If you are thinking about taking part in a marathon, you are probably wondering how many there are every year. The answer to that question depends on your country, but in general, more than 2000 marathons are organized each year. More than 1,100 marathons take place every year in the United States alone. In fact, some of those marathons are members of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, a global association of more than 300 member events. The Berlin marathon, for example, is part of the World Marathon Majors series, which awards $500,000 to the top male and female finishers each year.
While marathons were originally only for men, they were opened to women in 1972. In fact, the first Olympic marathon for women was held in 1984. In 1976, there were about 25,000 runners, but the most recent marathon had more than 507,000 runners. When comparing these two figures, the results are impressive.
There are many different types of marathons, with varying degrees of difficulty. Some are more difficult than others, with some being geared towards elite athletes and others for non-athletes. If you are looking for the most challenging marathon course, try a race in a big city such as New York or Boston. The atmosphere of a big city marathon will help you have an incredible experience and attract spectators from all walks of life.
Some marathons are charity runs, which means that the entry fees are higher than usual. Nonetheless, this does not discourage people from participating. Many people who take part in these events will pay a high registration fee in exchange for the experience. Some events charge a higher entry fee than others, and may even have selection lotteries to determine who is eligible to run. If you are a charity fundraiser, you might want to consider a charitable marathon as a way to attract large sponsors.
Although the New York City Marathon is one of the world’s largest and most popular, it has humble origins. Founded in 1970 by Fred Lebow and Vincent Chiappetta, the event first took place in Central Park. In its inaugural year, 127 participants started the race, and 55 finished it. Later, the race was expanded to five boroughs and attracted over 50,000 participants. This is not surprising, given the city’s popularity as a destination for people who are pursuing health-conscious lifestyles.
The Boston Marathon, for example, was the first mass-scale marathon in the world. As the event spread throughout the country, other cities aimed to follow suit and host their own marathons. The Boston Marathon began with a small group of runners, but by the early 21st century, it had grown to 20,000. By then, the Boston Marathon had grown to 1800 runners. It was the first of its kind and is now the largest.
Final Words
So, how many marathons are held each year? The answer is more than 2000. With so many different types of marathons to choose from, there is sure to be one that suits your needs. Whether you want a challenge or an opportunity to fundraise for a good cause, there is a marathon out there for you. So get out there and start running! Who knows, you might just end up crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon one day.