Marathon

The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of 42.195 kilometres (about 26.22 miles), usually run as a road race, but it can also be run on trails. People can finish a marathon by running the whole way or by using a run/walk strategy. There are also special races for athletes using wheelchairs.

More than 800 marathons happen around the world each year. Most of the people who join these races are recreational athletes, and big marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.

The marathon was created by the French philologist Michel Bréal and was inspired by a story from Ancient Greece. It became one of the first events in the modern Olympic Games when they were held in Athens in 1896. The exact distance for a marathon didn’t become official until 1921. Today, marathons are also part of the World Athletics Championships, which started in 1983. It is the only running race on roads that is included in both of these big competitions.

History

Origin

The name Marathon comes from a story about a messenger named Pheidippides from ancient Greece. According to the tale, during the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, Pheidippides ran all the way from the battlefield to Athens to share news of the Greek victory. Though this story is popular, historians debate whether it really happened exactly as told.

The idea for the modern marathon race began when the Olympics were revived in 1896. The race was inspired by this ancient legend and has since become a famous event around the world.

Modern Olympic marathon

When the modern Olympics began in 1896, organizers wanted an exciting event that remembered ancient Greek traditions. The first Olympic marathon was held that year in Athens, and it was won by a local runner named Spyridon Louis. Since then, the Olympic marathon has grown into one of the most famous races in the world.

The women's marathon was added to the Olympics much later, in 1984. Since then, runners from many countries have taken part in this amazing challenge.

Marathon mania in the US

The Boston Marathon started in 1897 and is the oldest marathon in the United States. Over time, marathons became very popular, especially after American runner Frank Shorter won the marathon in the 1972 Olympics. Today, thousands of people run marathons all around the world.

Inclusion of women

For many years, women were not allowed to officially race in marathons during the Olympics. But in time, this changed. Women began officially competing in marathons, with many impressive achievements since then.

Distance

Marathons used to have different lengths, but early Olympic marathons were around 40 kilometres, which is roughly the distance from Marathon to Athens. The Boston Marathon was 24.5 miles long from 1897 to 1924.

1908 Olympics

Main article: Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon

In 1907, the International Olympic Committee decided the 1908 London Olympic marathon would be about 25 miles or 40 kilometres. The race started at Windsor Castle and finished at the White City Stadium, with a short extra lap around the track. Later, the course was changed slightly.

The modern marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.219 miles) was set in 1921, based on the 1908 London Olympics race.

IAAF and world records

An official marathon must be exactly 42.195 kilometres long, with a small allowance for being a bit longer. Race officials use special measuring to make sure the course is not too short. For races following these rules, signs show how far runners have gone in kilometres. World records are only recognized for races that follow these rules. Runners can also set records for shorter parts of the race, like every 5 kilometres.

Marathon races

Many marathons are held around the world each year. Some of these marathons are part of a big group called the World Marathon Majors, which includes famous races in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York City, Tokyo, and Sydney. These races give out money to the best runners each year.

Marathons can be found in many interesting places. Some are held on the Great Wall of China, others in the wild in South Africa, and some even cross borders between countries. For example, the Istanbul Marathon lets runners move between Europe and Asia in one race.

Many marathons also have a special group for people who use wheelchairs. These runners often start the race earlier. The first wheelchair marathon was in 1974 in Toledo, Ohio. Since then, many big marathons have added wheelchair divisions so everyone can join in the fun.

Statistics

See also: Marathon world record progression and Marathon year rankings

World records and world's best

World records became officially recognized by World Athletics on 1 January 2004. Before that, the best times were called the "world best." Courses need to meet certain standards to be counted for records. The fastest times are usually set on flat courses near sea level, in good weather, and with help from pacesetters.

The current world record for men is 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, set by Sabastian Sawe of Kenya in the London Marathon on 26 April 2026.

The world record for women is 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds, set by Ruth Chepng'etich of Kenya in the Chicago Marathon on 13 October 2024.

Area records

• Updated 12 May 2026.

All-time top 25

The data is correct as of 26 April 2026.

Men

Notes

• Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya ran a time of 1:59:40.2 at the Ineos 1:59 Challenge in Vienna on 12 October 2019. This was faster than his previous assisted run, but it did not count as an official record.
• John Korir of Kenya ran a time of 2:01:52 at the Boston Marathon on 20 April 2026, but it was on a special course and did not count as a record.
• Titus Ekiru of Kenya had a time of 2:02:57 at the Milano City Marathon on 16 May 2021, but he was later disqualified.
• Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya ran a time of 2:03:02 at the Boston Marathon on 18 April 2011, but it was on a special course and did not count as a record.
• Moses Mosop of Kenya ran a time of 2:03:06 at the Boston Marathon on 18 April 2011, but it was on a special course and did not count as a record.

Women

Notes

• Tsehay Gemechu of Ethiopia had a time of 2:16:56 at the Tokyo Marathon on 5 March 2023. She was later banned for breaking rules, and all her results were removed.

World leading times

Oldest marathoner

Fauja Singh, then 100, finished the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on 16 October 2011, becoming the first person over 100 to finish a marathon. However, his age could not be proven, so his record was not officially recognized.

Johnny Kelley ran his last full Boston Marathon at age 84 in 1992. He had won the Boston Marathon in 1935 and 1945.

Gladys Burrill, a 92-year-old from Oregon, finished the 2010 Honolulu Marathon in 9 hours and 53 minutes. Harriette Thompson of North Carolina, also 92, finished the Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon in 7 hours, 24 minutes, and 36 seconds in 2015.

Ed Whitlock of Canada finished a marathon in under 3 hours at age 74 and under 4 hours at age 85.

Youngest marathoner

Budhia Singh, a boy from Odisha, India, finished his first marathon at age five. He had to stop running for a while because it was thought to be unsafe for him. He is now at a sports school.

The youngest to finish under 4 hours is Mary Etta Boitano at age 7. Others include Julie Mullin at 10 and Carrie Garritson at 11.

Participation

In 2016, there were about 507,600 marathon finishers in the United States. In China, the number of marathons grew from 22 in 2011 to 400 in 2017.

Multiple marathons

Running many marathons has become popular. The 100 Marathon Club is for runners who have done 100 or more marathons, with at least 10 in the United Kingdom or Ireland. Roger Biggs, the club chairman, has run over 700 marathons or longer races.

Steve Edwards set the record for running 500 marathons with an average time of 3 hours 15 minutes on 11 November 2012. Over 350 people have run a marathon in each U.S. state and Washington, D.C. Terry Fox of Canada, who ran with one artificial leg, ran over 5,000 km across Canada to raise money for cancer research.

Patrick Finney of Texas was the first person with multiple sclerosis to finish a marathon in each U.S. state. Sir Ranulph Fiennes completed seven marathons on seven continents in seven days in 2003. Richard Donovan did it in under five and a half days in 2009.

Larry Macon set a record in 2013 for running 238 marathons in one year. Stefaan Engels of Belgium ran a marathon every day in 2011 and finished 365 marathons. Hilde Dosogne of Belgium ran a marathon every day in 2024 and finished 366 marathons.

Some runners try to finish many marathons in a row or over many years. Johnny Kelley finished 58 Boston Marathons. Bennett Beach has the longest streak of finishing the Boston Marathon, with 45 in a row.

Olympic medalists

Men

Women

World Championship medalists

Men

Women

The World Athletics Championships feature marathons for both men and women. These races test the endurance and skill of athletes from around the world.

General participation

Most people who run a marathon do not aim to win. Instead, they focus on finishing the race and seeing how they place within their age and gender group. Some just want to complete the distance. Runners have different strategies, like running the whole way or mixing running with walking.

In 2005, the average time for men in the U.S. was about 4 hours and 32 minutes, while women averaged around 5 hours and 6 minutes. By 2015, these times improved slightly. Many runners set personal goals, such as finishing under four hours, while more experienced runners might aim for under three hours. Major marathons like the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon often require runners to meet certain time limits to enter.

Marathons usually have a time limit of about six hours, after which the course closes. Some bigger races allow more time. Runners who don’t finish in time may be picked up by a bus. As marathons grow popular, spots fill up quickly. For example, the Boston Marathon filled its spots in just eight hours when registrations opened for the 2011 race.

Training

Training is key for marathon success. Long runs are important, with beginners often aiming for about 32 km (20 mi) in their longest run each week. Training programs usually last five to six months, slowly increasing distance before tapering off near the race day. Beginners might need at least four months of running four days a week to prepare.

Trainers often suggest increasing weekly mileage by no more than 10% and keeping a steady routine for six weeks before starting marathon training. Many use plans from websites like Runner's World, Hal Higdon, Jeff Galloway, and the Boston Athletic Association.

Runners often “carbo-load” a week before the race by eating more carbohydrates to store energy. This helps them go further.

Glycogen and "the wall"

Main article: Hitting the wall

The body stores energy as glycogen, which runs out after about 30 km (18–20 miles) of running. When glycogen runs low, the body must use fat for energy, which is slower and can make runners feel very tired. This is called “hitting the wall.” Training helps by teaching the body to use fat earlier, saving glycogen.

Runners use carbohydrate-based “energy gels” to keep energy levels up during the race. These gels contain sugars and sometimes caffeine and must be taken with water. Runners try different foods during training to see what works best. It’s important not to try new foods or medicines during the race.

Temperature

Warmer temperatures can slow runners down. Studies show that the best times are run when it’s around 6°C (43°F). Hotter weather affects faster runners more than slower ones.

After a marathon

Runners often feel sore and may have small skin injuries like blisters. Light exercise or massage can help with soreness. The immune system may be weaker for a short time after the race. Eating carbohydrates and protein helps the body recover, and cooling the legs in cold water can also speed up recovery.

Health risks

Marathon running can have health risks, but these can be lowered with good preparation and care. Training and racing can put stress on runners. While very rare, serious health issues, including death, can happen during a race.

Common minor health problems include blisters, tendonitis, fatigue, and sprain of the knee or ankle. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance are also possible, along with other overuse injuries.

Cardiac health

A medical review in 2016 found that the risk of sudden heart problems during or right after a marathon was very low, between 0.6 and 1.9 cases per 100,000 runners. Because the risk is small, special heart checks for marathons are not common. However, this review did not look at the overall effect of marathon running on heart health.

A study from 2006 looked at runners in the Boston Marathon. It found that runners who did less training before the race were more likely to show signs of heart strain. Runners who did more training had fewer heart problems.

Hydration

Drinking too much water during a marathon can be dangerous. It can cause a condition where the sodium level in the blood becomes too low, leading to serious health issues. This condition is called exercise-associated hyponatremia.

Runners should drink fluids based on their own needs, considering factors like body weight, weather, and pace. Sports drinks with carbohydrates and electrolytes are recommended instead of plain water. Runners should aim to drink when they feel thirsty, not at every station.

Body temperature

Running in very hot and humid weather can lead to a dangerous condition called exertional heat stroke, where the body cannot cool itself properly. This is an emergency that needs quick cooling of the body.

Charity involvement

Some charities like to be part of races, including marathons. Sometimes, the people who organize a marathon keep a few spots just for charities. These spots are sold to members of the charity, and in return, the members make donations. This gives runners a chance to sign up for special races even if the regular spots are all filled.

In other cases, charities might put on their own marathon to raise money. They can collect money from people who enter to run, or they might get help from sponsors.

Culture

In 2015, the Mars rover Opportunity traveled a marathon distance from its starting point on Mars. The area where this happened was named Marathon Valley, and the rover explored this valley afterward.