high school xc coach wrote:
This idea of the Abbott people just deciding what is and is not a major through some BS political process is a joke. Valencia does not need to be in their little group. They want to be the best marathon in the world, so they operate accordingly and people come.
The world majors is becoming more and more something for hobby joggers to aim towards the 6 star medal, more than it is about putting on the best races.
The World Marathon Majors is not a group of races selected by World Athletics or the IOC as the best and most prestigious marathons in the world. It is in fact a marketing term coined by, originally five, and now six, big city marathons as an umbrella marketing strategy. The AbbottWMM creates the impression that these six marathons are superior to all other marathons whereas, in reality, they are an exclusive clique.
I would challenge anyone to find out what the entry requirements are. The WMM website mentions that "In order to become a Major, the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will be required to meet certain criteria for three years". Meanwhile, "As a candidate race, the Chengdu Marathon will begin a long-term, multi-year evaluation process conducted by the AbbottWMM."
However Singapore is out as "Following the sale of The IRONMAN Group (who operates the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon) by the Wanda Sports Group, the Singapore race is no longer a part of that candidate process. Wanda Sports Group has the exclusive right to put forward these races."
So why aren't Valencia, Doha, Rotterdam or Paris candidates? Probably because the cost of joining the clique is too high, their races are fully sold out each year and being a WMM does not make it more attractive for the elites. There may be some appeal to the cities though as well heeled hobby joggers will strive to complete all five, six, eight, ten, whatever, Majors much like Formula One attracts the jet set.
