A marathon is a long running race of 42.195kilometres. The first Olympic Marathon was held in Athens. Now, many cities host their own marathons every year. Some of the well-known marathons around the world are the New York City Marathon, the Boston Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon. Among them. the Boston Marathon is the oldest yearly Marathon in the world. As time goes by, the sport has become more than just a race.
Themes(主 题 ) make marathons fun and meaning. Runners run for helping sick kids, memorizing important events, or just enjoying nature. A famous marathon in Gisborne, New Zealand, is known for being the first city in the world to welcome the sunlight every day. Runners can greet the sunrise as they run along the golden sandy beaches.
Marathon routes(线路) let people know more about this old sport. Some routes are very challenging for runners. Runners of all skill levels can sweat(流汗) freely and push their limits(极限). Some routes are well planned for runners to explore the many sides of a city. For example, the route of the Great Wall Marathon takes the runners along the great wonder of the world. In fact, it's also a chance to get to know Beijing, its people and local culture.
A marathon is quite a journey for runners to enjoy the run, challenge themselves and experience the culture. There is so much more behind the race for us to explore.