This year could be the final stretch for the Shanghai Marathon before officially joining the World Marathon Majors. Yet, it already exudes the aura of a major event.
The just-launched registration for the Shanghai Marathon stands out for its simplicity. Unlike other domestic marathons, its approach seems to defy conventional local rules. Runners welcome the ease, but some media outlets have raised concerns, claiming it violates regulations. However, these critics may be overthinking a marathon’s role in promoting fairness and progress.
I registered on May 2. The process was remarkably minimal—no lengthy questionnaires, no need to upload finish certificates, and no personal details beyond basic info. It felt even smoother than the one-click registration I’ve seen elsewhere, resembling the streamlined process for the Tokyo Marathon, but even more efficient.
A truly top-tier event doesn’t just attract runners; it also explores innovation in rules and organization. The Shanghai Marathon, despite expanding to 30,000 participants, still retains the health run, offering a separate 15,000-participant health run the day before the main race. This contradicts a recent trend where many events have dropped the health run component entirely.
Without registration restrictions, the Shanghai Marathon could set new domestic records. The current full-marathon record is held by Shanghai, with over 300,000 applicants (full-marathon only, based on draw rates). This year, with the allure of the Majors, both the full-marathon record and overall participation could surge.
Truly Confident
The Shanghai Marathon announced its date immediately after last year’s event, similar to the former Chengdu Marathon, which was also a World Marathon Majors candidate. On April 24, it gave a brief “registration coming soon” notice without further reminders—unlike other events that count down and post formal announcements.
Hosting a World Marathon Major would be significant for Chinese marathons. While Chengdu spent years trying but fell short, Shanghai naturally fits the bill. The Majors impose their own standards, sometimes conflicting with domestic rules. In such cases, Shanghai has clearly aligned with the Majors’ rhythm. For example, registration periods for domestic events are typically months long, but the Majors require at least six months.
Domestic marathon policies have seen many adjustments in recent years, including sweeping changes that fundamentally altered rules. This context fuels the debate over Shanghai’s open registration. While the minimum age is 20, there are no explicit requirements for past marathon or half-marathon finishes. In principle, anyone can apply, even if they couldn’t register for a regular domestic event.
However, I doubt the Shanghai Marathon will skip eligibility checks. It will likely use a database to verify runners before the draw. As a frequent non-winner myself, I don’t believe many newcomers without marathon experience will get lucky.
Breaking Records
Currently, the highest total sign-ups in a domestic marathon belong to the Wuxi Marathon, with 495,635 registrations including full and half marathons. The Shanghai Marathon last year reported 356,589, including full and health runs. The pure full-marathon record is unknown but estimated to be over 300,000, based on draw rates. Other events like the Beijing Marathon had under 300,000, and the Xiamen Marathon had 206,910.
Given that about 740,900 people completed full marathons in certified events last year, the pool of runners is not huge. Still, breaking 200,000 for a pure full marathon is rare. The Shanghai Marathon, now without thresholds, could easily surpass last year’s 350,000. With the Majors boost, exceeding 490,000 is plausible. Reaching 500,000 or more seems very likely.
This would mark a milestone for Chinese marathon development, reflecting the sport’s growing appeal. Past growth relied on brand and materials; now, the Majors may provide the momentum. Another possible impact is international pricing: once Shanghai becomes a Major stop, its registration fee (currently 200 yuan) may skyrocket, prompting other events to follow.
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