Although more and more people now see running a marathon as something of a personal challenge, they don’t always do it with the idea of crossing the finishing line in first position, it’s more about promoting a healthy lifestyle and developing new positive habits. So why not combine this challenge with another personal goal, travelling around the world. Running in one or more of the world’s most famous marathons is an excellent excuse for some healthy exercise, and you also get to discover new places.
You only need to imagine the pleasure of pushing your body to the limit as you run through a new city, defying your muscles and your mind. The most famous marathons attract athletes from all over the world, making each one a multicultural event. These are the 5 most famous marathons in the world.
1.- Athens Classic Marathon, The Authentic, Greece
The marathon course is based on the legend from which the race takes its name: In ancient Greece, Philippides, the Greek messenger, is said to have run the 42.195km from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek’s victory over the Persians. The distance between the two cities was approximately 42km. Because of the legend and the importance of the sport for the ancient Greeks, the first race on this list has to be the Greek Marathon. The race is held in early November and attracts up to 50,000 runners.
- Niagara Falls Marathon, Canada
Those taking part in this race can enjoy the spectacular views and visit more than one country. The race starts at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York and finishes in Canada at the Horseshoe Falls, which at more than 50m in height is the largest of the three waterfalls that make up the Niagra Falls. The route takes in the historic parkways of Buffalo, Fort Erie and the Peace Bridge, and is an excellent option for nature lovers and runners who wish to participate in the race and also visit different places. The race takes place in October with about 12,000 runners competing.
- The Marathon du Médoc, France
This running event combines wine, sport, fun and health. French wine and delicious sandwiches are available at each water stop during the race, but be careful, it’s easy to fall into the trap of staying put at one of the stops and never finishing the race. The race is known for its festive atmosphere, and a large part of the runners go in fancy dress as they run through the beautiful French vineyards. The race takes place in September and attracts about 10,000 runners.
- Boston Marathon, United States
Also known as “the marathon runners’ marathon”, this is is the world’s oldest annual marathon that dates back to 1897 and has lived through important historical events like the two world wars and the Cold War. It’s also one of the most famous races in the world, starting from humble beginnings with just 15 runners, it now has thousands lining up to compete each year. The race is always held on “Patriots Day”, the third Monday of April each year, and is one of the six annual races that make up the World Marathon Majors, an international championship-style competition of the world’s leading races.
- Great Wall Marathon, China
This is one of the most challenging marathons. It must be something else to run 42km on one of the wonders of the modern world while enjoying the breathtaking views. The course traverses through Simatai and Jinshanling, two of the most picturesque parts of the Great Wall of China, and has 20,000 steps and different types of terrain throughout the route. The race is held in May with close to 2500 runners competing.
What better motivation to continue training so you can reach the goal of running 42km in one of these fantastic tourist destinations.
