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Slide 1: ==== ==== Run a Marathon http://1b92az1rm3t7vhgjophgas7paq.hop.clickbank.net/ ==== ==== Marathons have roots in ancient history, tracing their history back to the battles of ancient Greece. It is from here that we get one of the oldest athletic events, with a rich history and heritage that marathoners take pride in. What is a Marathon? The official length of long-distance foot races known as marathons is 42.195 kilometres. The history of marathons and the distance goes all the way back to ancient Greece. According to the legend of marathons, once the Greek had won the battle with the Persians, known as the Battle of Marathon, a runner named Pheidippides was sent to spread the news in Athens. Pheidippides is said to have arrived in Athens, reported the news and then died from exhaustion soon after. The distance from the battleground to Athens was about 40 kilometres, which eventually evolved into the official distance for marathons of today. A number of authors have included the story of Pheidippides in several songs and poems, such as the works of Robert Browning. The poem composed by Browning was the inspiration of Michal Breal, who is the brains behind the organization of the 1896 Olympic Games. These games included a marathon. In the marathons of today, a racecourse is set out by organizers to meet the required distance that was set in 1908 by the Olympic Games in London. According to the race, runners either begin all at the same time in one big massive start, separated by ability and gender, or sent out in waves. The courses of marathons are typically left open for a specific length of time, generally for about four hours. Runners who do not complete the entire course are picked up and transported to the finish line. For marathons that are made up of a large group of inexperienced runners, the course is usually left open for a longer time so they are able to finish. What is a Half Marathon? Basically, a half marathon is half of a marathon run, which is often referred to as a mini-marathon. Half marathons are becoming more and more popular. Many times, people will take part in half marathons that are going on at the same time as full marathons. The difference between full marathons and half marathons is simple. A half marathon is about 21 kilometres in length. It is easy to see why so many people are attracted to half marathons. These events do not require as much extensive training as full marathons. Often, several people get together to train for half marathons in groups in order to get ready for the 21K event. The majority of these races allow participants to register ahead of time, giving them time for sufficient training.
Slide 2: Popular Marathons The most popular marathons around the world highlight the abilities of some of the world's most skilled runners. In cities all around the world, runners come together to participate in these races. Even though marathons are held all over the place, some marathons are better known than other races. Some of the most popular marathons are: The New York City Marathon - The New York City Marathon is the largest marathon in the world. More than two million people gather on the streets of New York City to watch this race. In addition, another three hundred plus million viewers join the fun by watching the television broadcast. The London Marathon - The New York City Marathon was the inspiration for the London Marathon, which first took place in 1981. Even though twenty thousand runners applied to participate in the initial London Marathon, only around 7,700 or so were allowed to run in the race. The course has since changed, becoming flatter and faster. The Berlin Marathon - The Berlin Marathon was first run in 1974 with only hundreds of participants. Now, the Berlin Marathon is the world's second largest marathon. It is also known as one of the world's fastest races as well. Gareth Barrow is a writer, Webmaster and fitness enthusiast. View more interesting and informative articles on Fitness, health, weight loss and muscle building. Discover fitness tips, diet advice, lose weight and generally become healthier! Read articles on the benefits of exercise, active lifestyles, getting fit, building muscle and toning your body. For further information on men and women's fitness and the latest fitness training tips visit: 24 Hr Fitness.co.uk. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gareth_Barrow ==== ====
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