments on your account.

Itineraries will be sent on all trips around 14 days prior to departure

What is included in the price will be shown under each individual package.

What is not included in the price will be shown under each individual package.

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Sports tours international usa, the world's number one running tour operator.

Every year we take thousands of participants and spectators to some of best and most popular events around the world. Whether it’s achieving a new goal, or a challenge on your best times, we create great experiences and memories that will last a life time.

Official tour partner for the biggest races on the planet

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How People Are Running The Boston Marathon Without A BQ

A boston qualifier isn't the only way to get to the iconic start line..

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New perk! Get after it with local recommendations just for you. Discover nearby events, routes out your door, and hidden gems when you >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>sign up for the Local Running Drop .

Now this could be controversial. For many runners, earning their Boston Qualifying time (BQ) and wearing their bib with pride in Hopkinton is the pinnacle of their running career. Some runners don’t fuss about Boston and some simply won’t run a qualifying time (a sub 3:35 for women under 35, sub 3:05 for men). Times do get slower for older age brackets, but even running a qualifying time might not be enough to secure your spot—in 2016 you had to run around 2 minutes 30 seconds faster than your qualifying time actually gain entry, such is the demand for bibs.

I haven’t earned a BQ (YET) but am lucky enough to be running the Boston Marathon this year as a blogger with one of the sponsors, Adidas. I was prepared for some backlash over this, however there were only a few that were less than enthusiastic—most of my blog readers were so supportive and are enjoying following my Boston training updates .

While I know I’m in a slightly unique situation, there are other ways to gain entry to the oldest marathon in the world.

Fundraise For A Charity Spot

This is the most conventional way to earn your bib for Boston if you haven’t run a BQ. There are 2,500 charity spots for the Boston marathon, many of them for U.S. or local charities. They usually have a fundraising minimum of $5,000, although many are up to $10,000. This is a great option if you have a cause close to your heart and know that you’ll be able to fundraise alongside training (however it can also add extra stress to the big day).

Join A Tour Group

There are a limited number of non-qualifier bibs through groups such as 209 Events and Sports Tours International. However, you better be quick—209 Events reported that their bibs sold out within 12 hours!

Win Your Entry

If you follow the sponsors online and on social media, some of them host competitions for Boston bibs (which are well worth an entry). Similarly, if you have your own blog or big social following, start interacting with the brands, engage with their media teams and you never know what could happen.

Review All Qualifying Standards

Athletes with disabilities go through a different entry process, although there are still qualifying standards for these. You can find out more about them here . There are also several charities that work with runners with disabilities.

You certainly have to earn your spot, however you achieve it; through raising funds for charity, an alarm clock set to gain a travel tour entry or run a qualifying time.

Would you keep working until you ran a BQ or would you look at alternative routes to get you to Hopkinton?

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The essential New York Marathon guide: Expert advice from ballot to finish line

Insider advice on the world's biggest road marathon

Big city marathons don’t come much bigger than the cinematic 26.2 miles around the streets of the Big Apple. One of the six World Marathon Majors and one of the biggest dates on the road-running calendar, the New York Marathon is a bucket list-level running adventure.

Note: The entry process mentioned in this article largely relates to the 2019 New York Marathon. Entry for this event is now largely closed. The article will be updated for the 2020 event.

Running through all five boroughs of the city – Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Manhattan – is epic enough, but when you throw in some of the largest and loudest crowds along the way, what you get in New York is so much more than a medal. This is a marathon – and a weekend – turned up to 11.

That said, wrestling with the logistics of running a race in a city as sprawling as New York can be a tad daunting. But we’re here to help. From how to enter, to the tips and tricks to make your NYC adventure run smooth, our resident marathon runner and New York Marathon finisher, Kieran Alger, rounds up everything you need to know to nail your run in NYC.

• Read our ballot to finish line guide to the London Marathon

How to get a place

Just like London, Tokyo, and Berlin, the New York Marathon is hugely oversubscribed. Despite being the biggest world marathon with a whopping 52,812 finishers in 2018, the fight for a place is fierce.

In 2019, a record 117,709 applicants registered for entry in the ballot with just 10,510 accepted. That’s less than 10 per cent so you have to be lucky to land a scarce ballot spot. In fact, getting into the race is probably harder than actually running it.

There are ways to guarantee your place on the Staten Island start line, though

Book a tour: The easiest but not necessarily cheapest route for international runners into the New York Marathon is to sign up for an official tour package. These guarantee you a place in the race and, depending on your budgets and preferences, can cover flights and accommodation too.

There are localised tour operators around the world with the two official operators for the UK being Sports Tours International and 209 Events .

Prices for packages range from £1,018 for hotel and guaranteed entry, right up to £4,248 for a full package that includes flights as well. How much you pay will also depend on your hotel of choice, whether you’re happy to share a room and how long you decide to stay in New York.

Run for charity: Each year thousands of places are sold to charities who can then allocate them to runners. You’re required to commit to a minimum fundraising target and these vary from charity to charity – but expect this to be in the thousands of pounds.

Each year a full list of charity partners is published on the official website on the day the ballot results are revealed.

Run a qualifying time : If you’re fast enough, you can bag a qualifying spot – but the bar in New York is set high. Also, the majority of qualification places go to runners who’ve run the requisite times in races mainly in the US, while only a limited number of spots go to runners who hit the target times on courses elsewhere.

Full information on the qualifying times for the 2019 marathon can be found at the end of this article.

The window for running a qualifying time for the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon is 1 January-31 December 2019.

Complete the NYRR 9+1 program: Another entry route that favours locals. If you clock up nine finishes in NYRR races throughout the year and volunteer at one, your loyalty and commitment to the local running scene can earn you a New York bib. Details of the program can be found here .

How much does it cost to enter the New York Marathon?

How deep you’ll have to reach into your pockets depends on how you choose to enter, where you come from and if you’re a member of the New York Road Runners (NYRR).

Entry into the New York Marathon ballot is free but if you’re one of the lucky few to land a spot (only 15% of the 105,000 hopefuls bagged a place in 2018), it’s $295 for non-NYRR members, $255 for members, and $358 for runners living outside of the U.S.A.

Where’s the best place to stay?

As you’d expect in one of the world’s biggest cities, the accommodation options for New York are vast. From airbnb to 5-star luxury hotels from Brooklyn to Manhattan, the choice can be bewildering.

Unlike other city marathons, New York’s point-to-point set up means it isn’t a race where it’s possible to find accommodation that’s a wobble away from the start and finish. In fact, it’s probably better to think about your accommodation location in terms of your whole trip to the city, rather than making sacrifices just for the run.

Transport is going to be tricky no matter what and to a certain extent, you just have to suck it up. You’ll definitely have to travel to the start and more than likely face a trek back after the race.

That said, there are areas where it’s slightly easier to access the transport to the start and having a hotel near Central Park and the finish might appeal to some.

Prices for hotels tend to skyrocket over marathon week so most people opt for locations in the surrounding boroughs. Brooklyn offers one of the best locations based on price, location and quality of accommodation – although expect at least a half-hour subway journey to get to your public transport in the morning.

As with the majority of race expos, the New York Marathon expo is located nowhere near the start or the finish of the actual race. Luckily, unlike London, it takes place relatively close to central Manhattan. The full address is: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Halls 3B and 3E, 11th Avenue at West 35th Street. Store that in your phone somewhere.

As expos go, it’s the largest in the country with over 130 vendors selling running-related kit and nutrition. Obviously, you wouldn’t do anything as stupid as buying new kit for a marathon you’re doing in a couple of days, but you are likely to find a bargain or two if you look around.

Here you’ll also pick up your race pack, carrier bag, your timing chip and various other bits and pieces. Remember to bring your marathon entry proof and your ID.

Getting to the start

Getting to the start line for the New York Marathon is more challenging than most big-city marathons. The race starts at Fort Wadsworth on Staten Island, a 60-90 minute bus or bus and boat ride away from most of the city.

And with the first wave starting at 8.30am and the final wave going off at 11am, you’re guaranteed an early start.

If you’re coming from the UK and Europe, depending on how long you’re in New York before the race, it’s almost worth trying to keep your body clock on your home time where you tend to wake around 3-4am anyway. This can soften the blow of that brutal early morning trek to Staten Island.

Unless you’re part of a tour that’s already laying on transport, by far the best way to reach the Staten Island start line is on the official transport. But be warned, this fills up fast and registration closes early in September each year.

Depending on where you’re staying, you’ve got three options:

Staten Island Ferry

Where: Whitehall Terminal, Manhattan

Journey time: 90 minutes

Whitehall Terminal is accessible by several MTA subway and bus routes. The free ferry transports runners to St. George Terminal on Staten Island, from which free buses transport runners to Fort Wadsworth.

Midtown Manhattan Bus

Where: New York Public Library, Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street

Buses transport runners directly to Fort Wadsworth. The New York Public Library is centrally located and accessible by many subway and bus routes.

New Jersey Bus

Where: MetLife Stadium Parking Lot K, by the Quest Diagnostics Training Center

Journey time: 60 minutes

Buses transport runners from MetLife Stadium Parking Lot K directly to Fort Wadsworth. There is no parking at this location.

Failing these, you can travel by private vehicle but there are serious restrictions on the roads and you can expect nightmarish traffic and general mayhem. Not many go for that option.

What’s the start village like?

Once you’ve made it, New York Marathon start village is buzzing as people pile off buses and the cops usher them into the busy start village. Spectators aren’t allowed to travel to the start so at this point it’s runners only. You can also only take the official race bag given to you at the Expo into the race village so everything you need will have to squeeze into that.

The village areas is awash with a mixture of excitement and tension. People snapping selfies, snaffling free bagels and coffee, queuing for portaloos and desperately trying to stay warm.

And that’s the crucial thing here, warmth. If there’s one tip to remember it’s to take warm clothes, blankets, hats, gloves and whatever you can carry and are willing to drop into a charity bin at the start.

Even if the November weather forecast suggests otherwise, it will be colder than you expect it to be. You will likely be standing around for at least two hours before you start, and there’s very little shelter and no seating.

Some people even take lilos and inflatables for temporary seating and sleeping bags. Don’t be the runner turning blue in short shorts and a vest. Keep some layers on even in the starting pen and discard them as you creep to the start line.

Another piece of advice from one runner who has made this mistake: Don’t be tempted to eat ALL THE BAGELS, even though they look great and they’re free.

The New York Marathon course

There are a few things that everyone talks about when it comes to the New York Marathon. The bridges, the support and that Central Park finish.

Bridges = Hills

Let’s talk bridges first. And by bridges what we really mean are hills. There are five bridge crossings in total. The two biggest being the Verrazzano – which connects Staten Island to Brooklyn at the start – and the Queensboro/59th Street Bridge, which comes at mile 14-16.

Both span nearly two miles. These are not flat. In fact, they are the worst kind of hills, the long, slow gradual type that trick you into thinking you can keep up your target pace without doing any damage. You can’t. Treating these with respect and easing off the pace will pay off.

The Verrazzano Bridge also has two tiers and runners cross on both. If you’re running the lower tier it’s advisable to stay in the middle of the road to avoid getting a urine shower from the runners above who failed to beat the portaloo queues and take the first opportunity to unleash their bladder burden.

The Central Park pain barrier

The Verrazzano will be a distant memory by the time you enter Central Park at the other end of the race. But another really important thing to factor into your race plan is that this is pretty hilly for a city marathon.

According to MapMyRun stats, the total elevation gain for New York is 260 metres. By contrast, the London Marathon has just 180 metres.

The miles from 24 to the finish feature the biggest hills in the whole race. If you’re expecting an easy run to the finish line, these climbs can really hammer your spirit and hurt those heavy legs.

That’s where the famous New York crowds really kick in. There’s huge support throughout the 26.2 miles but the deafening cheers as you snake around Central Park praying for the finish line to be round the corner or over the brow of the next hill, will play a huge part in getting you through.

Dire straights

One thing no one ever mentions about New York are the long, long straights. Coming off the Queensboro Bridge, for example, after a few twists and turns you’re spat out onto First Avenue. Up ahead, disappearing into the distance is around 7km of non-stop straight trudge, right at a point when the race can start to bite.

When you cross the finish line of the New York Marathon, unfortunately, your work isn’t done. The zombie walk to escape Central Park can be at least another mile. Your battered body – and the congestion – can make that a very slow mile indeed.

Where you exit is also dictated by whether you checked a drop bag at the start and your bib number. If you dropped a bag at the start, you’ll be directed to reclaim and then leave Central Park by the Bag Check exits, located at West 81st Street and West 85th Street.

If you decided not to bother with a bag, you’ll be ushered to the Post-Race Poncho exit at West 77th Street and be handed a foil blanket to wrap yourself up like a turkey.

Should you check a bag?

It can get cold very quickly post-race and difficult to get transport away from the finish, so a change of clothes feels sensible. However, the baggage queues can also be crazy busy. So it’s a toss-up between getting out of there fast or queueing to get your warm, dry clothes. Either way, you’re likely to get cold.

When you finally break free from the park, being spat out onto the streets of this big city with a post-marathon head on can be very daunting. You can ask family and friends to meet you in the post-race corrals. These start from Z and go up to A so regardless of your name it’s smart to meet lower down the alphabet to save yourself a stroll.

It’s also smart to arrange a location away from the race finish but close enough to hobble to, where you can hole up, grab a drink and some food and wait for the marathon madness (the city’s and your own) to die down.

Plus, wander into most bars and cafes wearing your medal walking like a wounded soldier and you’re guaranteed a New York-style heroes welcome. That goes for later in the evening and the following day too.

Average finish times

The women’s New York marathon course record is 2:22:31 while the men’s is 2:05:05. Both are a long way outside the world records at this distance and that tells you a lot about how tough this is compared to other marathon courses.

The average finish time for the New York Marathon in 2018 was 4:38:24.

Qualifying times

Men’s standards:, women’s standards:.

*Age on November 1, 2020, for the 2020 TCS New York City Marathon.

Main image credit: New York Road Runners

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Become a Six Star Finisher: How to run all the world marathon majors

Struggling to get into London, Berlin or New York marathons via the ballot? There might be another way. Here’s how to bag a place in all the Abbott Marathons world marathon majors without having to rely on Lady Luck or necessarily being  Good-for-Age fast.

When I ran my first marathon back in 2010, I never thought for a second that eight years later I’d have 28 x 26.2 finishes under my belt plus half a dozen ultras. Back then people with that kind of running CV seemed like different beasts to me. But here I am, having run five of the six  Abbot World Marathon Majors , and the only thing between me and  that coveted Six Star Finishers Medal, is the Tokyo Marathon. But with 300,000 people applying for only 30,000 places, it’s getting into the race, not the travel or the language barrier, that’s the main problem.

And I know I’m not the only runner finding it hard to tick off another of the world marathon majors, people I know chasing Berlin and London are finding it hard too. But before we resign ourselves to a future of endless ballot-based misery, maybe there’s another way. I’ve been looking at every possible avenue into the big six and here’s what I’ve found.

New York Marathon

I ran New York back in 2014 and was lucky enough to get a media invite. I now realise how lucky I was. In 2017, just short of 105,000 people entered the free ballot for the New York Marathon with 15,500 (15%) runners bagging a place via this route. 

With race numbers estimated at 50,000, the vast majority of runners get in via one of the guaranteed entry methods. That’s either by running a qualifying time, running for charity or running enough  New York Road Runners races to qualify for the NYRR 9+1. 

Ballot entry: opens mid-January and runs to mid-February. 

Entry fee: $358 (£260) in 2018 for overseas runners

Run a New York Marathon qualifying time

There are places set aside for people who have run a qualifying time in a selection of New York Road Runners (NYRR) races. In 2017, these races included:   2017 NYRR Fred Lebow Manhattan Half, 2017 United Airlines NYC Half, 2017 SHAPE Women’s Half-Marathon, 2017 Airbnb Brooklyn Half, 2017 NYRR Staten Island Half, and 2017 TCS New York City Marathon.

There are a limited number of qualifier places for those who have run qualifying times in non-NYRR races but these are allocated on a first come, first served basis. 

Run with the New York Road Runners (NYRR 9+1)

The NYRR New York City Marathon Guaranteed Entry 9+1 programme , to give it’s full name, guarantees entry to paid up members of NYRR running club who complete nine NYRR qualifying races and volunteer at one event. If you don’t fancy volunteering you can also opt to donate $1,000 instead. Chances are you’re going to have to live in New York to make this one work but it’s a good option if you do.

Run the New York Marathon for charity

In 2018, an estimated 9,000 New York Marathon charity places will be allocated. The set up here is largely the same as London.You sign up, pay a registration fee and commit to a fundraising target. Though the price of registration and the amount you need to raise vary depending on whether you pay for your won flights and accommodation. To give you an example, running for Macmillan in 2018  would be £599 for registration and then between £2,000 and £3,700 minimum fundraising.

Book a sports tour

If all else fails you can always pay to solve the problem and book a New York Marathon sports tour. There are a number of well established companies but Sports Tours International  and 209 Events are the UK’s official international travel partners for New York.

How much will it cost? As an example, trips for 2018 with Sports Tours International can start from £1,549 including guaranteed entry fee, flights and accommodation.

Boston Marathon

Of all the Abbot World Marathon Majors, the Boston Marathon is the only marathon where meeting a qualifying standard, based on your age and gender, is the main route of entry. It’s one of the reasons this is such an iconic event and a badge of honour, because in order to earn your Boston finish you first have to have run a bloody quick marathon somewhere else. Well at least that’s almost true but more on that later.

Entry period: The Boston Marathon’s entry process is complicated. When you can apply depends on how fast your qualifying time is. Luckily there’s a handy Boston qualifying time calculator on the official site to help you work out when to get your name in the hat.

Entry fee: $250 (£181.00) in 2018 for overseas runners.

Run a Boston Marathon qualifying time

Boston Marathon qualifying times aren’t quite as tough as New York, Tokyo and London but it’s also worth noting that just running one of the times below still doesn’t guarantee you entry. If too many people in your gender/age bracket reach the qualifying time, places are then dished out based on how far under that time you ran. So it’s very often the case that you’ll want to take 10 minutes off the times below to be confident of getting in.

I ran my qualifying time at the London Marathon in 2014, at the age of 36, with a 2:57:56 personal best and that was enough to earn me a place in 2015. 

Bag a Boston Marathon charity place

While there’s undoubtedly something extra special about running Boston having qualified, you can run it for charity too via the Boston Marathon Official Charity Programme . However, the obligatory fund raising targets for Boston are even higher than London. You’ll need to hit a fundraising target of $5,000 (more than £3,500). Again that’s probably harder than running a qualifying time!

As with New York, you can cough up and buy a guaranteed place in Boston with tour company. There’s a full list of international travel partners  here:

For the UK,  Sports Tours International is the place to go.  

Virgin Money London Marathon

In 2018, a world record number of runners – 386,050 to be precise – coughed up £39 to enter the Virgin Money London Marathon ballot, a huge increase on 2017, making London the most popular marathon on the planet. However, with just 50,000 places up for grabs, that’s a lot of disappointed runners.

Back in 2010 I was one of them.   The Virgin Money London Marathon was the first marathon I ever entered but, like so many people, I didn’t get lucky in the ballot and instead I finished my first marathon under the Arc de Triomph in Paris.

Since then I’ve been lucky enough to run London twice, in 2012 (thanks to the lovely people at Adidas) and 2015, with a Good For Age place. I’ve entered the ballot every year and not been lucky once. So how can you get into the London Marathon without going through the ballot. 

Ballot entry: Opens in May each year for a period of 5 days.  

Join a running club

All British Athletics affiliate clubs can apply for London Marathon places . The number of places each club gets to pass on to its runners is based on some quite complicated rules but essentially if you’re in a club that’s got 10-150 runners there’ll be one spot, 151-250 two spots, 251-350 three spots and four for any club with more than 351 runners. Most clubs then dish out tickets in a club ballot and it doesn’t take a mathematician to work out that those are significantly better odds than you get in the open ballot.

Run the London Marathon for charity

The London Marathon is probably the most famous charity run in the world and for most people this is the easiest way into the race. More than £890 million has been raised since the event started in 1981. Most of it by that bloke who carries a fridge on his back. 

Each year the London Marathon organisers produce a handy list of charity places . 

To secure a place you’ll still need to pay a fee and you’ll be asked to commit to minimum fundraising pledge for your chosen charity. How much you need to raise for a charity place in the London Marathon varies but on average you’re looking at around £2,000. That’s arguably a bigger challenge than running the race itself. 

Run a London Marathon Good for Age qualifying time

If you’re fast enough – and you’re a UK resident – getting into the London Marathon gets a whole lot easier.  Though with the number of runners qualifying for a “Good For Age” guaranteed places increasing by more than 800 on the 2017, even this route looks certain to become more difficult.

Qualification times for the Virgin Money London Marathon 2019 are reviewed each year but for 2018, Good for age places were allocated to runners who ran a full marathon in the same time, or faster than, the times listed below since 1 January 2016.

It’s also worth noting that Good For Age places are worked on the age you’ll be on London Marathon race day, not the day you ran your time. Potentially good news if you’re tipping over into a new bracket.

The deadline for London Marathon Good for Age entries is usually the end of June each year. You’re notified if you meet the grade within approximately 10 days and then you have a short time to complete the acceptance and payment. This last step is vital, I should know, in 2017 I forgot to do it and couldn’t understand why my You’re In magazine wasn’t hitting my doormat in January.

Tokyo Marathon

The Tokyo Marathon is the last of the six majors I need to land my Six Star medal but logistically it’s one of the toughest to access and not just because of the travel and language barriers. Around 320,000 runners enter the ballot chasing just 35,500 places. The qualifying times are rapid too, I’d have to run 20 minutes faster to qualify for Tokyo than London and half an hour quicker than I would to meet Boston’s minimum qualifying time. Basically if you can qualify for Tokyo, you’re in all of the other majors too. 

Ballot entry:   Opens at the start of August and runs for a month.

Entry fee: 12,800 YEN (£88.00) in 2018 for overseas runners.

Run a Tokyo Marathon qualifying time

As part of Tokyo Marathon’s Run as One programme  there are 300 overseas places for runners who meet qualifying criteria. As with London, you’ll have to have run a certified race in the two years prior to the Tokyo race date (e.g. for 2018 you had to run a time in 2016 or 2017). And Tokyo has high expectations.

• Men’s Full Marathon qualifying time: 2:21:01 – 2:45:00
• Women’s Full Marathon qualifying time:  2:52:01 – 3:30:00

The application period runs from the start to the end of July each year. With those who make the cut being notified towards the last week of August. Places then need to be confirmed and coughed up for by the end of August. Here’s where to apply.

Run the Tokyo Marathon for charity

Organised under the banner The Day We Unite, the Run It With Heart charity programme   offers two charity routes into the Tokyo Marathon. There are 4,000 places up for grabs on a first come, first served basis for people willing to raise 100,000 YEN (£685). The application for charity entries opens on the 1 July. 

Book a Tokyo Marathon sports tour

Of all the majors, Tokyo is probably the one race where a sports tour might be your best bet and there’s a decent list of marathon tour companies offering guaranteed places.

Prices vary depending on your itinerary but as an example, a 4-night single person trip with 209 Events  would be £3,000. 

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon was my first American marathon back in 2013. Apparently I ran it before good cameras had arrived on smartphones. I loved everything about Chicago, it was fast, flat and well organised without any of the pre-race faff that New York and Boston throws at you. 

Applications: Open at the end of October and close at the end of November each year.

Entry fee: $220 (£160) in 2018 for overseas runners.

Run a Chicago Marathon qualifying time

Qualifying times for the Chicago Marathon can be run on a USA Track & Field-certified course and a spokesperson for the Chicago Marathon confirmed that: “We do accept qualifying times from non-US marathons. USATF is called out specifically, but we also accept times from races certified by other governing bodies (ex. IAAF certified marathons).” Though rather less helpfully they also confirmed: “We do not have a list of certified races that runners can participate in to gain a guaranteed entry.”

I found a  list of USATF certified US marathons here  and I have heard from runners in the World Marathon Majors group on Facebook who have successfully used UK races to qualify.

Applications for the qualification open around the 24 October each year and close at the end of November. 

Run the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle four times

Like the New York Road Runners entry route, runners who have completed the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K four or more times since 2000 and have signed up for the current year’s Shamrock Shuffle get a guaranteed spot.

Run the Chicago Marathon for charity

As with all of the other majors, it’s possible to run the Chicago Marathon for charity. Fundraising requirements vary from charity to charity, but the minimum target will be at least $1,000 (USD) if the entry is claimed during the application window and $1,500 (USD) if the entry is claimed following the application window.

Only charities that are part of the official Bank of America Chicago Marathon Charity Program have access to guaranteed entries.

Book a Chicago Marathon sports tour

Yep, you guessed it, you can buy a guaranteed place in the Chicago Marathon through a marathon tour company and the two official partners for the UK are 2:09 Events and Sports Tours International. With 2:09 Events a 4night, hotel, flights and entry package for one person was priced at £2,319.

BMW Berlin Marathon

I’ve run Berlin three times, in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Each time I got in through the regular ballot but I think Berlin’s popularity has grown significantly since 2012. I’ve applied each year since 2015 and failed each time.

In recent years the profile of Berlin has been given a serious boost by elite runners chasing world records, and the flat, wide roads of the German capital have become the place to go to chase a personal best. It’s also a really well organised, great fun race in one of Europe’s best cities.

I couldn’t find recent stats for the total ballot entries but to give you an indication back in 2014 more than 70,000 people entered and in 2017, close to 44,000 runners started the main race. Those ballot numbers are only likely to have swelled, creating much more competition for places. That said, the Berlin Marathon ballot is free, so it’s worth a try. 

Ballot entry: Opens mid October and closes early in November.

The Berlin Marathon entry fee: €108 (£96) in 2018.

Berlin Marathon Good for Age qualifying times and entry

Along with Tokyo, Berlin is the toughest race of all to qualify for with a good for age time.  You need to be very fast to secure a guaranteed place this way. 

Male Runners

• Age 18 to 44 (age group 2000 to 1974): under 2:45 hours
• Age 45 to 59 (age group 1973 to 1959): under 2:55 hours
• Age 60 and up (age group 1958 und older): under 3:25 hours

Female Runners

• Age 18 to 44 (age group 2000 to 1974): under 3:00 hours
• Age 45 to 59 (age group 1973 to 1959): under 3:20 hours
• Age 60 and up (age group 1958 und older): under 4:10 hours

Registration for Berlin Marathon Good for Age entries usually opens mid-October and closes in early November.

Skate your way into the race

The Berlin Marathon also hosts an in-line skating event over the same course as the marathon. In 2018, they’re running a Skate to Run scheme where anyone who completes the event on wheels can earn themselves a place in the marathon, though this is limited to 300 places though.

Run the Berlin Marathon for charity

The charity option is there for people who want to run Berlin too and each year there’s a list of UK charities you can fundraise for on the official site . It’s also worth keeping an eye out for the race organisers opening up donation places. For the 2018 race an additional 1,000 spots were allocated to the RTL Donation Marathon programme for €168 (£150).

Book a Berlin Marathon sports tour

There are plenty of companies offering Berlin Marathon tours with guaranteed places, including the usual suspects I’ve mentioned earlier. One company I can recommend is Running Crazy . I know people who’ve run Berlin with them and been very happy. The hotel location is spot on for the race start and exploring the city. So well worth a look.

How many world marathon majors have you run?

Seen any baffling behaviour at your local gym? Hit me up on  Twitter ,  Instagram  or  Facebook  or share your stories of workout weirdness in the comments below.

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Russians continue to pillage mines in occupied Luhansk Oblast

Ukraine's National Resistance Center (NRC) reports that the Russians are seeking "investors" for mines in the temporarily occupied territories (TOTs) at a time when debts to miners continue to grow.

Source : NRC

Quote: "Currently, the invaders are executing the sale of state-owned mines in temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk Oblast to so-called investors.

Given that all legal transactions by the occupation administration are invalid, these investors are simply going to take the equipment and close the mines after the sale, as has occurred in neighbouring Donetsk Oblast."

Details: The NRC notes that most mines in the TOTs have been closed and pillaged.

In addition, the resistance notes a shortage of miners in the region as they have not been paid for months.

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