The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42. Running is a means for an animal to move on Foot. It is defined in Sporting terms as a Gait in which at some point all feet are off the ground 195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) that is usually run as a road race. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States A yard (abbreviation yd) is a unit of Length in several different systems including English units Imperial units and United The event is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. Pheidippides (el Φειδιππίδης sometimes given as Phidippides or Philippides) hero of Ancient Greece, is the central figure in a story which The Battle of Marathon ( Greek: Μάχη τοῡ Μαραθῶνος Machē tou Marathōnos) during the Greco-Persian Wars took place in 490 Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's It was one of the original Olympic events in 1896, though the distance did not become standardized until 1921. More than 800 marathons are contested throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes. The larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.

Contents 1 History 2 Modern Olympics marathon 3 Distance 4 Marathon races 5 World records and world's best 5.1 World all times list (men) 5.2 World all times list (women) 5.3 Other notable marathon runners 6 Running a marathon 6.1 General 6.2 Training 6.3 Before the race 6.4 During the race 6.4.1 Water consumption dangers 6.4.2 Glycogen and "the wall" 6.5 After a marathon 6.6 Etiquette 7 Cardiac risks 8 Multiple marathons 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

History

The name marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία The legend states that he was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. Marathon ( Demotic Greek: Μαραθώνας Marathónas; Attic / Katharevousa:, Marathṓn) is an ancient Greek city-state layout and formatting it should ensure no clashes with the top of the infobox ^[1] It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the Senate, exclaiming "Νενικήκαμεν" (Nenikékamen, 'We have won') before collapsing and dying of a heart attack. Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply ^[2] The account of the run from Marathon to Athens first appears in Plutarch's On the Glory of Athens in the 1st century AD who quotes from Heraclides Ponticus's lost work, giving the runner's name as either Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles. Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus ( Greek: Μέστριος Πλούταρχος c "Heraclides" redirects here The former Butterfly Genus of the same name is now included in Papilio. ^[3] Lucian of Samosata (2nd century AD) also gives the story but names the runner Philippides (not Pheidippides). Lucian of Samosata (Λουκιανός ὁ Σαμοσατεύς Lucianus c ^[4]

There is debate about the historical accuracy of this legend. ^[5][6] The Greek historian Herodotus, the main source for the Greco-Persian Wars, mentions Pheidippides as the messenger who ran from Athens to Sparta asking for help, and then ran back, a distance of over 240 kilometres^[7] each way. Herodotus of Halicarnassus ( Greek: Hēródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek Historian who lived in the 5th century BC ( 484 BC&ndash Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's The city of Sparta ( Doric Σπάρτα Attic Σπάρτη ^[8] In some Herodotus manuscripts the name of the runner between Athens and Sparta is given as Philippides. Herodotus makes no mention of a messenger sent from Marathon to Athens, and relates that the main part of the Athenian army, having already fought and won the grueling battle, and fearing a naval raid by the Persian fleet against an undefended Athens, marched quickly back from the battle to Athens, arriving the same day.

In 1876, Robert Browning wrote the poem "Pheidippides". Robert Browning (7 May 1812 - 12 December 1889 was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of Dramatic verse, especially Dramatic monologues made him one of Browning's poem, his composite story, became part of late 19th century popular culture and was accepted as a historic legend.

Modern Olympics marathon

When the idea of a modern Olympics became a reality at the end of the 19th century, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the ancient glory of Greece. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games The idea of organizing a marathon race came from Michel Bréal, who wanted the event to feature in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. Michel Jules Alfred Bréal ( March 26, 1832 - 1915 French Philologist, was born at Landau in Rhenish Bavaria, of French-Jewish The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, were an International This idea was heavily supported by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, as well as the Greeks. Pierre de Frédy Baron de Coubertin (1 January 1863 &ndash 2 September 1937 was a French Pedagogue and historian who is best known as the founder of the The Greeks staged a selection race for the Olympic marathon, and this first marathon was won by Charilaos Vasilakos in 3 hours and 18 minutes (with the future winner of the introductory Olympic Games marathon coming in fifth). Kharilaos Vasilakos (Χαρίλαος Βασιλάκος 1877 - 1969) was a Greek athlete, and the first man to win a Marathon The winner of the first Olympic Marathon in 1896 (a male only race) was Spiridon "Spiros" Louis, a Greek water-carrier. He won at the Olympics in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds, despite stopping on the way for a glass of wine from his uncle waiting near the village of Chalandri. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Chalandri ( Greek, Modern Χαλάνδρι Ancient/ Katharevousa: Χαλάνδριον older form Chalandrion and in Ancient Greek Flya

The women's marathon was introduced at the 1984 Summer Olympics (Los Angeles, USA) and was won by Joan Benoit of the United States with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 52 seconds. The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Joan Benoit Samuelson (born May 16, 1957) is an American marathon runner who won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles ^[9]

Since the modern games were founded, it has become a tradition for the men's Olympic marathon to be the last event of the athletics calendar, with a finish inside the Olympic stadium, often within hours of, or even incorporated into, the closing ceremonies. The marathon of the 2004 Summer Olympics revived the long-established route from Marathon to Athens ending at Panathinaiko Stadium, the venue for the 1896 Summer Olympics. The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was an International Multi-sport event which was celebrated Marathon ( Demotic Greek: Μαραθώνας Marathónas; Attic / Katharevousa:, Marathṓn) is an ancient Greek city-state Athens (ˈæθənz Αθήνα Athina,) the Capital and largest city of Greece, dominates the Attica periphery as one of the world's The Panathinaiko ( Panathenaic) Stadium (also known as the Kallimarmaron, i The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, were an International

Distance

Year	Distance (kilometres)	Distance (miles)
1896	40	24. 85
1900	40. 26	25. 02
1904	40	24. 85
1906	41. 86	26. 01
1908	42. 195	26. 22
1912	40. 2	24. 98
1920	42. 75	26. 56
1924 onward	42. 195	26. 22

The length of a marathon was not fixed at first, since the only important factor was that all athletes competed on the same course. The marathon races in the first few Olympic Games were not of a set length, but were approximately 40 km,^[10] roughly the distance from Marathon to Athens by the longer, flatter route. The exact length of the Olympic marathon varied depending on the route established for each venue.

The marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London was set to measure about 25 miles (40 km) and to start on ‘The Long Walk’ – a magnificent avenue leading up to Windsor Castle in the grounds of Windsor Great Park. The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Windsor Castle, in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, is the largest inhabited Castle in the world and dating back to the time of Windsor Great Park (locally referred to simply as the Great Park) is a large Deer Park of 5000 acres to the south of the town of Windsor The Princess of Wales wanted her children to watch the start of the race, so the start of the race was moved to the east lawn of Windsor Castle, increasing its length to 26 miles (42 km). Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes 26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953 was the queen-empress consort of George V of the United Kingdom ^[10] The race was to finish at the Great White City Stadium in Shepherd's Bush in London; however, Queen Alexandra insisted on having the best view of the finish; so, in the words of the official Olympic report, "385 yards were run on the cinder track to the finish, below the Royal Box". White City Stadium (originally The Great Stadium) was built in White City, London, for the 1908 Summer Olympics. Shepherd's Bush (also Shepherds Bush) is a district of West London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, situated 4 Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Carolina Marie Charlotte Louise Julia 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925 was Queen Consort to Edward VII of the United Kingdom ^[10] The length then became 42. 195 km (26 miles 385 yards or 26 ⁷⁄₃₂ miles).

For the next Olympics in 1912, the length was changed to 40. 2 km (24. 98 miles) and changed again to 42. 75 km (26. 56 miles) for the 1920 Olympics until it was fixed at the 1908 distance for the 1924 Olympics. In fact, of the first seven Olympic Games, there were six different marathon distances between 40 km and 42. The Olympic Games is an international Multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games 75 km (40 km being used twice).

Following the 1908 Olympics in London, an annual event called the Polytechnic Marathon had been instituted over the 1908 distance of 26 miles 385 yards (42. The Polytechnic Marathon was a Marathon distance foot race that took place in England between 1909 and 1996 commonly referred to as simply the Poly 195 km), and it was largely due to the prestige of the Polytechnic Marathon that 42. 195 km was adopted as the official marathon distance in 1921 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) - Rule 240 of their Competition Rules. The International Association of Athletics Federations ( IAAF) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. [1]. The difference between 42. 195 km and 26 miles 385 yards is 1. 2 centimetres. The difference between the standard distance and the rounded figure frequently employed (as in the table), 26. 22 miles, is a little over two metres.

Marathon races

See also: List of marathon races

Annually, more than 800 marathons are organized worldwide. This is a worldwide list of marathon runs sorted alphabetically Some of these belong to the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) which has grown since its foundation in 1982 to embrace 238 member events in 82 countries and territories. Five of the largest and most prestigious races, Boston, New York City, Chicago, London, and Berlin, form the biannual World Marathon Majors series, awarding $500,000 annually to the best overall male and female performers in the series. The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon sporting event hosted by the city of Boston, Massachusetts The New York City Marathon ( ING New York City Marathon for Sponsorship reasons is a major annual marathon (42 The Bank of America 's Chicago Marathon (formerly the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon) is a major Marathon held yearly in Chicago The London Marathon is a popular road marathon that has been held each year in London since 1981 usually in April The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The World Marathon Majors is a championship-style competition that started in 2006 Other notable large marathons include Marine Corps Marathon, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Rome and Paris. The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM affectionately known as "The People's Marathon," is run in Arlington Virginia, and Washington D The Honolulu Marathon is the world's sixth largest marathon. It takes place annually in Honolulu, Hawaii on the second Sunday in December The Los Angeles Marathon is an annual Marathon held in Los Angeles California since 1986 The Rome City Marathon is an annual marathon sporting event hosted by the city of Rome, Italy on a Sunday of March The Paris Marathon is an annual marathon which takes place from the Champs-Élysées heading towards the Place de la Concorde and continuing One of the more unusual marathons is the Midnight Sun Marathon held in Tromsø, Norway at 70 degrees North. A Midnight Sun Marathon is a marathon run at night in some cities above the Arctic Circle during the period with Midnight sun, taking place annually around Using unofficial and temporary courses, measured by GPS, races of marathon distance are now held at the North Pole, in Antarctica and over desert terrain. Among other unusual marathons can be mentioned: The Great Wall of China Marathon on The Great Wall of China, The Big Five Marathon among the safari wildlife of South Africa, The Great Tibetan Marathon - a marathon in an atmosphere of Tibetan Buddhism at an altitude of 3500 meters, and The Polar circle marathon on the permanent ice cap of Greenland in -15 degrees Celsius/+5 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures. The Great Wall Marathon is an annual Marathon race held in May along and on the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China ( or ( is a series of stone and earthen Fortifications in China, built rebuilt and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th The Big Five Marathon is a Marathon race situated on the savannahs of South Africa. The annually recurring Great Tibetan Marathon is a so-called Adventure marathon. Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including The Polar Circle Marathon is a classical 42195 km Marathon, which however has the very untraditional feature that it is situated on 66 degrees northern latitude - also known Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the The Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon is the only marathon where participants run over two continents, Europe and Asia, during the course of a single event. The Istanbul Marathon (full name Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon Turkish İstanbul Avrasya Maratonu) is an international athletics The historic Polytechnic Marathon which gave the world the standard distance of 26 miles 385 yards (42. The Polytechnic Marathon was a Marathon distance foot race that took place in England between 1909 and 1996 commonly referred to as simply the Poly 195 km) finally died out in 1996.

Marathon races usually use the starting format called mass start, though larger races may use a wave start, where different genders or abilities may begin at different times. Mass start is a format of starting in some events in Athletics (track and field, such as a Marathon race or a long-distance Cross country skiing competition

World records and world's best

World records were not officially recognized by the IAAF until January 1, 2004; previously, the best times for the marathon were referred to as the 'world best'. A world record is the best performance in a certain discipline usually a Sports event The International Association of Athletics Federations ( IAAF) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Courses must conform to IAAF standards for a record to be recognized. The International Association of Athletics Federations ( IAAF) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics. However, marathon routes still vary greatly in elevation, course, and surface, making exact comparisons impossible. Typically, the fastest times are set over relatively flat courses near sea level, during good weather conditions and with the assistance of pacesetters. A pacemaker (sometimes colloquially called a rabbit) is a runner who leads a middle- or Long distance running event for the first section to ensure a fast

The world record time for men over the distance is 2 hours 4 minutes and 26 seconds, set in the Berlin Marathon by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia on September 30, 2007, an improvement of 21 minutes and 13 seconds since 1947 (Marathon world best progression). The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. Haile Gebrselassie ( Ge'ez: ኃይሌ ገብረ ሥላሴ haylē gebre silassē; born April 18 1973 is an Ethiopian long distance track NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. This is a list of progressive record times for the marathon. The actual distance for the pre-1925 races varied slightly from the present figure of 42 The men's world record represents an average pace of under 2:57 per kilometer (4:45 per mile). ^[11] The world record for women was set by Paula Radcliffe of United Kingdom in the London Marathon on April 13, 2003, in 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds. Paula Jane Radcliffe MBE (born on 17 December, 1973 in Davenham, Cheshire, England) is a British See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The London Marathon is a popular road marathon that has been held each year in London since 1981 usually in April Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. This time was set using male pacesetters; the fastest time by a woman without using a male pacesetter ("woman-only") was also set by Paula Radcliffe, again during the London Marathon, with a time of 2 hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds, on April 17, 2005. A pacemaker (sometimes colloquially called a rabbit) is a runner who leads a middle- or Long distance running event for the first section to ensure a fast Events 69 - After the First Battle of Bedriacum, Vitellius becomes Roman Emperor. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[12]

World all times list (men)

Time	Athlete	Country	Date	Place
2h04:26	Haile Gebrselassie	Ethiopia	30 September 2007	Berlin
2h04:55	Paul Tergat	Kenya	28 September 2003	Berlin
2h04:56	Sammy Korir	Kenya	28 September 2003	Berlin
2h05:15	Martin Lel	Kenya	13 April 2008	London
2h05:24	Samuel Wanjiru	Kenya	13 April 2008	London
2h05:30	Abderrahim Goumri	Morocco	13 April 2008	London
2h05:38	Khalid Khannouchi	United States	14 April 2002	London
2h05:49	William Kipsang	Kenya	13 April 2008	Rotterdam
2h05:50	Evans Rutto	Kenya	12 October 2003	Chicago
2h06:05	Ronaldo da Costa	Brazil	20 September 1998	Berlin

World all times list (women)

Time	Athlete	Country	Date	Place
2h15:25	Paula Radcliffe	United Kingdom	13 April 2003	London
2h18:47	Catherine Ndereba	Kenya	7 October 2001	Chicago
2h19:12	Mizuki Noguchi	Japan	25 September 2005	Berlin
2h19:36	Deena Kastor	United States	23 April 2006	London
2h19:39	Sun Yingjie	China	19 October 2003	Beijing
2h19:41	Yoko Shibui	Japan	26 September 2004	Berlin
2h19:46	Naoko Takahashi	Japan	30 September 2001	Berlín
2h19:51	Zhou Chunxiu	China	12 March 2006	Seoul
2h20:42	Berhane Adere	Ethiopia	22 October 2006	Chicago

Other notable marathon runners

This is a list of elite athletes notable for their performance in marathoning. Haile Gebrselassie ( Ge'ez: ኃይሌ ገብረ ሥላሴ haylē gebre silassē; born April 18 1973 is an Ethiopian long distance track NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Paul Kibii Tergat (born June 17, 1969) is a Kenyan professional athlete. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Sammy Korir (born December 12, 1971) is a Long-distance runner from Kenya, who raced into the history books as only the second man The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Events 48 BC - Pompey the Great is assassinated on orders of King Ptolemy of Egypt after landing in Egypt. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Martin Lel (born October 29, 1978 in Kapsabet) is a Kenyan long distance and marathon runner The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Samuel Kamau Wanjiru (born November 10 1986 in Nyahururu) is a Kenyan long distance runner who won the 2008 Beijing Olympic men's Marathon The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Abderrahim Goumri (born May 21 1976) is a Moroccan long distance runner Morocco (المغرب "al-Maghrib" officially the Kingdom of Morocco (المملكة المغربية is a country located in North Africa Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Khalid Yusuf Abdurahman Khannouchi (خالد خةإﳳﮎﳴﯽپﹺﹹﮑ خنّوشي (born December 22, 1971 in Meknes, Morocco) is an The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. William Kipsang (born 26 June[[ 977]] is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the Marathon. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Rotterdam (pronounced) is the 2nd-largest City by population in the Netherlands, located in the province of Evans Rutto (born April 8 1978 in Marakwet District) is a Kenyan athlete who won the 2003 Chicago Marathon with debutant world record The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Ronaldo da Costa (born June 7, 1970 in Descoberto, Brazil) broke the ten-year-old marathon World record in 1998 in |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Paula Jane Radcliffe MBE (born on 17 December, 1973 in Davenham, Cheshire, England) is a British The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Events 1111 - Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. 1204 - The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Catherine Ndereba (born July 21, 1972) is a world class Kenyan marathon runner. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Mizuki Noguchi ( Japanese: 野口みずき, born July 3, 1978) is a long-distance athlete ( Track and field) from For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Deena Michelle Kastor (born Deena Michelle Drossin on February 14, 1973 in Waltham Massachusetts) is an American long distance The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Sun Yingjie ( born January 19, 1979 in Liaoning) is a famous Chinese female long-distance runner who competes from 5000 metres China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Events 202 BCE - The Battle of Zama results in the defeat of Carthage and Hannibal. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Yoko Shibui (born March 14, 1979 in Kuroiso, now Nasushiobara Tochigi) is a Long-distance runner from Japan, who is competing For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. is a Japanese long-distance runner competing mainly in the marathon. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Berlín is a Municipality in the Usulután department of El Salvador. Zhou Chunxiu ( born November 15, 1978 in Jiangsu) is a Chinese marathon runner. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Seoul ( soʊl is the Capital and largest City of South Korea. Berhane Adere ( Ge'ez:ብርሀኔ አደሬ born July 21, 1973 in Shewa) is an athlete from Ethiopia. NOTE This intro is the result of careful NPOV work Please do not make potentially controversial edits to it without first discussing on the talk page Events 202 BC - Hannibal Barca, leader of the Carthaginians, is defeated by the Roman legions under Scipio Africanus Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. For a list of people notable in other fields who have also run marathons, see list of marathoners. This is a list of notable people who have completed a marathon.

Men

Gezahegne Abera Abel Antón Stefano Baldini Arturo Barrios Dick Beardsley Abebe Bikila Amby Burfoot Bob Busquaert Dionicio Cerón Robert Cheruiyot Waldemar Cierpinski Derek Clayton Robert de Castella Martín Fiz Bruce Fordyce Jaouad Gharib Rodolfo Gómez Ryan Hall Hal Higdon Juma Ikangaa Steve Jones Meb Keflezighi Hannes Kolehmainen

Tom Longboat Carlos Lopes Spiridon Louis Greg Meyer Alain Mimoun Gerard Nijboer Benjamín Paredes Jim Peters Martín Pitayo Julio Rey Bill Rodgers Alberto Salazar Toshihiko Seko Frank Shorter Germán Silva Fauja Singh Sohn Kee-Chung Albin Stenroos Ed Whitlock Geri Winkler Mamo Wolde Dimitrion Yordanidis Emil Zátopek

Women

Elfenesh Alemu Carla Beurskens Katrin Dörre-Heinig Adriana Fernández Lidiya Grigoryeva Helena Javornik Olivera Jevtić Lornah Kiplagat Renata Kokowska

Ingrid Kristiansen Catherina McKiernan Rosa Mota Uta Pippig Fatuma Roba Joan Benoit Samuelson Kathrine Switzer Grete Waitz Getenesh Wami

Running a marathon

General

Most participants do not run a marathon to win. Gezahegne Abera (born April 23, 1978) is an Ethiopian athlete, winner of the marathon race at the 2000 Summer Olympics Abel Antón Rodrigo (born October 24, 1962 in Ojuel, Soria) is a Spanish long-distance runner who won gold medals in the marathon Stefano Baldini (born May 25, 1971 in Castelnovo di Sotto, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) is an Italian athlete Arturo Barrios Flores (born December 12, 1962 in Ciudad de México, Distrito Federal) is a Mexican long-distance runner Dick Beardsley (born March 21, 1956 in Minneapolis Minnesota) is an American Long-distance runner. Abebe Bikila ( August 7, 1932 &ndash October 25, 1973) was a two-time Olympic marathon champion from Ethiopia. Ambrose (Amby Joel Burfoot (born August 19, 1946) is an American marathoner whose peak competitive years came in the late 1960s and early 1970s Bob Busquaert is a member of the Hanson's Olympic Distance Project Dionicio Cerón Pizarro (born October 9, 1965 in Toluca) is a former Marathon runner from Mexico, whose personal best Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot (born September 26, 1978 in Kapsabet, Kenya) is a Kenyan Marathon runner and is the current Waldemar Cierpinski (born August 3, 1950) is a former East German athlete and two time Olympic Champion in the marathon. Derek Clayton (born 17 November 1942) was an Australian Long-distance runner, born in Lancashire, England and Robert Francois de Castella MBE (born February 27, 1957 in Melbourne Victoria) was a world champion marathon runner Martín Fiz Martín (born March 3, 1963 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Álava) is a former long-distance runner from Spain, who won the Bruce Fordyce (born December 3 1955 Hong Kong is a South African marathon and Ultramarathon athlete Jaouad Gharib (جواد غريب (born May 22, 1972) is a Moroccan long-distance athlete competing mainly in the marathon. Rodolfo Gómez Orozco (born October 30, 1950 in Mexico City) is a retired Long-distance runner, who was one of the leading runners Ryan Hall (born October 14, 1982 in) is an American long distance runner. Hal Higdon is an American writer and runner He has contributed to Runner's World magazine longer than any other writer Juma Ikangaa (born July 19, 1957) is a world-class marathon runner from Tanzania, a sentimental favorite in Boston after finishing Stephen ("Steve" Henry Jones (born August 4, 1955) is a Welsh athlete and former world marathon record Mebrahtom ("Meb" Keflezighi ( Ge'ez: መብራህቶም ክፍልእዝጊ mebrāhtōm kifl'igzī, Tigrinya "their lamp part of the Juho Pietari "Hannes" Kolehmainen ( ( 9 December 1889 &ndash 11 January 1966) was a Finnish long-distance Cogwagee (Thomas Longboat ( June 4, 1887 &ndash January 9, 1949) was an Onondaga distance runner from the Carlos Alberto de Sousa Lopes, GCIH, pron 'kaɾluʃ 'lɔpɨʃ (born February 18 Greg Meyer (born September 18, 1955) is best known for his accomplishments in Distance running. Alain ("Ali" Mimoun (born January 1 1921 is a French Olympic marathon champion Gerard Nijboer (born 18 August, 1955 in Hasselt) was a Dutch athlete who competed mainly in the Marathon Benjamín Vencar Paredes Martínez (born April 30, 1962 in Ecatepec de Morelos, Estado de México) is a retired Mexican long-distance James ("Jim" Henry Peters (born October 24, 1918 in London &ndash died January 9, 1999 in Thorpe Bay) was a Martín Pitayo Martínez (born 1960-01-10) is a retired Long-distance runner from Mexico, who won the gold medal at the 1991 Pan American Julio Rey (born 13 January 1972 in Toledo Spain) is a Spanish long-distance runner who mostly concentrates on the Marathon race William ("Bill" Henry Rodgers (born December 23, 1947) is an American runner and former American record holder in the marathon Alberto Salazar (born August 7 1958 in Cuba) is an American marathon runner of the 1980s Toshihiko Seko (瀬古利彦 Seko Toshihiko born July 15, 1956 in Kuwana Mie) is a Japanese long-distance runner a world-class marathon Frank Shorter (born October 31, 1947) is an American distance runner and winner of the marathon race at the 1972 Summer Olympics Germán Silva Martínez (born 9 January 1968 in Zacatlán, Puebla) is a retired Mexican long-distance runner who specialized in the Fauja Singh (born April 1 1911) is a Sikh Marathon runner in his nineties from India who is a world-record holder in his Sohn Kee-Chung ( August 29, 1912 &ndash November 15, 2002) became the first medal-winning Korean Olympian when he won the Oskar Albinus ("Albin" Stenroos ( February 25, 1889 &ndash April 30, 1971) was a Finnish athlete, Ed Whitlock (born March 6 1931 is a long-distance runner, and the first person over 70 years old to run a Marathon in less than three hours with a time Geri Winkler (born 13 April 1956 in Vienna, Austria) is an Austrian Mountaineer, who was the first insulin-dependent diabetic Degaga ("Mamo" Wolde ( June 12, 1932 &ndash May 26, 2002) was an Ethiopian long distance track and Road Dimitrion Yordanidis (born c 1878 was a Greek runner who according to Guinness World Records, completed the 26-mile Marathon course from Marathon Greece Emil Zátopek ( pronounced) (September 19 1922 &ndash November 22 2000 was a Czech athlete probably best known for his amazing feat of winning Elfenesh Alemu (born 10 June 1975) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in the Marathon race. Carolina ("Carla" Alwina Hubertina Beurskens (born February 10, 1952 in Tegelen, Limburg) was one of Holland 's most prominent Katrin Dörre-Heinig (née Dörre, born October 6, 1961 in Leipzig, Sachsen) is a former athlete from Germany, who Adriana Fernández Miranda (born March 4, 1971 in Mexico City) is a long-distance runner from Mexico, who has a personal best in the marathon Lidiya Grigoryeva (born January 25, 1974) is a Russian long-distance runner from the Chuvashia region Helena Javornik (born 26 March 1966) is a Slovenian long-distance runner who has specialized in all distances from 1500 metres to the Marathon Olivera Jevtić ( Serbian Cyrillic: Оливера Јевтић born July 24, 1977 in Titovo Užice, Yugoslavia, now Užice Lornah Kiplagat (born 1 May 1974) is a Dutch long-distance runner. Renata Kokowska (born December 4, 1958 in Głubczyn) is a former Long-distance runner from Poland, who is a triple winner Ingrid Kristiansen née Christensen (born March 21, 1956 in Trondheim, Norway) was one of the best female long distance runners Catherina McKiernan (born 30 November 1969 in Cornafean, County Cavan) is a Long-distance runner from Ireland who competes in the Rosa Maria Correia dos Santos Mota, GCIH, GCM, pron 'ʁɔzɐ 'mɔ Uta Pippig (born September 7, 1965 in Leipzig) is a female long-distance runner and the first woman to win the Boston Marathon three consecutive Fatuma Roba (born December 18, 1973) is an Ethiopian long distance runner from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia most known for winning a gold Joan Benoit Samuelson (born May 16, 1957) is an American marathon runner who won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles Kathrine Switzer is the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entry Grete Waitz (born October 1, 1953) is a former Norwegian marathon runner who won nine New York City Marathons between 1978 and 1988 Getenesh 'Gete' Wami ( Ge'ez:ጌጤነሽ 'ጌጤ' ዋሚ born December 11, 1974 in Debre Berhan) is a female Ethiopian More important for most runners is their personal finish time and their placement within their specific gender and age group, though some runners want just to finish. Strategies for completing a marathon include running the whole distance^[13] and a run-walk strategy. ^[1] An intermediate approach is to run from water stop to water stop, and walk through the water stop area to ensure the fluids are consumed instead of spilled. In 2005, the average marathon time in the U. S. was 4 hours 32 minutes 8 seconds for men, 5 hours 6 minutes 8 seconds for women. ^[14]

Another goal is to break certain time barriers. For example, recreational first-timers often try to run the marathon under four hours; more competitive runners may attempt to finish under three hours. ^[15] Other benchmarks are the qualifying times for major marathons. The Boston Marathon, the oldest marathon in the United States, requires a qualifying time for all non-professional runners. The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon sporting event hosted by the city of Boston, Massachusetts ^[16] The New York City marathon also requires a qualifying time for guaranteed entry, at a pace slightly faster than Boston's. The New York City Marathon ( ING New York City Marathon for Sponsorship reasons is a major annual marathon (42 ^[17] A qualifying time is also needed for Washington D. C. 's National Marathon. The SunTrust National Marathon is an annual Marathon and half marathon foot-race held in Washington D ^[18] However, unlike Boston, where the qualifying times serve to attract a more talented field and limit participation, the National Marathon is motivated more by the need to reopen city streets in a limited amount of time.

Training

Most coaches believe that the most important element in marathon training is the long run. Recreational runners commonly try to reach a maximum of about 20 miles (32 kilometres) in their longest weekly run and a total of about 40 miles (64 kilometres) a week when training for the marathon, but wide variability exists in practice and in recommendations. More experienced marathoners may run a longer distance, and more miles or kilometres during the week. Greater weekly training mileages can offer greater results in terms of distance and endurance, but also carry a greater risk of training injury. Most male elite marathon runners will have weekly mileages of over 100 miles (160 kilometres). ^[19]

Many training programs last a minimum of five or six months, with a gradual increase (every two weeks) in the distance run and finally a little decrease (1 to 3 weeks) for recovery. The decrease, commonly called the taper, should last a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of three weeks, according to most trainers. For beginners looking to merely finish a marathon, a minimum of 4 months of running 4 days a week is recommended. ^[20] Many trainers recommend a weekly increase in mileage of no more than 10%. It is also often advised to maintain a consistent running program for six weeks or so before beginning a marathon training program to allow the body to adapt to the new stresses. ^[21]

Some training programs may be found at Runner's World,^[22] Hal Higdon,^[13] Jeff Galloway,^[1] Boston Athletic Association ^[23] and many others.

Overtraining is a condition that results from not getting enough rest to allow the body to recover from stressful training. It can result in lowered endurance and speed and place a runner at a greater risk of injury. ^[19]

Before the race

During the last two or three weeks before the marathon, runners will typically reduce their weekly training, gradually, by as much as 50%-75% of previous peak volume, and take at least a couple of days of complete rest to allow their bodies to recover from any strong effort. The last long training run might be undertaken no later than two weeks prior to the event. This is a phase of training known as tapering. Many marathoners also "carbo-load" (increase carbohydrate intake while holding total caloric intake constant) during the week before the marathon to allow their bodies to store more glycogen. In sports carbohydrate loading, colloquially known as carbo-loading, is a strategy employed by endurance athletes such as marathon runners to maximize the storage Glycogen is a Polysaccharide of Glucose (Glc which functions as the secondary short term energy storage in Animal cells

Immediately before the race, many runners will refrain from eating solid food to avoid digestive problems. They will also ensure that they are fully hydrated beforehand. Light stretching before the race is believed by many to help keep muscles limber.

During the race

Coaches recommend trying to maintain as steady a pace as possible when running a marathon. Some advise novice runners to start out slower than their average goal pace to save energy for the second half of the race (negative splits). As an example, the first five to eight miles (8-13 km) might be run at a pace 15-20 seconds per mile slower than the target pace for later.

Typically, there is a maximum allowed time of about six hours after which the marathon route is closed, although some larger marathons (such as Myrtle Beach, Marine Corps and Honolulu) keep the course open considerably longer (eight hours or more).

Water consumption dangers

While drinking fluids during the race is necessary for all runners, in some cases too much drinking can also be dangerous. Drinking more than one loses during a race can decrease the concentration of sodium in the blood (a condition called hyponatremia), which may result in vomiting, seizures, coma and even death. Hyponatremia ( British: hyponatraemia) is an Electrolyte disturbance (disturbance of the salts in the blood in which the Sodium ( Natrium In Medicine, a coma (from the Greek koma, meaning deep sleep is a profound state of Unconsciousness. ^[24][25] Eating salt packets during a race possibly can help with this problem. The International Marathon Medical Directors Association issued a warning in 2001 that urged runners only to drink when they are thirsty, rather than "drinking ahead of their thirst. "

Women are more prone to hyponatremia than men. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 13% of runners completing the 2002 Boston Marathon had hyponatremia. The New England Journal of Medicine ( N Engl J Med or NEJM) is an English-language Peer-reviewed Medical journal published The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon sporting event hosted by the city of Boston, Massachusetts ^[26]

A 4+ hour runner can drink about 4-6 ounces (120-170 ml) of fluids every 20-30 minutes without fear of hyponatremia. It is not clear if consuming sports drinks or salty snacks reduces risk. A patient suffering hyponatremia can be given a small volume of a concentrated salt solution intravenously to raise sodium concentrations in blood. For sodium chloride in the diet see Salt. Sodium chloride, also known as common salt, table salt, or Halite, is a Sodium (ˈsoʊdiəm is an element which has the symbol Na( Latin natrium, from Arabic natrun) atomic number 11 atomic mass 22 Some runners weigh themselves before running and write the results on their bibs. If anything goes wrong, first aid workers can use the weight information to tell if the patient had consumed too much water. First aid is the provision of initial care for an Illness or Injury.

Glycogen and "the wall"

Carbohydrates that a person eats are converted by the liver and muscles into glycogen for storage. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most Glycogen is a Polysaccharide of Glucose (Glc which functions as the secondary short term energy storage in Animal cells Glycogen burns quickly to provide quick energy. Runners can store about 8 MJ or 2,000 kcal worth of glycogen in their bodies, enough for about 30 km or 18-20 miles of running. The joule (written in lower case ˈdʒuːl or /ˈdʒaʊl/ (symbol J) is the SI unit of Energy measuring heat, Electricity This article is about the unit of energy For its use in Nutrition and Food labelling regulations, see the article on Food energy. Many runners report that running becomes noticeably more difficult at that point. When glycogen runs low, the body must then burn stored fat for energy, which does not burn as readily. Fats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water When this happens, the runner will experience dramatic fatigue. This phenomenon is called "hitting the wall". The aim of training for the marathon, according to many coaches, is to maximize the limited glycogen available so that the fatigue of the "wall" is not as dramatic. This is in part accomplished by utilizing a higher percentage of energy from burned fat even during the early phase of the race, thus conserving glycogen.

Carbohydrate-based "energy" gels are used by runners to avoid or reduce the effect of "hitting the wall" as they provide easy to digest energy during the run. Energy gels usually contain varying amounts of sodium and potassium and some also contain caffeine. They need to be consumed with a certain amount of water. Some people recommend taking an energy gel every 45-60 minutes during the race.

Alternatives to gels are solid candy, cookies, other forms of concentrated sugars, or any food high in simple carbohydrates which can be digested easily by the individual runner. Many runners experiment with consuming energy supplements during training runs to determine what works best for them.

After a marathon

Muscle soreness after a marathon is usually attributed to microscopic tears in the muscles. This soreness usually abates within a week, but most runners will take about three weeks to completely recover to pre-race condition depending on recovery rate.

The immune system is reportedly suppressed for a short time. Studies have indicated that an increase in vitamin C in a runner's post-race diet decreases the chance of sinus infections, a relatively common condition, especially in ultramarathons. An infection is the detrimental Colonization of a host Organism by a foreign Species. An ultramarathon (also called ultra distance) is any sporting event involving Running longer than the traditional Marathon length of 42 Changes to the blood chemistry may lead physicians to mistakenly diagnose heart malfunction.

Due to the stress on the body during a marathon, a person's kidneys can shut down, leading to the accumulation of toxins in the blood. The kidneys are complicated organs that have numerous biological roles This is especially dangerous if the runner has consumed any medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Nuerofen) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, Panadol). Ibuprofen ( INN) (ˌaɪbjuːˈpɹəʊfɛn (from the now outdated nomenclature i so- bu tyl- pro panoic- phen olic acid is a Non-steroidal Paracetamol ( INN) (ˌpærəˈsiːtəmɒl -ˈsɛtə- or acetaminophen ( USAN) is a widely-used Analgesic and Antipyretic Medication

It is relatively common to only come to realize that there are injuries to the feet and knees after the marathon has finished. Blisters on the feet and toes commonly only become painful after the race is over. A blister is a small pocket of fluid within the upper layers of the skin Some runners may experience toenails which turn black and subsequently detach from the toe. This is from the toenails being too long, or the shoes being too tight and repeatedly impacting on the front of the shoe.

Gentle exercise in the week after the marathon can aid muscle recovery. Many runners receive a sports massage from a licensed massage therapist approximately 24-48 hours after finishing a marathon.

After long training runs and the marathon itself, consuming carbohydrates to replace glycogen stores and protein to aid muscle recovery is commonly recommended. In addition, soaking the lower half of the body for 20 minutes or so in cold or ice water may force blood through the leg muscles to speed recovery.

Etiquette

Modern marathons such as New York, Chicago, London, and Berlin have tens of thousands of runners and millions of spectators. The London Marathon is a popular road marathon that has been held each year in London since 1981 usually in April Common courtesy for other runners becomes necessary when running in a densely packed crowd. ^[27] Those employing a walk/run strategy or who are simply walking are encouraged to stay to one side, leaving the middle of the street for faster runners.

Runners in groups are encouraged not to block the entire street, preventing other runners from passing them. Two or three runners abreast is recommended. Large groups may consider single or double files.

Spectators should remain on the curbs, instead of crowding onto the street and condensing participants into an even smaller space.

Cardiac risks

A study published in 1996^[28] found that the risk of having a fatal heart attack during, or in the period 24 hours after, a marathon, was approximately 1 in 50,000 over an athlete's racing career^[29] - which the authors characterised as an "extremely small" risk. The paper went on to say that since the risk was so small, cardiac screening programs for marathons were not warranted. However, this study was not an attempt to assess the overall benefit or risk to cardiac health of marathon running.

In 2006, a study of 60 non-elite marathon participants tested runners for certain proteins which indicate heart damage or dysfunction after they had completed the marathon, and gave them ultrasound scans before and after the race. The study revealed that, in that sample of 60 people, runners who had done less than 35 miles per week training before the race were most likely to show some heart damage or dysfunction, while runners who had done more than 45 miles per week training beforehand showed few or no heart problems. ^[30]

It should be emphasized that regular exercise in general provides a range of health benefits, including a substantially reduced risk of heart attacks. Moreover, these studies only relate to marathons, not to other forms of running. It has been suggested that as marathon running is a test of endurance, it stresses the heart more than shorter running activities, and this may be the reason for the reported findings.

In 2007, Ryan Shay, a 28 year-old elite long-distance runner, died after collapsing early in the US Olympic marathon trials. Ryan Shay ( May 4, 1979 &ndash November 3, 2007) was an American professional Long-distance runner. His death was reported as probably due to a pre-existing heart abnormality. Ryan Shay ( May 4, 1979 &ndash November 3, 2007) was an American professional Long-distance runner.

Multiple marathons

As marathon running has become more popular, some athletes have undertaken to complete goals involving the running of a series of marathons. The most popular goal is to run a marathon in each state of the United States and the District of Columbia. Over 300 individuals have completed this circuit once and some have done it eight times. ^[31] Twenty-seven people have run a marathon on each of the seven continents,^[32] and 31 people have run a marathon in each of the Canadian provinces. ^[33] In 2006, two people, Sam Thompson and Dean Karnazes, ran 50 marathon distances on 50 consecutive days in 50 different states. Dean Karnazes (b Constantine Karnazes August 23, 1962) (pronounced car-NAH-sis is a Greek-American Ultramarathon runner and author of ^[34][35] In 1980, in what was dubbed the Marathon of Hope, Terry Fox ran the marathon distance each day for 143 consecutive days, using one artificial leg. The Marathon of Hope is a name given to the cross- Canada run undertaken by cancer patient Terry Fox in 1980. Terrance Stanley "Terry" Fox, CC ( July 28, 1958 – June 28, 1981) was a Canadian humanitarian, ^[36]

Other goals are to attempt to run marathons in a series of consecutive weekends (Richard Worley on 159 weekends),^[37] or to run the most marathons during a particular year (e. g. Larry Macon ran 93 in 2007),^[38] or the most in a lifetime. As of June 30, 2007, Horst Preisler of Germany had successfully completed 1157 marathons plus 343 ultramarathons, a total of 1500 events at marathon distance or longer. ^[39] Norm Frank of the United States is credited with 945 marathons. ^[40] There are even clubs for people who have run 100 or more marathons; one such club has at least 45 members. ^[41]

Some runners compete to run the same marathons for the most consecutive years. For example, Johnny Kelley completed 58 Boston Marathons. Johnny Kelley ( John Adelbert Kelley September 6, 1907 &ndash October 6, 2004) was an American long-distance runner Four runners dubbed the "ground pounders" (Will Brown, Mattew Jaffe, Alfred Richmond, and Mel Williams) have completed all 32 Marine Corps Marathons. The Marine Corps Marathon (MCM affectionately known as "The People's Marathon," is run in Arlington Virginia, and Washington D ^[42] Another mention for most consecutive marathons is Jerald Fenske, who has completed every Paavo Nurmi Marathon he has entered since his first in 1978 at age 17, a total of 30 through 2007. The' Paavo Nurmi Marathon is an annual road race held each August in Iron County, Wisconsin, in the United States.

See also

• Half marathon
• Man versus Horse Marathon
• Marathon National Records
• Marathon world best progression
• Marathon Year Rankings
• Mountain Marathon
• Mount Marathon Race
• Multiday race
• National champions Marathon (men)
• Running
• Ski Marathon
• Ultramarathon
• Ironman Triathlon
• Rosie Ruiz
• Flying Finn (athlete)

References

External links

• IAAF International Association of Athletic Federations
• Masters - World Rankings (Men)
• London Marathon interactive guide
• www.corredorespopulares.es/index_english

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