Sydney Marathon guarantees 2027 entry for runners who've done at least 10 prior races
The race reserves 100 guaranteed spots for its Bridge Club members who have finished at least 10 previous editions.
The Sydney Marathon has exploded in size since being granted world major status two years ago. Once drawing 3,000 to 4,000 runners, it now receives more than 123,000 entries chasing just 40,000 places.
The surge in popularity left even the race's most devoted runners, people who'd finished a decade or more of marathons, losing the ballot lottery. The race has now set aside 100 guaranteed spots for Bridge Club members, which includes all current members since the club has fewer than 100 runners.
One loyal competitor, Soonchil Shin, 59, had run 15 marathons but missed out on a 2026 spot despite applying. After he and others contacted race organisers, they heard back with the new policy.
Shin said the recognition felt right: "I was surprised they didn't recognise us as loyal customers, and they just forgot about it. And then finally they looked after us."
- 123,000
- General ballot entries
- 40,000
- Available places
- 100
- Guaranteed Bridge Club spots
- 15 completed
- Shin's marathon count
Why it mattersIf you've run Sydney Marathons for years, you now have certainty instead of risking the ballot. The race is signalling it values loyalty even as it chases global status.
AustraliaAustralian runners who've committed a decade to the Sydney Marathon gain security for the 2027 race, which runs August 29. For casual local entrants, the odds stay the same: 123,000 people chasing 40,000 spots.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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