The History of the Marathon and the 5 Biggest Marathon Events in the World

The marathon has become part of many people's lifestyle. This is evidenced by the growing number of participants eager to join the world’s biggest marathon events: the Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, New York Marathon, London Marathon, and Chicago Marathon. What makes this sport so popular? Let’s find out in the article below!

The History of the Marathon

The marathon began as a tribute to the story of a Greek soldier who reportedly ran 40 km from Marathon to Athens. As the story goes, the soldier was ordered to deliver the news of Athens’ victory over Persia in 490 BC. Sadly, he passed away shortly after delivering the message.

The marathon later became one of the sports contested at the first modern Olympic Games, held in Greece in 1896. At that time, the marathon distance used was 40 km, following the distance the soldier had run. 

However, during the 1924 Olympics in London, the marathon distance was changed to 42,195 meters (42 km), matching the distance from Windsor Castle to the finish line inside the Olympic stadium. This new distance has become the official standard for marathon races ever since. 

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Outside the Olympics, the first marathon race was held in 1897 in Boston. However, the surge in marathon runners in Boston and other cities around the world only began in the 1970s. Regarding this phenomenon, anthropologist David Le Bretton believes the marathon became highly popular because it symbolizes “playing with death,” in which participants push themselves to the limit just to reach the finish line.

Meanwhile, for many runners, the marathon captures their interest because it offers a sense of physical achievement that reignites enthusiasm amid a life that may feel repetitive or overwhelming.

The 5 Biggest Marathon Events in the World

Here are the five biggest and most popular marathon events in the world:

1. Tokyo Marathon

The Tokyo Marathon was first held in 2007. It is the only marathon event in Asia included in the major marathon category, with an estimated one million spectators since its first race.

Aside from being a competitive running event, the Tokyo Marathon also has a charity program called “Run with Heart,” which allows donors to support various charitable causes.

2. Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon was inspired by the experience of several members of the Boston Athletic Association who competed in the 1896 Olympics. The Boston Marathon was established in 1897 and has been held every year since (except in 2020, when it was held virtually).

The title of “the world’s oldest marathon event” is one of the main attractions for participants. Another draw is its race route, which features downhill stretches and hilly climbs with scenic views of Boston. To take part in this event, participants must meet time qualification standards based on gender and age.

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3. New York Marathon

The New York Marathon is the largest marathon event in the world. The event is broadcast live through 170 TV channels across 170 countries and is cheered on by more than one million spectators and volunteers lining the streets of New York.

Since its first event in 1970, the New York Marathon has become a platform for more than 1.2 million runners to complete their 42 km race. These runners come from around 140 countries worldwide.

4. London Marathon

The London Marathon was founded after two runners competed in the New York Marathon in 1979. The event was first held in 1981 with 7,747 runners selected to participate. 

Since then, the London Marathon has grown rapidly and has become a stage for marathon runners to compete for the finish line and cash prizes. This running event has also raised more than 1 billion Euros from its participants.

5. Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon was first held in 1977, initiated by a small group of running enthusiasts in Chicago. Even though it started from a small community, its first race already had 4,200 local participants.

To date, more than 45,000 runners have completed the Chicago Marathon, and the number of spectators along the race route has reached 1.7 million. The Chicago Marathon is also known as a race for some of the world’s fastest runners and is home to three men’s world records.

That’s an overview of the marathon's historyand a list of the five major marathon events in the world. Are you thinking about joining one, or maybe a few, of these marathon events? If yes, don’t forget to buy Sport Insurance from MSIG Indonesia, which will protect you before, during, and after your marathon experience.