History

The marathon is a long-distance running event of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles 385
yards) that can be run either as a road race or off-road (for example, on mountain trails).

The name marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, who was
sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been
defeated in the Battle of Marathon.[1] It is said that he ran the entire distance without
stopping and burst into the senate with the words "Masters! Victory is ours!" before
collapsing and dying due to exhaustion.[2] The account of the run from Marathon to
Athens first appears in Plutarch's On the Glory of Athens in the 1st century AD who
quotes from Heraclides Ponticus's lost work, giving the runner's name as either Thersipus
of Erchius or Eucles.[3] Lucian of Samosata (2nd century AD) also gives the story but
names the runner Philippides (not Pheidippides).[4]

The Greek historian Herodotus, the main source for the Greco-Persian Wars, mentions
Pheidippides as the messenger who ran from Athens to Sparta asking for help.[5] In some
Herodotus manuscripts the name of the runner between Athens and Sparta is given as
Philippides. Herodotus makes no mention of a messenger sent from Marathon to Athens,
and relates that the main part of the Athenian army, having already fought and won the
gruelling battle, and fearing a naval raid by the Persian fleet against an undefended
Athens, marched quickly back from the battle to Athens, arriving the same day.

There are two roads out of the battlefield of Marathon towards Athens, one more
mountainous towards the north whose distance is about 34.5 km (21.4 miles), and another
flatter but longer towards the south with a distance of 40.8 km (25.4 miles). It has been
argued that the ancient runner took the more difficult northern road because at the time of
the battle there were still Persian soldiers in the south of the plain.

In 1876, Robert Browning wrote the poem "Pheidippides". Browning's poem, his
composite story, became part of late 19th century popular culture and was accepted as a
historic legend.

[edit] Modern Olympics marathon

1896 Olympic marathon

When the idea of a modern Olympics became a reality at the end of the 19th century, the
initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the ancient
glory of Greece. The idea of organizing a marathon race came from Michel Bréal, who
wanted the event to feature in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This
idea was heavily supported by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics,
as well as the Greeks. The Greeks staged a selection race for the Olympic marathon, and
this first marathon was won by Charilaos Vasilakos in 3 hours and 18 minutes (with the
future winner of the introductory Olympic Games marathon coming in fifth). The winner
of the first Olympic Marathon in 1896 (a male only race) was Spiridon "Spiros" Louis, a
Greek water-carrier. He won at the Olympics in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds,
despite stopping on the way for a glass of wine from his uncle waiting near the village of
Chalandri.[citation needed]

The women's marathon was introduced at the 1984 Summer Olympics (Los Angeles,
USA).
Distance Distance
Year
[edit] Distance (kilometres) (miles)
1896 40 24.85
The length of a marathon was not fixed at first, 1900 40.26 25.02
since the only important factor was that all 1904 40 24.85
athletes competed on the same course. The 1906 41.86 26.01
marathon races in the first few Olympic Games 1908 42.195 26.22
were not of a set length, but were approximately 1912 40.2 24.98
40 km,[6] roughly the distance from Marathon to 1920 42.75 26.56
Athens by the longer, flatter route. The exact 1924
length of the Olympic marathon varied depending onward 42.195 26.22
on the route established for each venue.

The marathon at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London was set to measure about
25 miles (40 km) and to start on ‘The Long Walk’ – a magnificent avenue leading up to
Windsor Castle in the grounds of Windsor Great Park. The Princess of Wales wanted her
children to watch the start of the race, so the start of the race was moved to the east lawn
of Windsor Castle, increasing its length to 26 miles (42 km).[6] The race was to finish at
the Great White City Stadium in Shepherd's Bush in London; however, Queen Alexandra
insisted on having the best view of the finish; so, in the words of the official Olympic
report, "385 yards were run on the cinder track to the finish, below the Royal Box".[6] The
length then became 42.195 km (26 miles 385 yards or 26 7⁄32 miles).

For the next Olympics in 1912, the length was changed to 40.2 km (24.98 miles) and
changed again to 42.75 km (26.56 miles) for the 1920 Olympics until it was fixed at the
1908 distance for the 1924 Olympics. In fact, of the first seven Olympic Games, there
were six different marathon distances between 40 km and 42.75 km (40 km being used
twice).

Following the 1908 Olympics in London, an annual event called the Polytechnic
Marathon had been instituted over the 1908 distance of 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km),
and it was largely due to the prestige of the Polytechnic Marathon that 42.195 km was
adopted as the official marathon distance in 1921 by the International Amateur Athletic
Federation (IAAF) - Rule 240 of their Competition Rules.[1]. The difference between
42.195 km and 26 miles 385 yards is about one centimetre. The difference between the
standard distance and the rounded figure frequently employed (as in the table), 26.22
miles, is a little over two metres.

[edit] World records and world's best

World records were not officially recognised by the IAAF until January 1, 2004;
previously, the best times for the marathon were referred to as the 'world best'. Courses
must conform to IAAF standards for a record to be recognized. However, marathon
routes still vary greatly in elevation, course, and surface, making exact comparisons
impossible. Typically, the fastest times are set over relatively flat courses near sea level,
during good weather conditions and with the assistance of pacesetters.

The world record time for men over the distance is 2 hours 4 minutes and 26 seconds, set
in the Berlin Marathon by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia on September 30, 2007, an
improvement of 21 minutes and 13 seconds since 1947 (Marathon world best
progression). The men's world record represents an average pace of under 2:57 per
kilometer (4:45 per mile). The world record for women was set by Paula Radcliffe of
United Kingdom in the London Marathon on April 13, 2003, in 2 hours 15 minutes and
25 seconds. This time was set using male pacesetters; the fastest time by a woman
without using a male pacesetter ("woman-only") was also set by Paula Radcliffe, again
during the London Marathon, with a time of 2 hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds, on April
17, 2005.

All-time men's best marathon times under 2h 10'30"

All-time women's best marathon times under 2h 30'00"

[edit] Olympic traditions

Since the modern games were founded, it has become a tradition for the men's Olympic
marathon to be the last event of the athletics calendar, with a finish inside the Olympic
stadium, often within hours of, or even incorporated into, the closing ceremonies. The
marathon of the 2004 Summer Olympics revived the long-established route from
Marathon to Athens ending at Panathinaiko Stadium, the venue for the 1896 Summer
Olympics.

[edit] Running a marathon

[edit] General

Completing a marathon is considered very difficult, but many coaches believe that it is
possible for anyone who is willing to put in the time and effort. Various first-person
accounts of (first-time) marathon training and successful racing can be found on the
internet, e.g. on the Dead Runners Society electronic mailing list.

There are two strategies for completing a marathon: actually running the whole
distance[7], and a run-walk strategy.[1] An intermediate approach is to run from water stop
to water stop, and walk through the water stop to ensure the fluids are consumed instead
of spilled.

[edit] Finish times for non-elite runners

Most participants do not run a marathon to win. More important for most runners is their
personal finish time and their placement within their specific gender and age group.
Another very important goal is to break certain time barriers. For example, ambitious
recreational first-timers often try to run the marathon under 5 hours; more competitive
runners may attempt to run under 4 hours.

Other benchmarks are the qualifying times for major marathons. Especially important
among these are the times necessary to obtain entry for the Boston Marathon, the oldest
marathon in the United States, which requires a qualifying time for all non-professional
runners. The New York City marathon also requires a qualifying time for guaranteed
entry, at a pace slightly faster than Boston's. A qualifying time is also needed for
Washington D.C.'s National Marathon.

[edit] Training

For most runners, the marathon is the longest run they have ever attempted. Most coaches
believe that the most important element in marathon training is the long run. Recreational
runners commonly try to reach a maximum of about 20 miles (32 kilometres) in their
longest weekly run and about 40 miles (64 kilometres) a week in total when training for
the marathon, but wide variability exists in practice and in recommendations. More
experienced marathoners may run a longer distance, and more miles or kilometres during
the week. Greater weekly training mileages can offer greater results in terms of distance
and endurance, but also carry a greater risk of training injury. Most male elite marathon
runners will have weekly mileages of over 100 miles (160 kilometres).[8]

Many training programs last a minimum of five or six months, with a gradual increase
(every two weeks) in the distance run and a little decrease (1 to 3 weeks) for recovery.
The decrease, commonly called the taper, should last a minimum of two weeks and a
maximum of three weeks, according to most trainers. For beginners looking to merely
finish a marathon, a minimum of 4 months of running 4 days a week is recommended [9].
Many trainers recommend a weekly increase in mileage of no more than 10%. It is also
often advised to maintain a consistent running program for six weeks or so before
beginning a marathon training program to allow the body to adapt to the new stresses.[10]

Some training programs may be found at Runner's World [11], Hal Higdon [7], Jeff
Galloway [1], Boston Athletic Association [12] and many others.
During marathon training, adequate recovery time is important. If fatigue or pain is felt, it
is recommended to take a break for a couple of days or more to let the body heal.
Overtraining is a condition that results from not getting enough rest to allow the body to
recover from difficult training. It can actually result in a lower endurance and speed and
place a runner at a greater risk of injury.[8]

[edit] Before the race

During the last two or three weeks before the marathon, runners will typically reduce
their weekly training, gradually, by as much as 50%-75% of previous peak volume, and
take at least a couple of days of complete rest to allow their bodies to recover from any
strong effort. The last long training run might be undertaken no later than two weeks
prior to the event. This is a phase of training known as tapering. Many marathoners also
"carbo-load" (increase their carbohydrate intake while holding total caloric intake
constant) during the week before the marathon to allow their bodies to store more
glycogen.

Immediately before the race, many runners will refrain from eating solid food to avoid
digestive problems. They will also ensure that they are fully hydrated beforehand. Light
stretching before the race is believed by many to help keep muscles limber.

[edit] During the race

Coaches recommend trying to maintain as steady a pace as possible when running a

marathon. Many novice runners make the mistake of trying to "bank time" early in the
race by starting with a quicker pace than they can actually hope to maintain for the entire
race. This strategy can backfire, leaving the runner without enough energy to complete
the race or causing the runner to cramp. Therefore, some coaches advise novice runners
to start out slower than their average goal pace to save energy for the second half of the
race (negative splits). As an example, the first five to eight miles (13 km) might be run at
a pace 15-20 seconds per mile slower than the target pace for later.

Typically, there is a maximum allowed time of about six hours after which the marathon
route is closed, although some larger marathons (such as Myrtle Beach, Marine Corps
and Honolulu) keep the course open considerably longer (eight hours or more). Runners
still on the course at that time are picked up by a truck and carried to the finish line.
Finishing a marathon at all is a worthy accomplishment. Times under four hours (9:09 per
mile) are considered a superior achievement for amateurs.[citation needed]

[edit] Water consumption dangers

Water and light sports drinks offered along the race course should be consumed regularly
in order to avoid dehydration. While drinking fluids during the race is absolutely
necessary for all runners, in some cases too much drinking can also be dangerous.
Drinking more than one loses during a race can decrease the concentration of sodium in
the blood (a condition called hyponatremia), which may result in vomiting, seizures,
coma and even death.[13] Eating salt packets during a race possibly can help with this
problem. The International Marathon Medical Directors Association issued a warning in
2001 that urged runners only to drink when they are thirsty, rather than "drinking ahead
of their thirst."

An elite runner never has the time to drink too much water. However, a slower runner can
easily drink too much water during the four or more hours of a race and immediately
afterwards. Water overconsumption typically occurs when a runner is overly concerned
about being dehydrated and overdoes the effort to drink enough. The amount of water
required to cause complications from drinking too much may be only 3 liters, or even
less, depending on the individual. Women are more prone to hyponatremia than men. A
recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that 13% of runners
completing the 2002 Boston Marathon had hyponatremia.[14]

A 4+ hour runner can drink about 4-6 ounces (120-170 ml) of fluids every 20-30 minutes
without fear of hyponatremia. It is not clear if consuming sports drinks or salty snacks
reduces risk. A patient suffering hyponatremia can be given a small volume of a
concentrated salt solution intravenously to raise sodium concentrations in blood. Since
taking and testing a blood sample takes time, runners should weigh themselves before
running and write the results on their bibs. If anything goes wrong, first aid workers can
use the weight information to tell if the patient had consumed too much water.

[edit] Glycogen and “the wall”

Carbohydrates that a person eats are converted by the liver and muscles into glycogen for
storage. Glycogen burns quickly to provide quick energy. Runners can store about 8 MJ
or 2,000 kcal worth of glycogen in their bodies, enough for about 30 km or 18-20 miles
of running. Many runners report that running becomes noticeably more difficult at that
point.[citation needed] When glycogen runs low, the body must then burn stored fat for energy,
which does not burn as readily. When this happens, the runner will experience dramatic
fatigue. This phenomenon is called "hitting the wall". The aim of training for the
marathon, according to many coaches,[citation needed] is to maximize the limited glycogen
available so that the fatigue of the "wall" is not as dramatic. This is in part accomplished
by utilizing a higher percentage of energy from burned fat even during the early phase of
the race, thus conserving glycogen.

Carbohydrate-based "energy" gels are a good way to avoid or reduce the effect of "hitting
the wall" as they provide easy to digest energy during the run. Some people recommend
taking an energy gel every 45-60 minutes during the race. Energy gels usually contain
varying amounts of sodium and potassium and some also contain caffeine. They need to
be consumed with a certain amount of water .

Alternatives to gels are solid candy, cookies, other forms of concentrated sugars, or any
food high in simple carbohydrates which can be digested easily by the individual runner.
Many runners experiment with consuming energy supplements during training runs to
determine what works best for them. Each runner may be different.

[edit] After a marathon

It is normal to experience muscle soreness after a marathon. This is usually attributed to

microscopic tears in the muscles. It causes a characteristic awkward walking style that is
immediately recognizable by other runners. Muscle soreness usually abates within a
week, but most runners will take about three weeks to completely recover to pre-race
condition.

The immune system is reportedly suppressed for a short time. Studies have indicated that
an increase in vitamin C in a runner's post-race diet decreases the chance of sinus
infections, a relatively common condition, especially in ultramarathons. Changes to the
blood chemistry may lead physicians to mistakenly diagnose heart malfunction.

It is still possible to overdrink water after the race has finished, and runners should take
care not to overconsume water in the immediate hours after finishing the race.

Due to the stress on the body during a marathon, a person's kidneys can shut down,
leading to the accumulation of toxins in the blood. This is especially dangerous if the
runner has consumed any medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or
acetaminophen (Tylenol). If a runner has not urinated within 4-6 hours after the marathon
despite consuming adequate fluids, he or she should seek medical attention.

It is relatively common to only come to realize that there are injuries to the feet and knees
after the marathon has finished. Blisters on the feet and toes commonly only become
painful after the race is over. Some runners may experience toenails which turn black and
sometimes subsequently detach from the toe. This is from the toenails being too long and
impacting on the front of the shoe.

Some sports doctors advise that gentle exercise in the week after the marathon can aid
muscle recovery, but obviously this must be tailored to the individual situation. Receiving
a sports massage from a licensed massage therapist is a good idea particularly if done
approximately 24-48 hours after finishing a marathon. Massage has been shown to have
less benefit if received immediately after the race.[citation needed]

After long training runs and the marathon itself, consuming carbohydrates to replace
glycogen stores and protein to aid muscle recovery is commonly recommended. In
addition, soaking the lower half of the body for 20 minutes or so in cold or ice water may
force blood through the leg muscles to speed recovery. Recovery from these runs will be
faster with these strategies.

[edit] Etiquette
Modern marathons such as New York, Chicago and Berlin have tens of thousands of
runners and millions of spectators. Common courtesy for other runners becomes
necessary when running in a densely packed crowd [15]. Those employing a walk/run
strategy or who are simply walking are encouraged to stay to one side, leaving the middle
of the street for faster runners.

Runners in groups are encouraged not to block the entire street, preventing other runners
from passing them. Two or three runners abreast is recommended. Large groups may
consider single or double files.

Spectators should remain on the curbs, instead of crowding onto the street and
condensing participants into an even smaller space.

[edit] Cardiac risks

A study published in 1996[16] found that the risk of having a fatal heart attack during, or in
the period 24 hours after, a marathon, was approximately 1 in 50,000 over an athlete's
racing career - which the authors characterised as an "extremely small" risk. The paper
went on to say that since the risk was so small, cardiac screening programs for marathons
were not warranted. However, this study was not an attempt to assess the overall benefit
or risk to cardiac health of marathon running.

In 2006, a study of 60 non-elite marathon participants tested runners for certain proteins
which indicate heart damage or dysfunction after they had completed the marathon, and
gave them ultrasound scans before and after the race. The study revealed that, in that
sample of 60 people, runners who had done less than 35 miles per week training before
the race were most likely to show some heart damage or dysfunction, while runners who
had done more than 45 miles per week training beforehand showed little or no heart
problems.[17]

It should be emphasised that regular exercise in general provides a range of health

benefits, including a substantially reduced risk of heart attacks. Moreover, these studies
only relate to marathons, not to other forms of running. It has been suggested that as
marathon running is a test of endurance, it stresses the heart more than shorter running
activities, and this may be the reason for the reported findings.

In 2007, Ryan Shay, a 28 year-old elite long-distance runner, passed away after
collapsing early in the US Olympic marathon trials. His death was reported as probably
due to a pre-existing heart abnormality.

[edit] Marathon races

See also: List of marathon races
Annually, more than 800 marathons are organized worldwide. Some of these belong to
the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) which has grown
since its foundation in 1982 to embrace 238 member events in 82 countries and
territories. Five of the largest and most prestigious races, Boston, New York City,
Chicago, London, and Berlin, form the biannual World Marathon Majors series, awarding
$500,000 annually to the best overall male and female performers in the series. Other
notable large marathons include Marine Corps Marathon, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Rome
and Paris. One of the more unusual marathons is the Midnight Sun Marathon held in
Tromsø, Norway at 70 degrees North. Using unofficial and temporary courses, measured
by GPS, races of marathon distance are now held at the North Pole, in Antarctica and
over desert terrain. Among other unusual marathons can be mentioned: The Great Wall of
China Marathon on The Great Wall of China, The Big Five Marathon among the safari
wildlife of South Africa, The Great Tibetan Marathon - a marathon in an atmosphere of
Tibetan Buddhism at an altitude of 3500 meters, and The Polar circle marathon on the
permanent ice cap of Greenland in -15 degrees Celsius/+5 degrees Fahrenheit
temperatures. The Intercontinental Istanbul Eurasia Marathon is the only marathon where
participants run over two continents, Europe and Asia, during the course of a single
event. The historic Polytechnic Marathon which gave the world the standard distance of
42.195 km finally died out in 1996.

Marathon races usually use the starting format called mass start, though larger races may
use a wave start, where different genders or abilities may begin at different times.

[edit] Notable marathon runners

This is a list of elite athletes notable for their performance in marathoning. For a list of
people notable in other fields who have also run marathons, see list of marathoners.

[edit] Men

• Gezahegne Abera • Hannes Kolehmainen

• Abel Antón • Tom Longboat
• Stefano Baldini • Carlos Lopes
• Arturo Barrios • Spiridon Louis
• Dick Beardsley • Greg Meyer
• Abebe Bikila • Alain Mimoun
• Amby Burfoot • Gerard Nijboer
• Bob Busquaert • Benjamín Paredes
• Dionicio Cerón • Jim Peters
• Robert Cheruiyot • Martín Pitayo
• Waldemar Cierpinski • Julio Rey
• Derek Clayton • Bill Rodgers
• Robert de Castella • Evans Rutto
• Andrés Espinoza • Alberto Salazar
• Martín Fiz • Toshihiko Seko
 • Bruce Fordyce • Frank Shorter
• Salvador García • Sohn Kee-Chung
• Haile Gebrselassie • Germán Silva
• Rodolfo Gómez • Albin Stenroos
• Ryan Hall • Paul Tergat
• Hal Higdon • Ed Whitlock
• Juma Ikangaa • Geri Winkler
• Steve Jones • Mamo Wolde
• Meb Keflezighi
• Emil Zátopek
• Khalid Khannouchi

[edit] Women

• Elfenesh Alemu • Catherine Ndereba

• Carla Beurskens • Mizuki Noguchi
• Katrin Dörre-Heinig • Uta Pippig
• Adriana Fernández • Paula Radcliffe
• Lidiya Grigoryeva • Fatuma Roba
• Helena Javornik • Joan Benoit Samuelson
• Deena Kastor • Kathrine Switzer
• Lornah Kiplagat • Naoko Takahashi
• Renata Kokowska • Grete Waitz
• Ingrid Kristiansen
• Catherina McKiernan • Getenesh Wami

• Rosa Mota

[edit] World all times list (men)

Time Athlete Country Date Place

2h04:26 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia 30 September 2007 Berlin
2h04:55 Paul Tergat Kenya 28 September 2003 Berlin
2h04:56 Sammy Korir Kenya 28 September 2003 Berlin
2h05:38 Khalid Khannouchi United States 14 April 2002 London
2h05:50 Evans Rutto Kenya 12 October 2003 Chicago
2h06:05 Ronaldo da Costa Brazil 20 September 1998 Berlin
2h06:14 Felix Limo Kenya 4 April 2004 Rotterdam
2h06:15 Titus Munji Kenya 28 September 2003 Berlin
2h06:16 Moses Tanui Kenya 24 October 1999 Chicago
2h06:16 Daniel Njenga Kenya 13 October 2002 Chicago

[edit] World all times list (women)

Time Athlete Country Date Place

2h15:25 Paula Radcliffe United Kingdom 13 April 2003 London
2h18:47 Catherine Ndereba Kenya 7 October 2001 Chicago
2h19:12 Mizuki Noguchi Japan 25 September 2005 Berlin
2h19:36 Deena Kastor United States 23 April 2006 London
2h19:39 Sun Yingjie China 19 October 2003 Beijing
2h19:41 Yoko Shibui Japan 26 September 2004 Berlin
2h19:46 Naoko Takahashi Japan 30 September 2001 Berlín
2h19:51 Zhou Chunxiu China 12 March 2006 Seoul
2h20:42 Berhane Adere Ethiopia 22 October 2006 Chicago

[edit] Multiple marathons

As marathon running has become more popular, some athletes have undertaken to
complete goals involving the running of a series of marathons. The most popular goal is
to run a marathon in each state of the United States and the District of Columbia. Over
300 individuals have completed this circuit once and some have done it eight times.[18]
Twenty-seven people have run a marathon on each of the seven continents,[19] and 31
people have run a marathon in each of the Canadian provinces.[20] In 2006, two people,
Sam Thompson and Dean Karnazes,[21] ran 50 marathon distances on 50 consecutive days
in 50 different states.

Other goals are to attempt to run marathons in a series of consecutive weekends (Richard
Worley on 159 weekends),[22] or to run the most marathons during a particular year (e.g.
Larry Macon ran 79 in 2005),[23] or the most in a lifetime. As of June 30, 2007, Horst
Preisler of Germany had successfully completed 1157 marathons plus 343
ultramarathons, a total of 1500 events at marathon distance or longer.[24] Norm Frank of
the United States is credited with 945 marathons.[25] There are even clubs for people who
have run 100 or more marathons; one such club has at least 45 members.[26]
Some runners compete to run the same marathons for the most consecutive years. For
example, Johnny Kelley completed 58 Boston Marathons. Four runners dubbed the
"ground pounders" (Will Brown, Mattew Jaffe, Alfred Richmond, and Mel Williams)
have completed all 32 Marine Corps Marathons.[27]

Time Runner Nationality Place Date

1896-04-
2:58:50 Spiridon Louis Greece Athens, Greece
10
1908-07-
2:55:18.4 Johnny Hayes United States Shepherd's Bush, England
24
1909-01-
2:52:45.4 Robert Fowler United States Yonkers, USA
01
1909-02-
2:46:52.6 James Clark United States New York City, USA
12
1909-05-
2:46:04.6 Albert Raines United States New York City, USA
08
United 1909-05-
2:42:31 Frederick Barrett Shepherd's Bush, England
Kingdom 26
United 1913-05-
2:38:16.2 Harry Green Shepherd's Bush, England
Kingdom 12
1913-05-
2:36:06.6 Alexis Ahlgren Sweden Shepherd's Bush, England
31
Hannes 1920-08-
2:32:35.8 Finland Antwerp, Belgium
Kolehmainen 20
1925-10-
2:29:01.8 Albert Michelsen United States Port Chester, USA
13
Empire of 1935-03-
2:27:49 Fusashige Suzuki Tokyo, Japan
Japan 31
Empire of 1935-04-
2:26:44 Yasuo Ikenaka Tokyo, Japan
Japan 03
1935-11-
2:26:42 Sohn Kee-chung South Korea Tokyo, Japan
03
1947-04-
2:25:39 Suh Yun-Bok South Korea Boston Marathon, USA
19
United 1952-06-
2:20:42.2 James Peters Chiswick, England
Kingdom 14
United 1953-07-
2:18:40.2 James Peters Chiswick, England
Kingdom 13
United 1953-10-
2:18:34.8 James Peters Turku, Finland
Kingdom 04
United 1954-07-
2:17:39.4 James Peters Chiswick, England
Kingdom 26
 1958-08-
2:15:17 Sergey Popov Soviet Union Stockholm, Sweden
24
1960-09-
2:15:16.2 Abebe Bikila Ethiopia Rome, Italy
10
1963-02-
2:15:15.8 Toru Terasawa Japan Beppu, Japan
17
1963-07-
2:14:28 Leonard Edelen United States Chiswick, England
15
United 1964-07-
2:13:55.4 Basil Heatley Chiswick, England
Kingdom 13
1964-10-
2:12:11 Abebe Bikila Ethiopia Tokyo, Japan
21
1965-06-
2:12:00 Morio Shigematsu Japan Shepherd's Bush, England
12
1967-12-
2:09:36 Derek Clayton Australia Fukuoka Marathon, Japan
03
1969-05-
2:08:33 Derek Clayton Australia Antwerp, Belgium
03
1981-12-
2:08:18 Robert de Castella Australia Fukuoka Marathon, Japan
06
United 1984-10-
2:08:05 Steve Jones Chicago Marathon, USA
Kingdom 21
Rotterdam Marathon, 1985-04-
2:07:12 Carlos Lopes Portugal
Netherlands 20
Rotterdam Marathon, 1988-04-
2:06:50 Belayneh Dinsamo Ethiopia
Netherlands 17
1998-09-
2:06:05 Ronaldo da Costa Brazil Berlin Marathon, Germany
20
1999-10-
2:05:42 Khalid Khannouchi Morocco Chicago Marathon, USA
24
2002-04-
2:05:38 Khalid Khannouchi United States London Marathon, England
14
2003-09-
2:04:55 Paul Tergat Kenya Berlin Marathon, Germany
28
2007-09-
2:04:26 Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia Berlin Marathon, Germany
30

[edit] Women
Time Runner Nationality Place Date
3:27:45 Dale Greig Great Britain Ryde, England May 23, 1964
Mildred Auckland Marathon, New
3:19:33 New Zealand July 21, 1964
Sampson Zealand
3:15:22 Maureen Wilton Canada Toronto, Canada May 6, 1967
 Anni Pede- East September 16,
3:07:26 Waidneil, Germany
Erdkamp Germany 1967
February 28,
3:02:53 Caroline Walker United States Seaside, USA
1970
Philadelphia Marathon,
3:01:42 Elizabeth Bonner United States May 9, 1971
USA
New York City Marathon, September 19,
2:55:22 Elizabeth Bonner United States
USA 1971
December 5,
2:49:40 Cheryl Bridges United States Culver City, USA
1971
December 2,
2:46:36 Michiko Gorman United States Culver City, USA
1973
October 27,
2:46:24 Chantal Langlace France Neuf Brisach, France
1974
Jacqueline December 1,
2:43:54.5 United States Culver City, USA
Hansen 1974
East
2:42:24 Liane Winter Boston Marathon, USA April 21, 1975
Germany
Christa East
2:40:15.8 Dülmen, Germany May 3, 1975
Vahlensieck Germany
Jacqueline October 12,
2:38:19 United States Eugene, USA
Hansen 1975
2:35:15.4 Chantal Langlace France Oiartzun, Spain May 1, 1977
Christa West Berlin Marathon, September 10,
2:34:47.5
Vahlensieck Germany Germany 1977
New York City Marathon, October 22,
2:32:29.9 Grete Waitz Norway
USA 1978
New York City Marathon, October 21,
2:27:32.6 Grete Waitz Norway
USA 1979
New York City Marathon, October 26,
2:25:41.3 Grete Waitz Norway
USA 1980
New York City Marathon, October 25,
2:25:29 Allison Roe New Zealand
USA 1981
London Marathon,
2:25:28.7 Grete Waitz Norway April 17, 1983
England
2:22:43 Joan Benoit United States Boston Marathon, USA April 18, 1983
Ingrid London Marathon,
2:21:06 Norway April 21, 1985
Kristiansen England
Rotterdam Marathon,
2:20:47 Tegla Loroupe Kenya April 19, 1998
Netherlands
Berlin Marathon, September 26,
2:20:43 Tegla Loroupe Kenya
Germany 1999
Berlin Marathon, September 30,
2:19:46 Naoko Takahashi Japan
Germany 2001
 Catherine
2:18:47 Kenya Chicago Marathon, USA October 7, 2001
N'dereba
October 13,
2:17:18 Paula Radcliffe Great Britain Chicago, USA
2002
London Marathon,
2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe Great Britain April 13, 2003
England