Rick Shaver is one of 563 Canadians to
have run all six Abbot World Marathon Majors: Berlin,
Tokyo, Boston, New York, Chicago and London. They're all
good. Great, even. But which is best? Here, ahead of the
Boston Marathon on April 15, Shaver ranks them.
_________________________________________________________________
The 128th Boston Marathon is April 15,
and it’s one of the six Abbot World Marathon Majors—the
most prestigious six races for amateur runners all over
the world.
But, when every one of the six Abbott
World Marathon Majors—Tokyo, Boston, New York City,
Chicago, Berlin & London—is the ‘race
of a lifetime,’ how can you rank one over another?
These six have been chosen from hundreds
of marathons worldwide to be the gold standard of races.
I’ve run them all and was awarded the coveted six-star
medal in 2021. As of November 2023, only 563 other Canadians
have this medal of achievement. Which one is the best?
Knowing this ranking is highly subjective
and personal, I considered the following criteria:
Best Racecourse: start/journey/finish.
Best Race support: fans/entertainment.
Fastest: least difficult run.
Best Race experience overall.
This list is from sixth to first, with number one at the
bottom. Obviously I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And obviously all of these events are a Race of a Lifetime—as
any time you step to a start line, it’s a good day.
6. Bank of Chicago
Marathon:
What a great place to start a world
Majors Marathon—on the Lake Michigan shoreline in
historic Grant Park in Chicago! After the first mile,
you hit the first large crowds when you make the left
turn onto State Street then LaSalle Street deep in the
skyscraper canyons while crisscrossing the Chicago River
in the ‘Loop.’ Then on through the interesting
neighbourhoods of Chicago—Pilsen, the Chinatown
Gate, Little Italy then a stroll down part of the Golden
Mile—Michigan Avenue. Crowds and music everywhere.
Then back to the Lakeshore where you pass the ‘800
meters to go sign’ and finally you encounter the
famous left turn on Columbus Drive to the finish line.
The Bank of Chicago Marathon is a flat
incredibly fast course where the men’s world record
of 2:00:35 was set by Kelvin Kiptum (RIP) in 2023. Fastest
course of the three US World Majors and not nearly as
far or as expensive as the other races. However, with
an early October start date it can be notoriously warm—which
can be more than a bit challenging.
5. BMW Berlin
Marathon: You can imagine
German efficiency hard at work perfecting the BMW Berlin
Marathon—mind boggling. Starting in late September
in the famous Tiergarten—a massive park in Central
Berlin—the excitement of standing in a sea of humanity
speaking dozens of languages, awaiting the race to begin
is amazing. Past the Victory Column, then around the oval
at Strausburgerplatz at kilometre twelve, then the main
shopping street Kurfürstendamm, followed my more
interesting unpronounceable cool streets. Saving the best
for last is running through the Brandenburg Gate before
the final stretch until you run under that sign that says
“ZIEL.” Best race expo anywhere, huge fan
support and if you wear a Canada shirt, thousands of Berliners
will be cheering you on. Flat super-fast course where
dozens of world records have been set.
4.
Tokyo Marathon: 42K
through the most populated city in the world at the beginning
of March, wow. Beginning in Shinjuku, the center of town,
with music, confetti, fireworks and thousands of runners
anxious to tour the city, at the Tokyo Marathon, you know
you’re not in Kansas anymore. Passing by Shinto
shrines, the Imperial Palace then finish with a big left
turn at Tokyo Station. Japanese engineering prevails on
the racecourse with perfectly organized aid stations,
everyone in uniforms, sometimes a couple hundred in matching
Mario & Luigi costumes greeting you with refreshments.
It’s fun! But strange! Often, port-a-potties can
be a couple hundred meters off the race route and when
you finally get there, there is a line up (yikes!) If
you are a ‘back of the packer,’ keep an eye
on the clock as there are strict cut-off times, so take
care. A flat fast course, with lots of turns and cobblestones
on the last kilometre to the finish.
3. TCS New York
City Marathon: Imagine running through
all five New York City Boroughs beginning with Staten
Island. Running across the start line in New York in early
November with Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New
York” playing at full volume. Then there’s
the run across the massive Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and
New York Harbor for the first two miles. With helicopters
overhead and boats in the harbor. You can see the Manhattan
skyline to the left far away.
On through Queens and Brooklyn where it
starts to get very loud (very, very loud). This is the
largest spectator event in the world with an estimated
two million spectators supporting the runners. The New
York City ‘hills’ start with the Pulaski Bridge,
and later the Queensboro Bridge & Willis Bridge in
the Bronx, all challenge your fitness. After the strange
quiet of the Queensborough Bridge (no spectators allowed),
you’re greeted by possibly the loudest cheering
in any marathon as you emerge going east and then left
onto First Avenue where crowds are ten deep most of the
way. Unbelievably exciting!
Coming out of Harlem, at mile 24, is where
Central Park rolling hills begin. Lots of exhausted runners
looking for Columbus Circle, then the Tavern On The Green
is in sight and the finish line! Wear your medal post-race
all afternoon and to dinner and the New Yorkers will be
hugging you like a long-lost Canadian brother or sister.
The bridges give the New York Marathon legendary status
as a tough course. Add in the ‘gentle’ hills
in Central Park when you’re dog tired and suddenly
that PB is drifting away. Heat is not usually a problem
in November, but dress warm for the long, chilly wait
at the start line on Staten Island.
2. TCS London
Marathon: Like all the
Majors, massive planning and organization makes for an
almost flawless race at the TCS London Marathon (it’s
the TCS London Marathon pictured up top). There are three
start lines in Greenwich Park in Southeast London to accommodate
the 49,000 marathoners. They converge before the runner’s
circle at the famous Cutty Sark Ship on the banks of the
Thames. The exhilaration of running across the Tower Bridge
is indescribable, only to be surpassed later, when running
by the Victoria Monument, in front of Buckingham Palace
then down to a sea of Union Jacks hanging over the finish
line on the mall. London is ‘over the top’
on runners’ and race fans’ fun and frivolity.
Every imaginable band, musician and singer all appear
on street corners everywhere to entertain runners. Pubs
and bars are open early and patrons literally spill out
into the street loudly urging the runners. Runner costumes
galore—six guys carrying a makeshift ambulance,
a woman running inside a birthday cake, full armoured
rhinoceroses to name a few.
Like Boston, the course starts with quite
a bit of gradual downhill, then generally flat after that.
Numerous narrow turns through the Canary Wharf district
slow things down a bit. It’s easy to lose your concentration
when gazing at incredible historic and interesting London
sites as well. London was also special for me as this
is where I completed my sixth Abbott World major and was
awarded my six-star medal. Hundreds of London runners
and fans curiously wanted to just touch it.
1. The Boston
Marathon:
What can you say? Every
marathoners bucket list race—if you’re only
going to do one World Major, it has to be Boston. Qualifying,
training, then lining up at the start of the iconic Boston
Marathon, in Hopkinton Common is a marathoner’s
dream! That’s why those of us unlucky enough to
be racing next week sit glued to our TVs to catch a glimpse
of our sport’s biggest stars. The whole thing is
a tremendous experience. I vividly remember trying to
hold back the nervous excited running downhill to Framingham,
then onto the Wellesley College Scream tunnel, the Newton
Fire station, Heartbreak Hill, the massive Citgo sign
and finally—Right on Hereford, left on Boylston—to
be greeted by the largest screaming crowd, ever. Goosebumps,
people. Even now. Legendary, historic mecca of marathon
running. Lots of hills: deadly downhill/challenging uphill,
and often questionable weather, but dedicated, knowledgeable
fans with that particular New England gumption to urge
you on.
https://www.irun.ca/index.php/the-abbot-world-marathon-majors-ranked/
|
219.jpg)
