The Big Sur Marathon is 26.2 miles of the most beautiful coastline in the world – and, for runners, the most challenging. It was established in 1986 and attracts about 4,500 participants annually. This year, the event will be held on April 25th, 2010. The athletes who participate in the Big Sur International Marathon draw inspiration from the spectacular views, but it takes major discipline to conquer the hills of Highway One on the way to the finish line.

Named “Best Marathon in North America” by The Ultimate Guide to Marathons, the Big Sur International Marathon continues to sell out earlier and earlier each year and, as a major destination marathon, draws entrants from all over the world. On their way from Big Sur to Carmel’s Rio Road, runners wind through majestic redwoods and past Pacific Ocean views.

Related marathon-day events include a 21-mile power walk, 5K run, 9-mile walk, 10.6-mile walk, and marathon relay. An expansive sports expo takes place for the two days before the run at the Monterey Conference Center. Each year, the non-profit marathon board of directors donates over $150,000 to local charities. For more information, please visit the Big Sur International Marathon website.

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The city of London got its first marathon in 1981, after former Olympic champion Chris Brasher returned from the New York Marathon wanting to make the same event happen in his home town. This year, the popular marathon will be held on April 25th, 2010.

London is the city where the current marathon distance was set. In the 1908 Olympics, King Edward VII wanted the marathon to start in the courtyard of Windsor Castle and end in front of the Royal Box at White City Stadium for the queen to see. This distance was 42.195 km as opposed to the original distance of 39.90 km in the first modern Olympics in Athens. The king’s command has been reality ever since. You can find more about the history of the London marathon at the marathon website.

The course of the London Marathon runs along the River Thames and is fast and flat. The marathoners will pass a number of famous London landmarks, including the Tower of London, the London Eye and the 140-year-old clipper ship, Cutty Sark. Organizers describe it as ‘An Historical Jog Around London’, due to the speed and scenery of the course.

The London Marathon is part of the series World Marathon Majors along with the marathons in Berlin, Boston, Chicago and New York, in which the athletes earn points according to their finish place in the participating races. Last year, more than 24,000 runners finished the race.

Fundraising plays a big role in London Marathon, and organizers claim it to be the largest annual fundraising event in the world. Since its start in 1981, the participants have raised a total of GBP 315 million for charity. Further information about the race and registration can be found at the official London Marathon site.

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The Boston Marathon is the oldest annual city marathon in the world, run for the first time in 1897. It was inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. The first Boston Marathon had only 18 runners, but the number of participants has increased steadily since then. The largest field of runners so far was in 1996, when over 35,000 people finished the 100th Boston Marathon. Also, women were not allowed to enter the Boston Marathon officially until 1972.

The Boston Marathon ranks as one of the most prestigious running events in the world, one of the five members of World Marathon Majors. This honorable position is attained thanks to the long history of the race, the challenging course and the fact that you have to qualify to register as an official participant. To qualify, a runner must first complete a standard marathon course certified by a national governing body affiliated with the International Association of Athletics Federations within a certain period of time before the date of the desired Boston Marathon. Other than the Olympic trials and the Olympic marathons, Boston is the only major American marathon that requires a qualifying time. The qualifying standard is high enough to make qualifying for Boston – also known as ‘to BQ’ – quite an achievement in itself.

The legendary course of the Boston Marathon has been the same throughout most of the history of the race. The route follows 26.2 miles of winding roads from rural Hopkinton to urban Boston, and it is renowned for its level of difficulty. Shortly after the 16 mile mark, the road starts going up a series of hills, named the Newton Hills.

The last of the four hills is known as Heartbreak Hill. This hill does not, as one may think, get its name from the many runners being heartbroken from the fact that they have to conquer yet another ascent, but the name does originate in the Boston Marathon. In the 1936 race defending champion, John A. Kelley, caught up with race leader, Ellison ‘Tarzan’ Brown, giving him a consolatory pat on the shoulder as he passed him. This overbearing gesture apparently gave Tarzan supernatural strength, and he went on to win the race in front of Kelley. In the words of a local journalist, the outcome of this act of nemesis ‘broke Kelley’s heart’.

The Boston Marathon, which will be held on March 19th, 2010, offers more than just men’s and women’s running divisions. In 1975, a tradition of offering racing opportunities to those with disabilities and impairments began when one wheelchair racer decided to take the challenge and complete the entire distance of the marathon. Since then, three new divisions have emerged, including a push rim wheelchair division, a visually impaired/blind division, and a mobility impaired division. For more information, please visit the Boston Marathon website.

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The Paris Marathon is one of the most popular long-distance annual running events in Europe along with the Berlin and London marathons. Every year in April, 35,000 runners crowd the streets of Paris for Marathon de Paris – or Paris International Marathon. This year, the event is going to be held on April 11th, 2010.

The first marathon in Paris was run by 191 participants on July 19th 1896. The official distance was 40 km, but the marathon has been happening in today’s format since 1977. It is limited to 37,000 entrants, and the maximum is reached almost every year. Unlike most other marathons, but like all races in France, the Paris Marathon requires a medical certificate affirming the runner is physically fit to run a marathon.

Throughout the race, runners get a great view of the city and some of its famous sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, and Place de la Bastille. The course start in front of the Arc de Triomphe and continues down the famous Champs Elysées. A large part of the course runs along the calmly flowing Seine River. To keep you going, count on the 250,000 onlookers and the 70 music stages. And if that isn’t enough, you can always look forward to the red wine and cheese served at the 35th kilometer.

If you miss the chance to run the marathon but still want to live the spirit of running in a historical city, you can do the 5.2 km Breakfast Run on race day. There is also the possibility of a half marathon, if you plan your trip to Paris in March. The 1/2 marathon shares most of its course with the full marathon. For further information, check the Paris Marathon website.

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If you’re looking for the ideal combination of athletic challenge and a nice weekend of sight-seeing, the Rome Marathon is the place to go. The marathon is held annually in March and this year, it’ll be held on March 21st. Very popular with both Italian and foreign athletes, it attracts more and more runners each year. Last year’s race saw more than 11,000 runners compete.

As a participant in the Rome Marathon, you get to enjoy the city’s historic atmosphere right from the beginning. The start line is placed in front of the 2,000 year old Colosseum, and from here the course is a veritable festival of magnificent sights such Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps. The course is surprisingly flat for a city built on seven hills, but the uneven cobblestone streets may add a few extra minutes to your finish time.

According to tradition, 15 minutes after the marathoners are sent on their way, the non-competitive Stracittadina Fun Run starts. This 5km run is open to everyone and proudly proclaims itself to be “the most participated sporting event in Italy”. Get more information about the race at the Rome Marathon website.

You can figure out what you’re going to run through by watching a magnificient RAI feature, a 2-hour documentary (in Italian) which details the history of the 42,195 metres.

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The inaugural Los Angeles Marathon was in 1986, born from the euphoria after the successful 1984 Olympics held in L.A. It had more than 10,000 entrants, making it the largest inaugural marathon in the world.

This year’s Los Angeles Marathon will be held on March 21st, 2010. The course has changed a few times in the 24-year history of the race. The 2010 course is brand new and is nicknamed “Stadium to the Sea”. The course takes runners from downtown Los Angeles to the Santa Monica coastline.

Each course in the history of Los Angeles Marathon has had a tradition for encouraging entertainment along the way. Music, dancing and other sorts of entertainment keep spirits up, spectators clapping, and runners going. A total of 1,000,000 spectators usually line the course and celebrate the 26,000 runners at the finish area. Get more information at the Los Angeles Marathon website.

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Barcelona Marathon started as the Catalunya Marathon in 1978, and was renamed in 2005. The event will be held on March 7th, 2010.

The route, which changes every year, leads runners past many of the city’s historical landmarks. This magnificent Mediterranean city has a history that goes back to the Roman Empire and was home to the world-famous architect, Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi is the originator of numerous spectacular buildings in his native city. The marathon course leads runners past several of his works such as La Pedrera and Familia Sagrada church. The marathon starts and finishes below the green hills of Montjuïc Park.

The course is advertised to be flat, but it contains some long inclines. The hilly parts are mostly situated in the beginning of the route, but the scenery makes up for the relative toughness of this part of the course.

The number of entrants is increasing rapidly each year. Usually, almost half of the marathoners are visitors from abroad. For more information about the race and how to register, check the Barcelona marathon website.

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This year’s Napa Valley Marathon is going to be held on March 7th. It has an excellent course for beginning marathoners. The course begins in Calistoga and runs the length of the famed Napa Valley wine-growing region. The first 6 miles are rolling hills and the course is relatively flat thereafter.

Dedicated to fostering and promoting quality road racing, the Napa Valley Marathon is known as the “Biggest Little Marathon in the West”. In its January ’02 issue, Runner’s World Magazine named the marathon one of the Top 20 Marathons in the United States. Also Competitor Magazine, named it the Best Rural Marathon in America, in its January ’05 issue.

The race is limited to 2300 people and each participant assists important local causes. Also, the first male and female finishers win their weight in wine! All proceeds from the Napa Valley Marathon (a non-profit organization) are donated to local charities and schools in the Napa Valley region. For further information, check out the Napa Valley Marathon website.

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Rock ‘n Roll Mardi Gras Marathon will run through New Orleans on Sunday, February 28, 2010. The event has a new initiative that will aid the local community in its ongoing effort to restore the City of New Orleans through The Brees Dream Foundation. The foundation uses these funds in the New Orleans community to provide care, education and opportunities for the children of New Orleans.

Rock ‘n Roll Marathon series is known for lining race routes with live bands, cheerleaders, and themed water stations. Mardi Gras marathon and half-marathon will be the eleventh event in the national series of music-themed marathons. Since the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon Series has a reputation for offering the runners spectacular post-race concerts, be ready. This year, Cowboy Mouth will headline the post-race concert. Also, the local bands will be playing along the marathon courses to energize the runners and walkers.

Be there and help New Orleans get in shape!

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If you want to participate in a marathon while having a romantic getaway, go to Austin for Valentine’s Day weekend. This year, the annual Austin Marathon is going to be held on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010.

The first Austin Marathon was held in 1992. This Boston qualifier event is a full and half-marathon for both runners and walkers. The course is relatively flat compared to many other marathons. As the city prides itself on being “The Music Capital of the World”, there will be live band performances on the race day as well as Health and Fitness Expo before the race day. According to Runner’s World Magazine, Austin Marathon is the Greenest Race in North America.

Don’t forget to fuel up for the marathon by eating high-carb foods and celebrate your achievement at the end of the race with live music and a cold beer. Good luck to all!

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