November 2022
WHICH ONE OF YOUR CHILDREN IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
I'm being asked which one of the six World Major Marathons was my favourite?That’s like being asked which is your favourite child!
And like my children, they are all very different. And all very special.
So, let's try and answer the question. F first, here they are (in chronological order):
New York 2010
was my first. It’s my second favourite city in the world (behind Melbourne) and I was blown away by my first big city run with 50,000 people when Melbourne (back then) was maxed out at around 5,000 runners!
My first time with Team World Vision and a big PB!
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| One of my all time favourite photos, still hanging on my wall. This is my son mid-race! |
Boston 2013 and 2014
is like Wimbledon. The prestige. The history. I read all the books and watched all the movies. And of course there was the issue of the bombings in 2013 which meant I have followed it closely for years. It’s also the only one to qualify for - and that means a lot. And it’s the only one I’ve done twice. (2014). (It’s also my PB course so that’s special).
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| Empty finish line where so many runners had enjoyed .. until those bombs went off. |
Tokyo 2016
is all about the Japanese love of running. It’s a mega city that is busy and frantic - but stops for the marathon.
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| Color. Costumes. Noise. This is Tokyo! |
Chicago 2017
is memorable for being part of a 1,500 strong team of fundraisers for Team World Vision. Wearing the orange top on that course meant something special - and you got extra cheers from so many!
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| Who says running is a solo sport? I was one of 1,500 Team World Vision runners. |
Berlin 2019
is all about the pace. Will Kipchoge or Bekele break the world record? Everyone buzzes all week about the elites.
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| This photo still makes me laugh. You'll be pleased to know I beat both Spiderman and the Brandenburg gate costume! |
London 2022
was the last and the one I had to wait longest for because of Covid. It also meant that we could do more fund raising and my wife got to run the last event with me. That’s very special.
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| Big Ben |
So which one is favourite???
Here’s what I considered as some ways to measure the answer …
Which has the most memorable finish line?
This is really hard to separate. So many memorable locations:
* London's Buckingham Palace and The Mall
* Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate
* New York’s Central Park
* Boston’s painted finish line on Boylston St.
Which has the most memorable start line?
No brainer. New York wins hands down. That double line up on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is unforgettable, accompanied by cannon fire start gun and Sinatra. So good!
Runner up is Berlin.
Which has the biggest event highlight/s?
Those moments where you were awestruck by what you were seeing:
* Crossing London's Tower Bridge, then all of London's last 10km - The Eye, Big Ben, Parliament and Buckingham Palace
* New York's Bridge start line and seeing the Statue of Liberty standing in the harbour
* can't go past New York's 5th Avenue then Central Park (not to forget the 5 boroughs - Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and Manhattan)
* Boston’s dreaded Heartbreak Hills
* Boston's "scream tunnel" (Yes, I got kissed by a girl!)
* meeting so many running heroes at Boston - Ryan Hall, Meb, etc etc
* Berlin's Brandenburg Gate is special - think of its history.
Which has the best crowds?
* London's were better than NY. By a nose!
* Boston's were pretty good too.
Who has the best entertainment
* Hard to go past Sinatra singing "New York, New York" on the start line or Alicia Key's NYC song on 1st Avenue
* Every city I think played the YMCA song! (Even Tokyo!)
* Again, Boston's "scream tunnel" is so unique.
* London's charity cheerers were awesome - and entertaining.
* Tokyo's runners were entertaining themselves - so many costumes
* New York's gospel choir sent chills.
Which is the hardest to get an entry bib?
* Boston - because it’s about qualifying. You haven't really run Boston unless you've qualified.
* London - less than 1% chance for international ballot - so the charity package is the only real chance.
* Berlin - I fluked the ballot!
* Chicago and New York were charity spots
* Tokyo - again nearly impossible through the international ballot. (I took a tourist package)
Which would I do again?
I realise I haven't yet answered the question. Maybe the best way is to say which I'd do again?
"None" is my reply.
There’s other events I’d rather do first I think. Like Comrades. Like Antarctica.
And there are other events that I think are also equally as special - like Paris and Rome for example - that aren't in the WMM (for now).
But which would I recommend you do first?
* London if you want the big loud crowds to cheer you home.
* Boston if you want to go immerse yourself in all that is this 100+ year event history and all that is the marathon and all its traditions. The expression “Right on Hereford, left on Bolyston" will take on new meaning.
* New York if you want that BIG city race.
* Berlin if you want to go fast. That’s the one to have a crack at.
* Tokyo just so you can see how you shut down a crazy metropolis for one day.
* Chicago - which is also fast - and easier to get in to.
Just answer the question already!!
I would have to say Boston wins.
If I'm Roger Federer I need that Wimbledon trophy. If I'm Tiger Woods I need Augusta's.
Boston has more unique points:
* You have to qualify
* You have to earn 'the jacket' (yes, its a thing)
* You have to dive deep into the longest consecutive marathon on the planet. 126 years and counting.
(At the end of this blog is an excellent explanation by Robert Wang that I have copied).
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| The most coveted of all Marathon trophies is this one. A glorious sight. |
But soon there could be more than the Big 6.
There are plans to expand the series. I’m not a fan of this idea so far. Although to be fair the organisers (a Chinese company that also owns the Ironman Series) has never said it’s the Grand Slam, more that it’s a World Majors Series.
South Africa and Sydney are potentials for 2025.
That adds Africa and Oceania to the mix. It means that they should have a South American one in the future to be true to that concept. (And it is a commercial concept let’s remember, not necessarily a most important or historic like the tennis Grand Slam or golf Majors venues).
But I think it’s insulting to the likes of Boston and their 100 years of heritage, or the 50,000 + runners of New York, to add an event just for the sake of adding more. Surely something like the Athens Marathon - the original - is more worthy. I’m all for quality over quantity here for sure. Imagine putting the Rosebud Back Beach Golf Classic up alongside Augusta?
I’m glad I got my six done before there was a 7th. I don’t know if I will chase 7,8 or 9. (I’ve done Sydney before).
Maybe. We will see. Never say never. South Africa is on my bucket list of countries I’m yet to visit …..
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| I hope you too might one day get to wear this special medal :) |
Why You Should Run the Boston Marathon by Robert Wang:
- Because it's hard to get a spot. We tend to want do things that are hard to get into.
- To be part of history - It's been essentially the same course for 125 years. It's the oldest annual marathon in the world.
- The incredible crowd support. The race is embedded in the Patriots' Day tradition.
- Running with a race field where 75% have among the best 10% of marathon times and the best fundraisers in the marathon community. It's a special vibe no other race can replicate.
- The race starts in a village, goes through these small charming New England towns and then ends in the more urban Back Bay of Boston. It's a unique point-to-point course.
- If you mention you're running the Boston Marathon or have run the Boston Marathon, people's eyes light up.
- Random people in Massachusetts will congratulate you when they see your unicorn medal.
- The convention vibe. You have panel discussions, celebrity appearances, an extensive merchandise store, the expo (it's going to take some time to come back after the pandemic) and runners from around the world.
- I'd like the percentage of women in the race to be 50%. But it has the highest proportion of women of any Major. About 43 to 45%. The theme of women empowerment is strongly tied to the Boston Marathon story. The women, just like the men, are among the best marathon runners in the world in terms of speed and fundraising ability.
- The atmosphere of celebration and anticipation as the runners walk on Grove Street in Hopkinton toward the start.
- The special feeling of wearing that unicorn Boston Marathon logo on the apparel - especially the renowned Celebration jacket. That's the primary jacket marathon runners make a point to wear to any race expo.
- The Boston Marathon is a large race (though the smallest Major) with a small community-like feel. The Boston Athletic Association itself has only about 35 to 38 employees but thousands of dedicated, experienced volunteers. While New York Road Runners before the pandemic had several hundred I believe. The prestige of the race juxtaposes to the informality of the race organization running it.
- The race staff and volunteers are extremely experienced. With the exceptions of the waits for buses to the start this year (which I speculate was due to a bus driver shortage) and the occasional long gear check lines, the race is run extremely efficiently from a logistics standpoint.
- The race staff and volunteers treat the runners like guests in their home. From bib pickup to after the finish.
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