Marathons are selling out like Taylor Swift tickets. Running is in vogue and many newer runners are seeking the shortest route from couch to marathon – a distance once considered superhuman. Now, amid the proliferation of training shared online, and the Nedd Brockmann mentality that extreme equals better, running 42.2km has never felt so achievable.
As the Sydney marathon gears up for its Abbott World Marathon Majors debut on 31 August, it has the running world at its feet – everyone from “runfluencers” and run crews to rusted-on runners keen to tick off their next, or first, major. Sydney has introduced a ballot system like the other major marathons, which are increasingly hard to get into. A staggering 1.1 million people applied for a spot on the start line at the 2026 London Marathon. Other Australian races are adapting to the running boom too – Melbourne, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast have fine-tuned their courses to expand capacity amid record-breaking sign-ups.
Sydney’s event has come a long way in a short time. In the five years pre-Covid, it averaged about 4,000 finishers each year, fewer than Melbourne (6,000) and Gold Coast (5,000). But from 2022, Sydney dialled everything up to pursue major status, including prize money, marketing and course improvements. A spike in participation followed, from 13,000 finishers in 2023 to more than 20,000 last year. This year, 35,000 runners (just in the marathon distance) will share the roads with two of the biggest headliners imaginable: Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan.
The term Goat is not overstated when it comes to Kipchoge, the first man to unofficially run a sub-two-hour marathon. He has two Olympic golds, 11 major marathon wins, a former world record and is now the second-fastest marathoner in history (2:01.09). Though considered past his best, his megastar presence will be felt from the start line in North Sydney to the Opera House. This is duly reflected in the organiser’s FAQs: “How can I see Kipchoge?” and “Where can I catch Kipchoge before or after the race?”
Alongside him in the stacked field is the first woman to medal in the 5,000m (bronze), 10,000m (bronze) and marathon (gold) at one Olympic Games. Hassan has true X-factor – irresistibly unpredictable, with humility to match. “Drama follows me,” she says, and her jump from middle-distance events to the marathon proved it. In her London debut, she stopped twice to stretch her hip, dropped off the lead around halfway, then clawed back solo to win in a sprint finish.
Securing athletes of this calibre is a feather in the cap of Sydney but a smart investment too. The star power is a huge drawcard for participants, global media and crowds, all vying for a brief glimpse of these athletes despite the 6.30am start (the earliest of the majors). It also suggests money was no object – the race has not disclosed the prize money for an overall podium finish (to align with most majors, between US$55,000 and $100,000 would be expected). But the domestic prize money for the top five Australians – including $30,000 for first male and female – makes it the most lucrative marathon in the country. This incentive follows in the footsteps of Boston, New York and Chicago, encouraging the best to race locally and hopefully inspire the next crop of long-distance athletes.
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The Australian women’s field will attract the most attention, as Jessica Stenson and Lisa Weightman face each other for the first time since the Olympic team selection drama last year. Despite running faster than Stenson in the Paris qualifying period, selectors overlooked Weightman. And under the radar but a real threat is Leanne Pompeani, who became the fastest Australian female marathon debutant this year. On the men’s side, the former Australian record holder Brett Robinson will line up against fellow Olympian Liam Adams, rising star Haftu Strintzos and debutant Sam Clifford, who recently broke the Australian 10km road record.
While the pointy end of the field is impressive, the interest among the masses is just as extraordinary. Australia is experiencing a huge running boom, with young people and women among the biggest converts. Sydney’s timely introduction into the majors almost guarantees its success. Four of the original majors (New York, Berlin, Chicago and London) began in the running boom of the 1970s and 80s and have grown exponentially since. When New York hosted its first marathon in 1970, only 55 people finished. Last year’s edition boasted 55,000 – the largest marathon field yet. The majors also facilitate an injection of economic benefits for their host cities in the form of jobs, infrastructure improvements and tourism, as runners strive to complete all six (now seven). The Sydney marathon is projected to bring an extra $300m in tourism spending to the state over the next decade, according to Destination NSW.
Elsewhere around the country, new marathons are springing up to absorb demand – Ballarat held its inaugural marathon in 2024 and Wollongong in 2025. Brighton will debut on the same day as Sydney and Geelong is primed for 2026. And, while many running events are capitalising on the boom by prioritising increased participation over performance, Sydney’s highly “Instagrammable” course and world-class field give it the chance to celebrate both.
