List of largest running events

This list of the largest running events in the world is based on the number of participants. If available, the number of "registered" participants or finishers may be specified. Not all participants will actually complete a race. Running USA's Road Running Information Center estimates that, on average, 80%-85% of registrants will complete a race.[1] If a yearly event has consistently high participation, the year in which that event had the largest number of participants has been listed.

The Vancouver Sun Run is Canada's largest running event.

With 110,000 participants, the Bay to Breakers race held on May 18, 1986, in San Francisco, California was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest footrace.[2] On October 10, 2010, 116,086 out of 160,000 registered runners in Manila were reported to have finished a run entitled "10.10.10 A Run for the Pasig River".[3] An official for the ABS-CBN Foundation said that documentation of the event was being forwarded to Guinness World Records.[3] The Guinness World Records certified Run for the Pasig River as having the most participants in a racing event on December 26, 2010.[4]

On 6 August 2023, Kalaignar Centenary Marathon which was held at Chennai, India is officially recognized and approved by Guinness World Records having 65,762 people taking part and considered as the Largest Running Race Series held in the world.[5]

Since 2014 the Wings for Life World Run is the largest run, though not confirmed by Guinness World Records.[6][7]

parkrun, a series of weekly 5 km events held on Saturday mornings in 22 countries around the world, has for some time been the largest running event in the world. On a regular Saturday, around 300,000 people take part across nearly 2000 events. The highest ever attendance was on 11 January 2020 where 369,213 people took part across the 1635 events taking place that day.

Largest running events

edit
Position Race name Location Country Date Distances Participation[a] Notes
1 parkrun Global Global 11 Jan 2020 5 km 369,213[8]
2 Wings for Life World Run Global Global 4 May 2024 set own goal 265,818[4]
3 A Run for the Pasig River Manila Philippines 10 October 2010 10 km, 5 km, 3 km 116,086[4]
4 Bay to Breakers San Francisco, California United States 18 May 1986 12 km 110,000[2]
5 Cursa El Corte Ingles Barcelona Spain 5 June 1994 11 km 109,457[9]
6 Royal Run Copenhagen/Frederiksberg, Aarhus, Fredericia, Brønderslev and Kalundborg Denmark 20 May 2024 10 km, 5 km, 1 mile 95,330[10]
7 Broloppet/Broløbet Malmö / Copenhagen Sweden / Denmark 12 June 2000 Half-Marathon 92,266, 79,837[11]
8 City2Surf Sydney Australia 9 August 2020 14 km 86,696, 68,930[12]
9 Dam tot Damloop Amsterdam Netherlands 20 September 2009 10 miles, 4 miles and kids runs 74,020[citation needed]
10 Kalaignar Memorial International Marathon Chennai India 6 August 2023 Marathon, half-marathon, 10 km, 5 km 73,206[13][14]
11 Hong Kong Marathon Hong Kong Hong Kong 15 January 2015 Marathon, half-marathon, 10 km, 10 km wheelchair race, 3 km wheelchair race 73,070[15]
12 Round the Bays Auckland New Zealand 10 March 2013 8.4 km 70,000[16]
13 JPMorgan Corporate Challenge Frankfurt Germany 7 June 2018 5.6 km 64,377[citation needed]
14 Lilac Bloomsday Run Spokane, Washington United States 5 May 1996 12 km 61,298[17]
15 United We Run Beirut Lebanon 10 April 2005 5 km, 60,000[18]
16 Vancouver Sun Run Vancouver, British Columbia Canada 15 April 2012 10 km 89,000,[19] 44,167[20]
17 Holmenkollstafetten Oslo Norway 4 May 2024 18,8 km 72,000[21]
18 Göteborgsvarvet Gothenburg Sweden 21 May 2011 Half-Marathon 59,417[22]
19 Peachtree Road Race Atlanta, Georgia United States 4 July 2008 10 km 58,000,[23] 54,954[20]
20 Panipat Pinkathon Panipat, Haryana India 8 March 2019 21 km, 10 km, 5 km or 3 km run/walk 55,498

[24][25]

21 Great North Run Newcastle, England United Kingdom 26 September 2004/ 19 September 2010 Half-Marathon 54,500[26]
22 Bolder Boulder Boulder, Colorado United States 26 May 2008 10 km 54,040[27]
23 Course de l'Escalade Geneva Switzerland 2-3 December 2023 20.5 km, 7.3 km, 4.8 km, 9 km walk and kids runs 53,800[28]
24 New York City Marathon New York City United States 4 November 2018 Marathon 53,121, 52,812[29]
25 City to Surf Perth Australia 25 August 2013 Marathon, Half-Marathon, 12 km, 4 km and Regional Series (Karratha, Geraldton, Albany and Busselton) 50,756[30]
26 London Marathon London, England United Kingdom 2 October 2022 Marathon 50,097[31]
27 Carrera Día Olímpico 5k Olympic Day Run 5K Medellín Colombia 23 June 2013 5 km 50,000[32][33]
28 Kabaka Birthday Run Kampala Uganda 7 April 2019 21 km, 10 km, 5 km 50,000[34][35]
29 Paris Marathon Paris France 14 April 2019 Marathon 49,155[36]
30 Grete Waitz-løpet Oslo Norway 4 May 1996 5 km 48,461[37][better source needed]
31 Ottawa Race Weekend Ottawa, Ontario Canada 23/24 May 2014 Marathon, 1/2 Marathon, 10K, 5K, 2K, Kids Run 47,387[38]
32 Bogotá Half Marathon Bogotá, Cundinamarca Colombia 1 August 2010 Half-Marathon, 10 km 44,186[39] [b]
33 Lidingöloppet Lidingö, Stockholm Sweden 24 September 2011 Cross country, 30 km 43,230[40]
34 Monument Avenue 10K Richmond, Virginia United States 2 April 2011 10 km 43,214[41]
35 Vienna City Marathon Vienna Austria 12 April 2015 Marathon 42,657[42]
36 San Silvestre Vallecana Madrid Spain 31 December 2018 10 km 42,500[43]
37 BUPA Great Manchester Run Manchester, England United Kingdom 18 May 2014 10 km 41,300[44]
38 Women's Mini Marathon (10k) Dublin Ireland 2 June 2014 10 km 41,006[45]
39 Mumbai Marathon Mumbai, Maharashtra India 20 January 2013 Marathon, Half-Marathon, Dream Run(6 km), Senior Citizens Race (4.3 km), Champions with Disability category (2.4 km) 40,000[citation needed]
40 Deejay Ten Milano Italy 14 October 2018 10 km, 5 km 40,000[46]
41 Jerusalem Marathon Jerusalem Israel 15 March 2019 Marathon 40,000[47]
42 Broad Street Run Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States 5 May 2013 10 miles 38,144[48]
43 Chicago Marathon Chicago, Illinois United States 7 October 2012 Marathon 37,455[49]
44 Boston Marathon Boston, Massachusetts United States 15 April 1996 Marathon 35,868[50]
45 Berlin Marathon Berlin, Germany 16 September 2018 Marathon 44,000[51]
46 Baloise Antwerp 10 miles Antwerp Belgium 23 April 2023 10 miles 37,500[52]
47 20 km of Brussels Brussels Belgium 28 May 2023 20 km 36,692[53]
48 Sydney Running Festival Sydney Australia 18 September 2011 Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10 km, 3.5 km 35,033[54]
49 OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Indianapolis, Indiana United States 4 May 2008 Half-Marathon 35,000[55]
50 Great Ethiopia Run Addis Ababa Ethiopia November 2010 10k 35,000[56]
51 Athens Classic Marathon Athens, Attica Greece 9 November 2014 Marathon, 10k, 5k 35,000[57]
52 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle Chicago, Illinois United States March 25, 2012 8k 34,369[58]
53 Bridge to Brisbane Brisbane Australia 11 September 2011 10 km, 5 km 42,546, 34,146[59]
54 HBF Run for a Reason Perth, Western Australia, Australia Australia 22 May 2016 4 km, 12 km and 21 km 33,744[60]
55 Cooper River Bridge Run Charleston, South Carolina United States 27 March 2010 10 km 33,000[61]
56 Grand Prix von Bern Bern Switzerland 10 May 2014 10 miles, 4.7 km, 1.6 km 32,116[62]
57 Philadelphia Marathon Philadelphia, Pennsylvania United States 17 November 2013 Marathon, Half-Marathon, 8K 31,471[63]
58 Zevenheuvelenloop Nijmegen Netherlands 16 November 2014 15 km, 7 km 31,307[64]
59 Run to Feed the Hungry Sacramento, California United States 23 November 2023 5 km, 10 km 31,285[65]
60 Amsterdam Marathon Amsterdam Netherlands 19 October 2014 Marathon, Half-Marathon, 8K 31,197[66]
61 Tokyo International Marathon Tokyo Japan 28 February 2010 Marathon 30,170[67]
62 Saint Silvester Road Race São Paulo Brazil 31 December 2018 15 km 30,000[68][69]
63 City-Bay Adelaide Australia 18 September 2011 12 km, 6 km 29,715[70]
64 JPMorgan Corporate Challenge Chicago United States 23 May 2019 5.6 km 28,418[citation needed]
65 Pat's Run Tempe, Arizona United States 18 April 2020 4.2 Miles 28,000[71]
66 Honolulu Marathon Honolulu, Hawaii United States 8 December 2002 Marathon 26,382[72]
67 CPC Loop Den Haag The Hague Netherlands 8 March 2015 Half-Marathon, 10K, 5k 25,425[73]
68 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast Australia 2 July 2017 Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10k, 5.7k, 4k, 2k 24,909[74]
69 Great South Run Portsmouth, United Kingdom 30 October 2011 10 miles 24,000[75]
70 Marine Corps Marathon Washington, D.C. United States 28 October 2012 Marathon 23,519[76]
71 La Parisienne Paris France 9 September 2012 6.5 km 23,510[77]
72 Rotterdam Marathon Rotterdam, Netherlands 12 April 2015 Marathon, 1/4 Marathon 23,403[78]
73 Los Angeles Marathon Los Angeles, California United States 8 March 2020 Marathon 28,300[67]
74 Clean Thagadur Marathon-5K Dharmapuri, Tamilnadu India 6 January 2019 5K 21,222[79]
75 Seoul International Marathon Seoul South Korea 13 March 2005 Marathon 21,067[80]
76 Naha Marathon Naha Japan 6 December 2009 Marathon 20,860[76]
77 New York City Half Marathon New York City, New York United States 16 March 2014 Half Marathon 20,828[81]
78 Cardiff Half Marathon Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom 6 October 2019 Half Marathon 20,309[82]
79 Bix 7 Davenport, Iowa United States 21 June 1999 7 miles 20,117[83]
80 Comrades Marathon KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa 16 June 2000 87.6 km 20,047[84]
  1. ^ bold indicates number of race registrants; not-bold indicates number of race finishers
  2. ^ Participants include 14,291 in the half marathon and 29,895 in the 10 km.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ World's Largest Races, Road Running Information Center, Running USA Official Site. Retrieved 2008-08-28 Archived May 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b "History | Bay to Breakers 12k San Francisco | Capstone Races". capstoneraces.com. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. ^ a b http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/10/11/10/pinoys-set-world-record-pasig-run Pinoys Set World Record Pasig Run
  4. ^ a b c Guinness World Record - Most participants in a racing event, retrieved 21 May 2012
  5. ^ https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/732196-largest-running-race-series [bare URL]
  6. ^ wingsforlifeworldrun.com
  7. ^ "Trail Running | live for the outdoors".
  8. ^ "parkrun Attendance and Milestone Stats for 11 January 2020 and 12 January 2020". elliottline.com. 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  9. ^ "Edición del Monday 6 June 1994, Página 42 - Hemeroteca - MundoDeportivo.com". Hemeroteca.elmundodeportivo.es. 1994-06-06. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  10. ^ "Danmark malet i Royal Run-blå". www.royalrun.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2022-06-06.
  11. ^ "Broloppet Half-Marathon: World's Largest First-Time Race 96,000 entrants; 80,000 starters". www.ontherunevents.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011.
  12. ^ "2011 Sun Herald City2Surf // Summary // Tiktok results". Archived from the original on October 2, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Fourth edition of Kalaignar Memorial International Marathon sets world record for largest running race series".
  14. ^ "Karunanidhi Memorial Int'l Marathon in Guinness world record list as 'largest running race series'".
  15. ^ "Race Information". Archived from the original on 2015-01-19. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  16. ^ "More than 70,000 run in Auckland Round the Bays - National News | TVNZ". Archived from the original on 2013-03-11.
  17. ^ "Bloomsday - Results History". Archived from the original on 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  18. ^ "Uncovering the Truth: A Guide to Debunking Hoaxes". Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Vancouver Sun Run | canada.com". Archived from the original on 2006-04-07. Retrieved 2006-04-06.
  20. ^ a b http://www.runningUnitedStates.org/statistics/largest [permanent dead link]
  21. ^ https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/wgE2gG/folkefest-i-oslo-etter-verdens-stoerste-loep-oelen-etterpaa-er-best Archived 2024-05-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 2024-05-07.
  22. ^ Göteborgsvarvet Official Site, English version. Retrieved 2012-05-12
  23. ^ 2012 Race ResultsRetrieved 2015-04-10
  24. ^ "Panipat Pinkathon' enters record book". The Tribune.
  25. ^ "Highest Women Participation in a Marathon". World Records India.
  26. ^ BBC NEWS. 'Retrieved 2009-09-21'
  27. ^ Bernarde, Scott, "Atlanta race to relinquish title of world's largest 10K?", The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 29 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-28
  28. ^ "Record d'inscriptions et forte affluence pour la Course de l'Escalade à Genève". RTS. 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
  29. ^ "Holy Smokes! New York City Marathon Was a Record-Breaker". Runnersworld. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  30. ^ "Kenyan wins his third City to Surf". 26 August 2013.
  31. ^ "2022 TCS London Marathon stats". Archived from the original on 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  32. ^ http://www.colombiasports.net/sin-categoria/un-exito-carrera-del-dia-olimpico-en-medellin Archived 2016-01-25 at the Wayback Machine, | Carrera día olimpico, 24 June 2013.
  33. ^ "Más de 50 mil personas apoyaron a Medellín 2018 en el Día Olímpico - …". Archived from the original on 2013-07-17.
  34. ^ @BugandaOfficial (May 15, 2019). "#KabakaRun2019: Obwakabaka bwanjudde ebyava mu misinde gy'amazaalibwa ga Kabaka. Abaddusi abasoba mu mitwalo 50,000 bebetabamu. Obukadde 494,200,000 zezavaamu" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  35. ^ @KabakaBdayRun (May 15, 2019). "Post from a suspended account" (Tweet) – via Twitter. [dead link]
  36. ^ "Active Results".
  37. ^ Sist oppdatert. "Grete Waitz-løpet – Store norske leksikon". Snl.no. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  38. ^ "Race Weekend Facts and Figures". 28 May 2023.
  39. ^ http://www.mediamaratonbogota.com/ENG/conoce/Estadisticas.htm Archived 2010-09-06 at the Wayback Machine. MMB. Retrieved on 2010-07-25.
  40. ^ http://www.lidingoloppet.se . MMB. Retrieved on 2011-09-25.
  41. ^ "Past Results & Entry History - Sports Backers". Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
  42. ^ http://www.news.at/a/vienna-city-marathon-2015-wien-vorschau%7Cdate=April 2015
  43. ^ "San Silvestre Vallecana 2018 Internacional". 31 December 2018.
  44. ^ "Great Run Event Results".
  45. ^ "About Us". Vhi Womens Mini Marathon. Archived from the original on 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  46. ^ "Milano: Una palestra a cielo aperto. I parchi migliori dove correre". 22 July 2016.
  47. ^ "Kenyan runners win men, women's races at record-breaking Jerusalem Marathon". The Times of Israel.
  48. ^ "Blue Cross Broad Street Run | Philadelphia, PA | 10 Mile Race".
  49. ^ Press release Chicago Marathon 7 October 2012 Archived 2013-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
  50. ^ World's Largest Marathons Archived 2013-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. Retrieved 2008-08-28
  51. ^ "Das Programmheft zum BMW BERLIN-MARATHON ist online". 7 August 2019. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  52. ^ NWS, VRT (2023-04-24). "Succeseditie Antwerp 10 Miles: "Veel lachende gezichten achteraf en dankzij het weer weinig medische interventies"". vrtnws.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  53. ^ Hugé, Thibaut (2023-05-29). "36692 participants ont fini les 20 Km de Bruxelles 2023: une édition record boostée par la présence des marcheurs". lavenir.net (in French). Retrieved 2023-05-29.
  54. ^ "2011 Blackmores Sydney Running Festival // Summary // Tiktok results". Archived from the original on September 23, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  55. ^ History of Event Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine, 500 Festival Official Site. Retrieved 2008-08-28
  56. ^ Great Ethiopian RunRetrieved 2013-02-19
  57. ^ Retrieved 2014-11-07
  58. ^ "Active Results".
  59. ^ "2011 Bridge to Brisbane // Summary :: Tiktok results". Archived from the original on 2012-07-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  60. ^ "Fun run raises $1.14m for WA charities". 23 May 2016.
  61. ^ "Cooper River Bridge Run | Cooper River Bridge Run Site". Bridgerun.com. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  62. ^ "HOME | GP Bern". Archived from the original on 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2014-05-11.
  63. ^ "Race Results". live.xacte.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  64. ^ "UItslagen".
  65. ^ Clift, Theresa (November 23, 2023). "Sacramento's Run to Feed the Hungry sees record turnout, raising more than $1 million". www.sacbee.com. Retrieved 2023-12-23.
  66. ^ "Results 2014 | TCS Amsterdam MarathonTCS Amsterdam Marathon". Archived from the original on 2015-04-11. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  67. ^ a b "ML_Fin2010".
  68. ^ "Corrida de São Silvestre vai reunir 30 mil participantes em São Paulo" [Saint Silvester road race will gather 30,000 participants in Sao Paulo]. istoe.com.br (in Portuguese). Istoé. 27 December 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  69. ^ "Corrida de São Silvestre reunirá 30 mil participantes em São Paulo" [Saint Silvester road race will gather 30,000 participants in Sao Paulo]. gazetaweb.com (in Portuguese). 27 December 2018. Archived from the original on 27 December 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  70. ^ "Behobia - San Sebastian: Clasificación". clasificacion.behobia-sansebastian.com. Retrieved 2016-07-18.
  71. ^ "Pat's Run sold out for second time ever. 28,000 people gathered to honor late football and Army hero". Fox 10 Phoenix. 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  72. ^ "ML_Fin2002".
  73. ^ "Uitslagen 2015 | NN CPC Loop den Haag". Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  74. ^ "2017 Gold Coast Airport Marathon // Tiktok results". Archived from the original on September 23, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  75. ^ "BBC News - Great South Run: £3m raised at Portsmouth event". bbc.co.uk. 30 October 2011. Retrieved 12 October 2012.
  76. ^ a b http://resultsarchive.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=136498 [dead link]
  77. ^ "Les classements".
  78. ^ "Uitslagen | NN Marathon Rotterdam". Archived from the original on 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  79. ^ "Chudar Welfare Foundations". www.chudar.co.in. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  80. ^ "ML_Fin2005".
  81. ^ http://web2.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/htmlos.cgi/64233.1.571603797830577163 [dead link]
  82. ^ "TDL Event Services". www.tdleventservices.co.uk. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  83. ^ "Bix 7 year-by-year history". January 2016.
  84. ^ "untitled". www.arrs.run. Retrieved 6 May 2023.