All about the great marathons of the world (World Marathon Majors)

There are many sporting events that bring together athletes from around the world to challenge great challenges, but without a doubt the events dedicated to running are filled with crowds of runners who want to test their skills and break the records of the greatest and their own. Among them, without a doubt, the most famous World Marathon Majors stand out, the most important and recognized marathons throughout the world throughout history; and it is that it has become a great privilege for many to participate in them, and even more to be victorious. Specifically, the concept of "Great Marathons” was created in 2006 (in English: World Marathon Majors) and is assigned to the 6 most important annual running and athletics competitions in the world:

Boston (United States) Mid-April

London (UK) End of April

Berlin (Germany) End of September

Chicago (United States) Mid-October

New York (United States) Beginning of November

Tokyo (Japan) End of February

This would, of course, be in addition to the World Athletics Championships and the Olympic Games, which are held every two and four years, respectively. Celebrated in different cities and countries, and for different cultural and tourist purposes, the Great Marathons are celebrated all over the world as a symbol of discipline and sportsmanship. Here we explain the 6 most important! Do you already know them? Read on and discover the 6 best and most famous marathons in the world!

THESE ARE THE GREAT MARATHONS OF THE WORLD / WORLD MARATHON MAJORS!

THE BOSTON MARATHON
(United States) Mid-April

The Boston Marathon is one of the largest running competitions in the United States and around the world, typically held on the third Monday in April, also known as the Patriot Day in the North American country, where it is considered a holiday. It has been held annually since 1897 in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, USA.USA It is internationally known for being one of the 6 Great Marathons of the World or World Marathon Majors, together with The Marathon from New York, Chicago, Berlin, London and Tokyo. The Boston Marathon stands out especially internationally for the athlete Katherine Switzer, for being recognized as the woman who challenged the sports sector and the entire world for being the first woman to officially run a marathon. In a slightly more regrettable tone, it is also remembered as the marathon that suffered a terrorist attack in 2013.

THE LONDON MARATHON
(UK) End of April

The London Marathon is a marathon that has been held annually in the city of London (United Kingdom) since 1981. However, since last year 2010 the sponsor of the race is Virgin Money, and that is why it is now called the Virgin Money London Marathon. It is typically held at the end of April and like all marathons, the route is 42,195 km. Its founder is Chris Brasher, former Olympic track and field champion and famous athlete, who was inspired by the New York marathon originally to move them to the city of London. Your tour covers the most iconic areas of the English city along the River Thames. Initially, the competition was aimed at raising money for charitable purposes, as a distinctive feature compared to the rest of the marathons. Every year the benefits derived from this event are donated to different charitable causes, including the fight against Cancer.

THE BERLIN MARATHON
(Germany) End of September

The Berlin Marathon is a marathon held in the German capital since 1974 in which the 42,195-kilometer event is covered annually. As we have mentioned, the competition is one of the six events that make up the World Marathon Majors. Today it is one of the most important running competitions in the world and is also recognized for being one of the fastest in the world in its category. In addition, it stands out among the rest of similar competitions for offering participants a flat terrain, especially good for high-performance athletes. Its official sponsor, the BMW Berlin Marathon, always remembers the iconic 1990 race, which took place 3 days before German Reunification, and where 25,000 brave men crossed the Brandenburg Gate, which by then was integrated into the old Berlin wall. Undoubtedly a competition that went down in the history of humanity. In addition, it is a world competition that stands out for having hosted many of the most recognized records in its category. How can we forget the legendary Haile Gebrselassie, who has already broken it twice, one in 2007 and another the following year. In 2011 he was surpassed by the Kenyan Patrick Makau (02:03:38), and two years later in 2013 it was Wilson Kipsang who lowered him to 02:03:23. Currently, it has been Dennis Kimetto who has left it as it is, in 2014, based on a record time of 2:02:57.

THE CHICAGO MARATHON
(United States) Mid-October

For commercial reasons, today the Chicago Marathon is officially known as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. It is one of the most massive competitions held annually in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States. Of course, it is one of the competitions that make up the World Marathon Majors, and it is always held on the Sunday of the Columbus weekend, that is, the Sunday before the second Monday of October. The Chicago Marathon had its beginnings in 1905 until 1920, when it started with only 15 runners, of whom only 7 managed to finish the race. Subsequently, it was retaken in 1977 to the present. To go into history a bit, we can talk about its 1999 edition, in which one of the best times in the world in history was achieved by the North American Khalid Khannouchi (of Moroccan origin) with a time of 2h 05m and 42s, while in 2009 the record for the test was established by the British Paula Radcliffe, who also broke the world record in this setting in 2002 with a time of 2h 17m 18s, a time that was broken, however, in 2003, in the London Marathon.

THE NEW YORK MARATHON
(United States) Beginning of November

The New York Marathon is a massive running competition held annually since 1970 in the streets of the American city of New York; As well as the rest of the official marathons in the world, it consists of a route in which 42,195 kilometers are covered. Like the marathons of London, Chicago, Boston, Berlin, Tokyo, the New York marathon is included among the most important running competitions in the world, well known as World Marathon Majors, but it is the Great Marathon with the most runners of all those mentioned above. The New York Marathon is held in the first week of November every year. It is recognized for being one of the busiest world sports meetings and also with the greatest media coverage compared to the rest. In its beginnings in 1970, it was a very small race, in which only about 127 participants registered and its route consisted of running several times around the famous Central Park. Today, however, the New York Marathon is recognized as one of the most entertaining races with the greatest demand for participation in the country and the world, especially because it is one of the most It receives support from the city government and is one of the most acclaimed by tourists from around the world. Today, your tour begins in Staten Island and ends in Central Park. It is broadcast live and broadcast by many television networks, and achieves an undisputed record of audiences year after year. In fact, in 2016 he broke the participation record in the history of this competition... year in which 50.000 runners managed to reach the finish line. Two years earlier, in 2014, the competition was awarded the Prince of Asturias Award for Sports.

THE TOKYO MARATHON
(Japan) End of February

The Tokyo Marathon is the most recognized annual athletic running event in its namesake city, in which the classic distance of the marathon is exceeded. Commercially speaking, the competition is sponsored by Tokyo Metro, and is famous for being included among the World Marathon Majors. Historically, the test began to be held in 2007, whose 1st edition had the participation of 30.000 runners Formerly, since 1981, two competitions were held in the city: the Tokyo International Marathon in odd years and the New York Friendship International Marathon in even years. Both tests were merged from the year 2007 giving rise to the current Tokyo Marathon that we know today. Without a doubt, it is one of the most exotic competitions in the entire Asian country and also in comparison to the rest of the marathons that, together with it, make up the World Marathon Majors. Interestingly, in the Tokyo marathon the minimum age is 19 years old, instead of 18 years old like the rest of the competitions in your category. It is also the only marathon that allows each competitor to finish the competition dressed as the animated character they want . Currently, it already has more than 35,000 registrations annually, and it is the competition that increases the most subscribers each year.

Although it is not included among the 6 great annual marathons, we cannot fail to mention the marathon of the Olympic Games: one of the most emblematic of the sports scene since athletics It is a sport present in each and every one of the Olympic Games held from the year 1896 until the last games that took place in Brazil. The winners of the last Olympic marathon, which took place in Rio de Janeiro, were the Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Jemima Jelagat Sumgong, who won the gold medal in both the men's and women's versions. The next Olympic race will take place in the city of Kyoto (Japan).