They are known as the'World Marathon Majors', an international athletics competition created in 2006 that brings together the most prestigious marathons held annually around the world. The fortunate cities that have the privilege of seeing the best long-distance athletes run through their streets for 42 kilometers are: New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin and since 2013, Tokyo. In addition to these six marathons, two other events are occasionally included in the calendar: the World Athletics Championships marathon, held every two years, and the Olympic Games marathon, held every four years.
New York Marathon
The most mediatic of the marathons. It has been held every year since 1970 through the streets of the Big Apple. In its first edition, 127 runners participated and only 55 people completed the 42 km race. The winner was the American Gary Muhrcke with a time of 2 hours 31 minutes 38 seconds. However, the marathon has evolved in such a way that it has become the most renowned race on the international scene.
The NBC television network broadcasts the race live, with an audience of more than 300 million viewers. Before the starting gun is fired, the legendary song New York, New York, sung by Frank Sinatra, is played over the loudspeakers. The demand for participants is so high that to get a bib you have two options: to accredit a fairly demanding mark or register for a draw after paying 11 dollars. If you are one of the lucky ones, you will have to pay a whopping $250.
London Marathon
This marathon, which has been held since 1981 in April, is characterized by its strong charitable nature, since its purpose is to raise money for charity. According to the organization, the 2006 edition raised 415 million pounds sterling, the highest amount raised for charity.
Its founder is former Olympic track and field champion Chris Brasher, who was inspired by the New York Marathon. Since 2014 the sponsor of the race has been Virgin Money, hence its current name Virgin Money London Marathon. During the course, athletes pass by a good handful of iconic City buildings such as Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and the British Parliament, among others. The number of applications is well over 100,000, of which less than half are accepted.
The men's record for the race is held by Kenyan Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich with a time of 2 hours 4 minutes and 29 seconds, achieved in the last edition. On the other hand, in the women's category, the best time belongs to the British Paula Radcliffe with a time of 2:15:25 in 2003.
Berlin Marathon
286 runners took part in the first Berlin Marathon in 1974, a number that has increased considerably over the years to around 50,000 participants. The runners set off from the Grosser Stern Square to run through the city in a festive atmosphere, accompanied by marching bands. The race finishes in front of the historic Brandenburg Gate.
The Berlin Marathon, which this year celebrates its 44th edition, is characterized by a flat and very fast route, favorable for good times as demonstrated in September last year by the Kenyan Dennis Kipruto Kimetto stopping the stopwatch in 2 hours 2 minutes and 57 seconds, absolute record of the race. Previously there were several world records, as in 2007 and 2008, with the legendary athlete Haile Gebrselassie. Currently the race is sponsored by a prestigious car company and is called BMW Berlin Marathon.
Boston Marathon
The oldest marathon in the world celebrates its 119th edition this year. The race has been held annually on the third Monday in April since 1897. In order to participate in this legendary marathon, a minimum mark established by the organization must be accredited, either from the Boston Marathon itself or from one of the other four races that are part of the World Marathon Majors (Chicago, New York, Berlin or London). For example, men up to 34 years of age must have a time equal to or less than 3 hours 10 minutes.
Although this marathon has the reputation of being one of the most demanding, it cannot register a world record, because there is a rule that forbids the finish to be at a lower altitude than the start. Until 1986 the prize for the winner era a wreath of olive leaves. Its route is hilly and an attractive landscape can be contemplated, ending at the Public Library of the city. The 2013 edition will be sadly remembered for the explosion of two bombs at the finish line that left 3 dead and 176 injured.
Tokyo Marathon
The history of the current Tokyo Marathon is quite recent, since it began to be held in 2007 and 25,000 runners participated in its first edition. Previously, and since 1981, two alternate competitions were held in the Japanese city: the Tokyo International Marathon in odd-numbered years and the New York Friendship International Marathon in even-numbered years. Eight years ago, the two races merged into one to create the contemporary Tokyo Marathon.
The reality is that it is not easy to participate in this marathon due to the high demand for entries, which forces to participate in a lottery in the hope of being one of the lucky ones to run the race dressed in shorts or dressed as Power Ranger, Doraemon, even any Manga comic character. The anecdote of this marathon is that unlike the rest of the races in which it is required to be 18 years old to participate, here it is necessary to be one year older.
Chicago Marathon
Although the first edition, in which 15 people participated, was held in 1905 and continued to be held until the 1920s, it was later interrupted and was not run again until 1977, thanks to the impulse of five people. Over the years the Chicago Marathon has become more important with the help of sponsors, such as the current Bank of America, which has helped to increase the amount of prizes for the winners in order to attract the best long-distance runners.
The race, which starts and finishes in the mythical Grant Park, crosses nearly thirty neighborhoods of this great metropolis, where around two million people cheer as the athletes pass through. The record of the race in the men's category is held, since 2013, by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto with a time of 2:03:45, while in the women's category the best mark dates back to 2002 and is held by British Paula Radcliffe with a time of 2 hours 17 minutes and 18 seconds.
Cover photo: Patrick Cashin
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