Marathons are not uncommon among many sporting events. They are attended by both professional and experienced athletes, as well as amateur athletes. How did the marathon distance come about and how many days in a row can you cover it?
What is the history of the emergence of a marathon more than 42 kilometers long, and what are the current world records in a marathon for women and men? Who is in the top 10 fastest marathon runners and what are the interesting facts about the 42 km marathon? As well as tips for preparing and overcoming the marathon, read this article.
History of the 42 km marathon
The marathon is an Olympic track and field discipline and is 42 kilometers, 195 meters (or 26 miles, 395 yards) long. At the Olympic Games, men have competed in this discipline since 1896, and women since 1984.
As a rule, marathons are held on the highway, although sometimes this term refers to competitions in long distance running on rough terrain, as well as in extreme conditions (sometimes the distances can be different). Another popular running distance is the half marathon.
Times of antiquity
As the legend says, Phidippides - a warrior from Greece - in 490 BC, at the end of the Battle of Marathon, made a non-stop run to Athens in order to notify his fellow tribesmen of the victory.
When he reached Athens, he fell dead, but still managed to shout: "Rejoice, Athenians, we won!" This legend was first described by Plutarch in his work "The Glory of Athens", more than half a millennium after the real events.
According to another version (Herodotus tells about her), Phidippides was a messenger. He was sent by the Athenians to the Spartans for reinforcements, he ran more than 230 kilometers in two days. However, his marathon was unsuccessful ...
Nowadays
Michel Breal, a Frenchman, came up with the idea to organize a marathon race. He dreamed that this distance would be included in the program of the Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens - the first in modern times. The Frenchman's idea was to the liking of Pierre de Coubertin, who was the founder of the modern Olympic Games.
The first qualifying marathon was eventually held in Greece, with Harilaos Vasilakos becoming the winner, who ran the distance in three hours and eighteen minutes. And the Greek Spiridon Luis became the Olympic champion, having overcome the marathon distance in two hours fifty-eight minutes and fifty seconds. Interestingly, on the way, he stopped to have a glass of wine with his uncle.
The participation of women in the marathon during the Olympic Games took place for the first time at the Games in Los Angeles (USA) - this was in 1984.
Marathon distance
At the first Olympic Games in 1896, the marathon was forty kilometers (24.85 miles) long. Then it changed, and from 1924 it became 42.195 kilometers (26.22 miles) - this was established by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (modern IAAF).
Olympic discipline
Since the first modern Olympic Games, the men's marathon has become the final program of athletics. Marathon runners finished at the main Olympic stadium, either a few hours before the closing of the games, or at the same time as the closure.
Current world records
In men
The world record in the men's marathon is held by Kenyan athlete Dennis Quimetto.
He ran a distance of 42 kilometers and 195 meters in two hours, two minutes and fifty seconds. This was in 2014.
Among women
The world record in women's marathon distance belongs to the British athlete Paul Redcliffe. In 2003, she ran a marathon in two hours and fifteen minutes and twenty-five seconds.
In 2012, Kenyan runner Mary Keitani tried to break this record, but she failed. She ran a marathon more than three minutes slower than Paula Radcliffe.
Top 10 fastest male marathon runners
The favorites here are mainly athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia.
- Runner out Kenya Dennis Quimetto... He ran the Berlin Marathon on September 28, 2014 in 2 hours 2 minutes and 57 seconds.
- Runner out Ethiopia Kenenisa Bekele. He ran the Berlin Marathon on September 25, 2016 in 2 hours 3 minutes 3 seconds.
- Runner from Kenya Eliud Kipchoge ran the London Marathon on April 24, 2016 in 2 hours 3 minutes and 5 seconds.
- Runner from Kenya Emmanuel Mutai ran the Berlin Marathon on September 28, 2014 in 2 hours 3 minutes and 13 seconds.
- Kenyan Runner Wilson Kipsang ran the Berlin Marathon on September 29, 2013 in 2 hours 3 minutes and 23 seconds.
- Kenyan runner Patrick Macau ran the Berlin Marathon on September 25, 2011 in 2 hours 3 minutes and 38 seconds.
- Kenyan runner Stanley Beevott ran the London Marathon on April 24, 2016 in 2 hours 3 minutes and 51 seconds.
- A runner from Ethiopia ran the Berlin Marathon in 2 hours 3 minutes and 59 seconds September 28, 2008.
- Kenyan runner Eliu dKipchoge ran the Berlin Marathon in 2 hours, 4 minutes September 27, 2015.
- Closes the top ten runner from Kenya Jeffrey Mutai, who overcame the Berlin Marathon on September 30, 2012 in 2 hours 4 minutes and 15 seconds.
Top 10 fastest female marathon runners
- In 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds, an athlete from the UK Paula Radcliffe ran the April 13, 2003 London Marathon.
- In 2 hours 18 minutes and 37 seconds, the runner from Kenyan Mary Keitani ran the 22 April 2012 London Marathon.
- In 2 hours 18 minutes and 47 seconds a Kenyan runner Katrin Ndereba ran the October 7, 2001 Chicago Marathon.
- Ethiopian in 2 hours 18 minutes 58 seconds Tiki Gelana completed the Rotterdam Marathon on April 15, 2012.
- In 2 hours 19 minutes 12 seconds Japanese Mizuki Noguchi ran the September 25, 2005 Berlin Marathon
- In 2 hours 19 minutes 19 seconds, an athlete from Germany Irina Mikitenko ran the Berlin Marathon on September 28, 2008.
- In 2 hours 19 minutes 25 seconds Kenyan Glades Cherono overcame the Berlin Marathon on September 27, 2015.
- In 2 hours 19 minutes 31 seconds, runners from Ethiopian Acelefesh Mergia ran the Dubai Marathon on January 27, 2012.
- Runner from Kenya in 2 hours 19 minutes 34 seconds Lucy Kabuu passed the Dubai Marathon on January 27, 2012.
- Rounding out the top ten female marathon runners Dina Castor from the USA, which ran the London Marathon in 2: 19.36 on 23 April 2006.
Interesting about the 42 km marathon
- Overcoming a running distance of 42 kilometers 195 meters is the third stage in the Ironman triathlon competition.
- The marathon distance can be covered both in competitive and amateur races.
- So, in 2003, Ranulf Fiennes from Great Britain ran seven marathons on seven different continents and parts of the world for seven days.
- Belgian citizen Stefaan Engels decided in 2010 that he would run a marathon every day of the year, but he was injured in January, so he started all over again in February.
- On March 30, the Belgian beat Spaniard Ricardo Abad Martinez's result, who ran 150 marathons in the same number of days in 2009. As a result, by February 2011, 49-year-old Stefan Engels completed the 365 marathon. On average, he spent four hours on a marathon and showed the best result at two hours and 56 minutes.
- Johnny Kelly took part in the Boston Marathon more than sixty times from 1928 to 1992, and as a result, he ran to the finish 58 times and became the winner twice (in 1935 and 1945 AD)
- December 31, 2010 55-year-old Canadian citizen Martin Parnell ran 250 marathons during the year. During this time, he worn out 25 pairs of sneakers. Also, sometimes he had to run at temperatures below minus thirty degrees.
- According to scientists from Spain, the bones of marathon runners for a long time in old age do not undergo aging and destruction, unlike other people.
- Russian runner Sergei Burlakov, who had both legs and hands amputated, took part in the 2003 New York Marathon. He became the world's first marathon runner to be quadruple amputated.
- The world's oldest marathon runner is Indian citizen Fauja Singh. He entered the Guinness Book of Records when he ran the marathon at the age of 100 in 2011 at 8:11:06. Now the athlete is over a hundred years old.
- Australian farmer Cliff Young won the ultramarathon in 1961, even though it was his first time. The runner covered 875 km in five days, fifteen hours and four minutes. He moved at a slow pace, at first he lagged far behind the others, but in the end he left professional athletes behind. He succeeded later, that he moved without sleep (this became a habit with him, since as a farmer he worked for several days in a row - collecting sheep in pastures).
- British runner Steve Chock has collected the largest charitable donation in marathon history of £ 2 million. This happened during the London Marathon in April 2011.
- 44-year-old athlete Brianen Price took part in the marathon less than a year after he underwent heart transplant surgery.
- A radio operator from Sweden Andrei Kelberg covered the marathon distance, moving along the deck of the Sotello ship. In total, he ran 224 laps on the vessel, spending four hours and four minutes on it.
- American runner Margaret Hagerty started running at the age of 72. By the age of 81, she had already participated in marathons on all seven continents of the world.
- British runner Lloyd Scott ran the London Marathon in 202 in a diver's suit weighing 55 kilograms. He spent about five days on this, setting the world record for the slowest marathon run. In 2011, he took part in a marathon in a snail costume, spending 26 days on the race.
- Ethiopian athlete Abebe Bakila won the 1960 Rome marathon. Interestingly, he covered the entire distance barefoot.
- Typically, a professional marathon runner runs a marathon at a speed of 20 km / h, which is twice as fast as the migration of reindeer and saigas.
Bit standards for marathon running
For women
The discharge standards for marathon running with a distance of 42 kilometers 195 meters for women are as follows:
- International Master of Sports (MSMK) - 2: 35.00;
- Master of Sports (MS) - 2: 48.00;
- Candidate Master of Sports (CCM) - 3: 00.00;
- 1st category - 3: 12.00;
- 2nd category - 3: 30.00;
- 3rd category - Zak. Dist.
For men
The discharge standards for marathon running with a distance of 42 kilometers 195 meters for men are as follows:
- International Master of Sports (MSMK) - 2: 13.30;
- Master of Sports (MS) - 2: 20.00;
- Candidate Master of Sports (CCM) - 2: 28.00;
- 1st category - 2: 37.00;
- 2nd category - 2: 48.00;
- 3rd category - Zak. Dist.
How to prepare for a marathon so that you can run it in the minimum amount of time?
Workout regimen
The most important thing is regular training, which should be started at least three months before the competition.
If your goal is to run a marathon in three hours, then you need to run at least five hundred kilometers during training in the last month. It is advisable to train as follows: three days of training, one day of rest.
Vitamins and diet
As vitamins and microelements are mandatory for use:
- FROM,
- IN,
- multivitamins,
- calcium,
- magnesium.
Also, before the marathon, you can try the popular "protein" diet, and a week before the competition, stop eating foods that contain carbohydrates. At the same time, three days before the marathon, you need to exclude foods containing proteins and eat foods containing carbohydrates.
Equipment
- The main thing is to choose comfortable and lightweight sneakers, the so-called "marathon".
- Places where friction can occur can be smeared with petroleum jelly or baby-type oil.
- Better to give preference to quality clothing made of synthetic materials.
- If the marathon takes place on a sunny day, a hat will be needed, as well as a protective cream with a filter of at least 20-30.
Competition Tips
- Set a goal - and clearly go to it. For example, determine the time you will spend covering the distance, as well as the average time.
- You don't have to get started fast - this is one of the common mistakes everyone newbies make. Better to distribute your forces evenly.
- Remember: reaching the finish line is a worthy goal for a beginner.
- During the marathon itself, you should definitely drink - either pure water or energy drinks.
- Various fruits such as apples, bananas or citrus fruits, as well as dried fruits and nuts will help replenish your strength. Also, energy bars are useful.
