The year is well and truly wrapping up – with everyone from music platforms to real estate websites (to Time Out Sydney) taking time to reflect on the year that was. Now, it’s time to look ahead – with 2025 just around the corner. And if 2025 is your year for smashing goals, then why not add a marathon to the list? Last month, the Sydney Marathon made history as Australia’s first-ever running event to earn World Major Marathon status, becoming the seventh marathon to achieve this status globally. With 35,000 runners expected to hit the pavement in 2025, securing an entry to the 42.195-kilometre event is sure to be just as competitive as the actual race. Here’s everything you need to know about securing a spot in the TCS Sydney Marathon next year.
When is the Sydney Marathon 2025?
The Sydney Marathon will take place on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
Where does the Sydney Marathon start?
The Sydney Marathon starts on Miller Street in North Sydney, crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and ending at our world-famous Opera House.
Is Sydney Marathon a World Major?
On November 4, 2024, Sydney Marathon was named the seventh official Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) event, and the very first in Australia. This was the result of a two-year journey that saw marathon participation soar from 5,300 in 2022 to 25,000 in 2024, alongside major updates to the course and entertainment zones.
Before Sydney’s inclusion, there were just six AWMM marathons in London, Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York and Tokyo – six of the largest and most renowned in the world.
How to enter the Sydney Marathon 2025?
There are two ballots for the 2025 TCS Sydney Marathon. Anyone who ran in the Sydney Marathon during its candidacy years (2022, 2023 or 2024) is guaranteed entry to one of the next three events (2025, 2026 or 2027). These runners should have received an email on November 13 with details on how to enter the Candidacy Club ballot, where they could select their preferred year to run.
Those who didn’t run in the last three years or were unsuccessful in scoring a 2025 entry through the Candidacy Club ballot can still apply for a spot in the general ballot here. It opened on Tuesday, December 10 and closes at 11.59pm on December 30. You don’t need to rush, as it’s not a first-come, first-served system. Runners will be selected through a random draw and notified between January 8-9, 2025.
If you’re unsuccessful in the general ballot, there is one last resort. You can find a way to secure a spot in the race via Sydney Marathon’s travel and charity programs, with more details to be released soon.
Who can enter the Sydney Marathon?
Anyone from Australia and around the world can enter the Sydney Marathon 2025. The cut-off time is seven hours, so some level of fitness is required to complete the race within this time frame and earn your title as an official marathoner.
How many runners will race the Sydney Marathon 2025?
A whopping 35,000 runners are expected to take off from the start line at the 2025 Sydney Marathon. This is a huge jump from the 5,300 registrations in 2022 and 20,000 finishers in 2024.
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