Marathons

The 20-year-old athlete became the first woman to enter the marathon, and officials tried to physically stop her. They couldn't.

By Christopher Hassiotis

As far as places to go for a walk, Hawaii is a tough one to top. The Honolulu Marathon has no time limit, offers awards in the racewalk category and even features a festive pre-race luau to boot. What are five of the world's best walk-friendly races?

By Julia Layton

Running 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) isn't an option for most people -- many people don't even like driving that far. But for you long-distance runners looking for the ultimate challenge, check out our list of the world's biggest marathons.

By Emilie Sennebogen

Although the first marathon was run 2,500 years ago -- and its lone participant died in the process -- long-distance running has never been more popular. AIMS coordinates thousands of races around the world at a variety of distances, from fun runs to marathons.

By Dave Roos

When a race has thousands of participants, how on Earth can anyone keep track of the time of each individual runner? Simple -- with a little device called a timing chip.

By Kevin P. Allen

If you're a veteran marathoner looking to set a personal best -- or a newbie seeking a flat, fast course -- the Berlin Marathon could be the race for you. It's the third-largest marathon in the world -- and the fastest.

By Alison Cooper

The granddaddy of marathon running events, the Boston Marathon has drawn Olympic hopefuls and runners from around the world since its beginning in 1897. The course is ineligible for international record setting, so why do countless athletes compete for a chance to run Boston's punishing hills?

By Jill Jaracz

From its inception in 1977, the Chicago Marathon has held sway as one of the world's largest marathons. Why is the Windy City such a popular race destination, and how can speedsters register to compete for the substantial cash prize?

By Gerlinda Grimes

After a series of false starts, the 25-year-old LA Marathon hit its stride this year with a new route called "Stadium to the Sea." Join us as we trace the race's history and find out what makes it unique.

By Kevin P. Allen

How about going for a run to visit the Queen of England? Along with Boston, New York, Chicago and Berlin, the city of London is one of the world's top five marathons and part of the World Marathon Major series.

By Gerlinda Grimes

You might think that a race called the Marine Corps Marathon would be open primarily to runners from the armed forces, but anyone can run. Is this famous marathon as tough as its namesake?

By Nathan Chandler

The New York City Marathon is one of the most prestigious races in the world. What factors helped it grow from 127 entrants to nearly 38,000 in a 40-year span?

By Josh Briggs

If you're a marathon runner with an appreciation for stunning locales, then the Marathon de Paris may be for you. But how do you register, and what does the course have to offer?

By Emilie Sennebogen

Peak fitness and rock might seem at ends. On the one hand, you have protein shakes and training runs; on the other, all-nighters and beer runs. But to the folks behind the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, running 26.2 miles and partying aren't mutually exclusive activities.

By Julia Layton

This is a unique marathon because many runners discard notions of running a personal best in favor of giving themselves time to stop and photograph the various landmarks along the route. Let's take a tour of this romantic race.

By Kevin P. Allen

A marathon is a grueling event that involves running for more than 26 miles. So, what makes a tough marathon? How about rocky terrain, steep inclines and extreme weather? Here's a rundown of the world's most punishing marathons.

By Josh Clark