Voted as the Best 12 Marathons in the World

London Marathon: Known for its flat route that takes runners past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.

Berlin Marathon: Famous for its fast, flat course and enthusiastic crowds. The current men’s and women’s marathon world records were both set here.

Boston Marathon: The world’s oldest annual marathon. It’s known for its challenging course and supportive spectators.

Tokyo Marathon: One of the six World Marathon Majors, this race showcases Tokyo’s mix of modern and traditional culture.

Rotterdam Marathon: This marathon in the Netherlands is known for its flat and fast course, making it ideal for setting personal bests.

Stockholm Marathon: This race takes place in early summer when Stockholm’s parks and waterfront are at their most beautiful.

International Marathon of Marrakech: This marathon in Morocco offers a scenic route around the city and the surrounding palm groves and orange orchards.

Maratona di Roma (Rome Marathon): This marathon offers a route that winds through some of the world’s most historic sites.

Lisbon Marathon: Known for its beautiful course along the Tagus River and its mild weather.

Gold Coast Marathon: This Australian marathon is praised for its flat course, ideal running weather, and beautiful beachside setting.

Big Sur Marathon: This marathon on the California coast is known for its challenging course and stunning ocean views.

Toronto Waterfront Marathon: This Canadian marathon is famous for its flat, fast course and scenic views of Lake Ontario.

These are the criteria used to vote on the 12 best marathons in the world

Course: Some runners prefer flat, fast courses for setting personal records, while others enjoy hilly, challenging routes.

Scenery: Marathons with beautiful, unique, or iconic scenery often rank highly. This could include cityscapes, coastal views, or landmarks.

Crowd Support: Races with enthusiastic, supportive crowds can make the marathon experience more enjoyable.

Organization: Well-organized events with ample aid stations, clear signage, and efficient start and finish line processes are often preferred.

History and Prestige: Races with a long history or special prestige, like the Boston Marathon or the World Marathon Majors (Tokyo, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, and Boston), often rank highly.

Weather Conditions: Ideal running conditions can vary depending on the runner, but many prefer cooler temperatures. The time of year the marathon is held can influence this.

Size: Some runners prefer the excitement of large races with thousands of participants, while others prefer smaller, more intimate events.

Charitable Cause: Some marathons are associated with charitable causes. Runners often feel good about participating in these events because they’re contributing to a good cause.

Post-Race Festivities: Post-race events, like parties or concerts, can also make a marathon stand out.

Accessibility: How easy it is to get to the race, both in terms of travel and in terms of qualifying standards or lottery systems, can also be a factor.

Pick One and Start Running!

Now that you know where the best marathons are, it’s time to sign up and compete!

If you’re looking to take on a marathon, you need to make sure that your training is up to the challenge. With the right plan and preparation, however, anyone can complete a marathon! Here are some tips and tricks to help you successfully train for a marathon.

Start Slow

Start Slow: Don’t try to jump into a full-blown marathon training routine right away. Start small with shorter runs and gradually increase your distance and speed over time as your body adjusts. Before you know it, you’ll be ready for that 26.2-mile journey.

Get Proper Gear

Get Proper Gear: Invest in proper running shoes that fit your feet properly and provide the necessary cushioning and support while you run. Additionally, consider wearing clothes meant specifically for running: they’re lightweight, breathable, and moisture-wicking so they won’t weigh down your run. In colder temperatures, make sure that you’re bundling up with layers to stay warm – but remember not to overdress as it can cause overheating!

Find A Running Buddy

Find A Running Buddy: Having someone else join you on your runs can make all the difference when it comes to having an enjoyable experience. If nothing else, having someone running with you can help keep you accountable when motivation starts to dwindle. Find someone at the same level of fitness or a bit more experienced than yourself so they don’t hold you back if their pace is too slow or push you too hard if their pace is too fast for what’s comfortable for you! 

Cross Train

Cross Train: Cross training activities (like swimming or biking) are great ways to supplement your running routine by helping build strength in other areas of the body while giving your joints much-needed rest days from pounding the pavement. Additionally, adding strength exercises like plyometrics into your routine will help build power and endurance which will serve as important components during those last few miles of a long race day!

Train Strategically

Train Strategically: Have an idea of how many days per week each type of workout should be done (running vs cross training). This way, when planning out each week’s workouts ahead of time, there will be structure in place versus going into every session without knowing what type of exercise needs to be done or how much effort needs to be put in for each one! Also consider implementing speed work periodically throughout the week depending on how far away race day is – this helps break up monotony from regular runs and provides mental stimulation from having something new & challenging thrown into the mix occasionally!

Nutrition Matters

Nutrition Matters: Fueling properly before and after runs is essential in order for any runner to perform at their best during training sessions as well as races themselves! Don’t forget about post-run refuelling either – replenishing nutrients lost during workouts helps ensure that muscles have enough energy stored up when pushing through long distances come race day. Keep track of what foods work best in terms of energy levels & recovery times by taking note when trying different foods before/after exercising so future performance can benefit accordingly!

Recover Properly

Recover Properly: Rest days are just as important as active ones! Make sure that after any tough workout (especially long distance runs!), adequate rest is taken afterwards for muscles & joints alike so they can return back to normal function without feeling overly exhausted & fatigued – this ensures optimal performance during upcoming sessions which need maximum effort output from them! Other tools such as yoga & foam rolling also aid tremendously in reducing aches/pains associated with strenuous activities such as running marathons by increasing blood flow & restoring flexibility back into tight muscle groups respectively (just make sure not overdo it!) .

Achieve Your Marathon Goals

Overall, these simple tips will get anyone set up for success towards achieving their goal of completing a marathon – all it takes is patience & dedication throughout each step of preparation leading up until race day itself ! Good luck out there – go get ‘em !

First Steps

If you’re considering running a marathon, congratulations! It’s an incredibly rewarding experience, and can provide a great sense of accomplishment and pride. However, it’s important to remember that while the end result is often worth the challenge, marathon training isn’t easy; it should be taken seriously. To make sure you train safely and effectively to reach your goal race day, here are some helpful tips for beginners looking to bang out a 26.2-mile trek.

Goals

First and foremost, understand what your body is capable of. Do your research about the distance you’re tackling—what type of physical condition do you need to be in? Talk with your doctor or medical professional if there are any specific health concerns or questions before embarking on long-distance running. Additionally, consider your own personal goals: Are you aiming for a certain finish time? Are you taking part in the marathon as part of another event (i.e., completing a triathlon)? Keep these aims in mind when plotting out your training schedule as this will help shape how much effort you need to put into each individual workout session.

Habits and Listen to your Body

As well as considering what your body is capable of handling, it’s important to lay down some ground rules before getting started. Establish healthy habits like stretching regularly and staying hydrated throughout your training period; not only can this reduce risk of injury but also boost performance too. Pacing yourself and listening to your body is also essential: Don’t push yourself beyond reasonable limits as recovery time between runs is just as important as training itself. Aiming too high can cause serious harm so gauge what pace works best for you—it may take some trial and error but learning this skill will pay dividends come race day.

5 Steps to Marathon Success

If you’re looking to become a marathon runner, then congratulations – you’ve taken the first step on a journey that will challenge and reward you in equal measure. To make sure that your training goes as smoothly as possible, and that your race day is a success, there are several important steps to prepare for your marathon. Here, we’ll walk through the five essential steps for marathon training so that you can be fully ready for the start line:

1. Set Your Goals:

Before beginning any training program it is important to have clear goals in mind. Whether it is achieving a certain time or simply crossing the finish line, having specific targets will keep you motivated and help track your progress throughout your training program. Make sure that these goals are realistic and achievable; setting yourself up for failure from the start will only deter from your long-term motivation.

2. Build Up Mileage Gradually:

One of the most common mistakes made by new runners is attempting too much too soon – this often leads to injury or burnout before actually reaching their goal. To avoid this, it is important to increase mileage gradually over time until eventually reaching marathon distance runs (typically 20 miles). This gradual build-up gives both your body and mind time to adjust to running longer distances while reducing any chance of suffering an injury due to overexertion.

3. Strengthen Your Core Muscles:

While running may seem like primarily a cardiovascular activity, core strength plays an often overlooked role in performance and endurance on the track. By developing strong muscles in the abdomen, hips, back and glutes many runners have seen improved performance along with decreased risk of injury due to improved posture during long runs. This can be achieved by adding in strength exercises such as planks or squats alongside regular running sessions during training weeks.

4. Practice Nutrition:

Nutrition plays an extremely important role when engaging in endurance events such as marathons – what you put into your body will affect how well it performs on race day! Keeping track of meals during training weeks can help prepare runners for what they should eat before long runs or races (typically some carbohydrates) as well as provide a better understanding of how food affects energy levels while running longer distances over time. Stocking up on healthy snacks such as trail mix or fruit can also be beneficial if nutrition needs change during longer runs when other sources may not be available quickly enough!

5. Rest Assuredly:

Last but not least, rest days are just as important as running days! Allowing both mental and physical recovery periods between workouts will ensure that runners do not get burned out before they reach their goals; most experts recommend one rest day per week while ramping up mileage levels leading up to race day although more breaks may be needed depending on current fitness levels or previous injuries sustained (such as shin splints). Taking some time off from running every now and then could save from unnecessary aches & pains later down the road – even if it means missing out on one extra run!

Follow the Plan!

By following these five steps – setting goals, building up mileage slowly, strengthening core muscles, practicing nutritional habits, and resting assuredly – any aspiring marathoner can prepare themselves for success come race day! Following this basic formula will give any athlete an improved chance at finishing their race successfully without risking any unnecessary pain or fatigue en route!

Follow the Training Plan

Training for a marathon is no small feat. It takes months of dedication and hard work to get your body ready to run 26.2 miles. But don’t let that deter you! The feeling of accomplishment and pride you’ll feel when you cross that finish line is unlike any other. If you’re thinking about taking on the challenge of training for a marathon, here are a few things you need to know.

1. Start Slow
   If you’re just starting out, don’t try to do too much too soon. Ease into your training by gradually increasing your mileage each week. And be sure to take rest days! Your body needs time to recover after long runs, so give yourself a day or two off each week.
2. Join a Group
   One of the best ways to stay motivated during training is to join a running group or find a training partner. Having someone to push you and hold you accountable will make the process a lot more enjoyable (and less daunting).
3. Invest in Good Shoes
   One of the most important pieces of gear for any runner is a good pair of running shoes. They need to be comfortable, fit well, and provide the right amount of support for your feet. It’s worth it to spend some time (and money) finding the perfect pair of shoes for you.
4. Set Some Goals
   Setting goals is important for any type of training, but it’s especially crucial when preparing for a marathon. Having tangible targets to reach will help keep you motivated throughout the process. And don’t forget to celebrate when you reach those milestones!
5. Be Prepared for Bad Runs
   There will be times during your training when you just don’t feel like running—and that’s okay! Everyone has bad runs from time to time. Just don’t let one bad run ruin your whole training plan. Get back on track and don’t let yourself get discouraged.
6. Stick with It
   The key to success in marathon training (or any type of training) is consistency. There will be days when you don’t feel like running, but it’s important to stick with your plan and not skip workouts if possible. The more consistent you are with your training, the better results you’ll see come race day.

You Can Do It!

Marathon training is no easy feat, but it’s definitely doable with some planning and preparation. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to crossing that finish line in no time!