It was a banner weekend for runners who earned their World Marathon Majors Six Star medal at the Tokyo Marathon on March 5. The race set a new Guinness World Record for the most people—3,033—to earn a Six Star medal at a single marathon, according to a statement from the World Marathon Majors.
Although this year’s race smashed the previous record of 732 set in 2019, this is the organization’s first certified Guinness World Record, a World Marathon Majors spokesperson told Runner’s World by email.
Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2021 and 2022, many Six Star medal hopefuls had to wait until this year to complete the six-race series, which includes Boston, New York, Chicago, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.
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Among the 3,033 Six Star finishers in Tokyo, 40 of them completed the six races for a second time, five for a third, and one runner completed the series for a fourth time, according to a World Marathon Majors statement.
“Running for my second Six Star medal but also knowing I was part of an extra special group of finishers trying to accomplish something extra was an added boost to get me over the finish line,” medalist Ron Romano said in a statement.
Finishers were able to purchase a limited edition commemorative medal ahead of the race, which sold out in two days. All Six Star finishers who completed the series in Tokyo can purchase a personalized world record certificate.
“I am so happy for everyone who can now say they are part of a world record,” Dawna Stone, CEO of the World Marathon Majors said in a statement.
To date, there are more than 11,000 runners who are part of the Six Star Hall of Fame.
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner’s World, the author of The Runner’s World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a seven-time marathoner with a best of 3:31—but she is most proud of her 1:32 half, 19:44 5K, and 5:33 mile. Her work has been published in The Boston Globe, Popular Mechanics, The Wall Street Journal Buy Side, Cooking Light, CNN, Glamour, The Associated Press, and Livestrong.com.
