The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of 42.195 km, usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair divisions. More than 800 marathons are held throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes, as larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is one of six World Marathon Majors. Its course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Copley Square in Boston.
World records in the marathon are ratified by World Athletics, the international governing body for the sport of athletics.
The Chicago Marathon is a marathon race held every October in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the six World Marathon Majors. Thus, it is also a World Athletics Label Road Race. The Chicago Marathon is the fourth-largest race by number of finishers worldwide.
A half marathon is a road running event of 21.0975 kilometres —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish or shortcuts. If finisher medals are awarded, the medal or ribbon may differ from those for the full marathon. The half marathon is also known as a 21K, 21.1K, or 13.1 miles, although these values are rounded and not formally correct.
Eliud Kipchoge is a Kenyan long-distance runner who competes in the marathon and formerly specialized in the 5000 metres. Regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners of all time, he is the 2016 and 2020 Olympic marathon champion, and was the world record holder in the marathon from 2018 to 2023, with a time of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon, until that record was broken by Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:00:35. He has run four of the 10 fastest marathons in history.
Jack Clarke was a New Zealand long-distance athlete who won a bronze medal representing his country in the marathon at the 1950 British Empire Games.
Arthur Vincent Roth was an American long-distance runner who won the 1916 Boston Marathon and competed in the men's marathon at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Yoshiko Yamamoto is a Japanese former marathon runner who won the 1990 Paris Marathon, came second at the 1992 Boston Marathon, and third at the 1992 New York City Marathon.
The men's 4 × 110 yards relay event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
The women's 110–220–110 yards relay event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. It was the last time this relay was contested at the Games, later being replaced with the 4 × 110 yards relay.
The women's 220–110–220–110 yards relay event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand. It was the last time this relay was contested at the Games, later being replaced with the 4 × 440 yards relay.
The men's 4 × 440 yards relay event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
The men's 440 yards event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 9 and 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
The men's 1 mile event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 9 and 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
The men's pole vault event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
The women's long jump event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
The men's hammer throw event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
The men's javelin throw event at the 1950 British Empire Games was held on 11 February at the Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
