European classics are lined up for prestigious new eight-city marathon challenge series

A new continent-wide race series has been launched, bringing together eight of Europe’s most iconic marathons and creating an exciting new challenge for endurance athletes.

The European Marathon Classics initiative spans from March through to October, tying together the races currently held in Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, London, Vienna, Warsaw, Frankfurt, and Copenhagen.

Athletes who manage to complete a minimum of five events across five different venues will earn the title of European Marathon Classics Finisher and receive a commemorative medal – with no time limit on achieving the target.

Personalised medal journey

The new medal was recently unveiled at a launch event in Vienna and features a distinctive structure, with slots to add magnetic collectable badges from completed races. As runners complete the marathons, they build a personalised medal reflecting their journey.

Recognising both future achievements and historic marathon results, completed races dating back to the earliest editions of each event – from Madrid’s inaugural 1978 race to Lisbon’s beginnings in 1986 and the opening London run in 1981 – will all count towards the medal tally.

Representatives from the eight marathons show off the badges, which will be awarded to athletes who complete them.

It follows the lead of a similar ‘Six Star’ medal, which is presented to athletes who complete six of the seven races which form the Abbott World Marathon Majors, which take in the likes of Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

Hugh Brasher, event director of the TCS London Marathon and one of the driving forces behind the creation of European Marathon Classics, said: “European Marathon Classics embodies our ambition to explore Europe together while pushing boundaries – both geographically and philosophically.

‘An inspiring new challenge’

“I’m confident this series will show that across Europe, we are better together than we are apart and that we are more similar than we are different. I hope it will inspire participants from around the world to experience Europe’s great marathons, cities and communities.”

Kathrin Widu, CEO of the Vienna City Marathon, added: “The European Marathon Classics are an inspiring challenge, and this unique medal represents this spirit in a truly remarkable way. By bringing together leading European marathons, we aim to inspire even more people to embrace marathon running.”

The new medals which will be presented to athletes who complete any five of the new European Marathon Classics. — The new European Marathon Classics medals will have space to add magnetic badges from each completed race.

And Marek Tronina, race director of the Warsaw Marathon, said: “We value everyone who has ever completed the marathon distance at our races, whether this year or forty years ago. It is a major operational undertaking and a significant organisational challenge, but we will make it possible to recognise results dating back to the very first editions. We see this as a sign of respect for marathon history and for the people who created it.”

Registration for European Marathon Classics is now open HERE. Joining the series is free of charge; however, entry fees apply for participation in individual races in accordance with each event’s regulations.