1Antarctica Marathon
AFP//Getty Images Forget missing toenails. Running 26.2 miles on our coldest continent could lead to a few missing toes if you aren’t careful. The race, part of an extended trip to Argentina and then Antarctica can run upwards of $10K all things considered, but is a once in a lifetime experience.
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2Detroit Marathon
NurPhoto//Getty Images What’s better than running in two cities? Try two separate countries. This Michigan marathon sees runners cross the Ambassador Bridge from the U.S. to Windsor, Ontario, and then return via a tunnel submerged beneath the Detroit River.
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3Great Wall Marathon
STR//Getty Images While plenty of marathons have steep elevation changes, very few involve climbing stairs. This race, which has runners loop through a section of the Chinese landmark, forces participants to go up and down stairs FOR MILES.
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How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon
4Inca Trail Marathon
NurPhoto//Getty Images Perhaps more of an unofficial hike than a sanctioned race, this Peruvian classic winds runners through the Andes Mountains to the ancient Incan ruins of Machu Picchu. Not a great choice for a PR, but really solid if you want great Instagram content.
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5Midnight Sun Marathon
Bernard Weil//Getty Images Set in Tromso, Norway, this marathon is run north of the Arctic Circle (i.e. it’s gonna be cold.) The good news is that in June, when the race is run, the sun never sets in Tromso, so no matter how long you take, you’ll have the sun warming you up.
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6Las Vegas Marathon
Sean M. Haffey//Getty Images Part of the Rock ’n’ Roll series, this race begins with a concert and party befitting Sin City’s glitz and glamor. It also doesn’t start until the evening so that the Vegas Strip is lit up in its sparkly neon glory as you run by. It also starts late so you can avoid getting heat stroke from that desert sun.
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How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon
7Petra Desert Marathon
If you’re planning on a vacation around your marathon, this race gives you an excuse to see Petra, the ancient cave city, along with the Wadi Rum desert and the Dead Sea. The only downside is that you’re going to be running through the deserts of Jordan, not super hospitable to runners.
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8Lewa Safari Marathon
Technically speaking, you could get eaten by a lion during this race. Weaving through the Lewa Wildlife Conservatory in northern Kenya, this marathon allows you to roam through the nature preserve. Just hope that the nature decides to preserve you as well.
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9Jungfrau Marathon
One of the most difficult races in the world, it’s basically just a climb straight up the Alps for 26 miles. As you run (or more than likely walk) the distance through Swiss peaks you’ll conquer nearly 6K feet of elevation change. We’ve heard the views from the finish are great though.
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How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon
10World’s Fastest Marathon
The antithesis of Jungfrau, this Spanish marathon has runners constantly racing downhill through the Sierra Nevada Mountains for over 6K feet of elevation change. It may be great for your PR, but we can’t imagine your legs will thrilled the next day.
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11Fenway Park Marathon
After over 110 laps, the scenery might get dull even if the scenery is Boston’s historic baseball diamond. This marathon, which only allows 25 entrants each year, sees runners circling the diamond over and over until they hit the 26.2 miles.
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12Crater Lake Marathon
Education Images//Getty Images About 7,000 years ago, a volcano collapsed and created Crater Lake, the massive freshwater basin in Oregon. Now you can run a marathon around the lake’s rim. Fun fact: this is one of very few marathons run inside a National Park.
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How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon
13North Pole Marathon
Word on the street is that Santa loves this race. Because the North Pole is just a giant slab or frozen ice (and not a continent), the course changes a bit every year, but consists of 10 loops around a base camp with a finish at Santa’s workshop/the top of the globe.
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14Marathon des Sables
MARTIN BUREAU//Getty Images Although “marathon” is in the title, this Moroccan race across the Sahara desert is actually the equivalent of six marathons run over six days. You will get very dirty and very hot, and you need to invest in hiking poles because otherwise you’re going to be slipping on that sand.
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15Disney World Marathon
Handout//Getty Images Not only does this marathon wind its way through all four of the Disney World theme parks in Orlando, Florida, but it also lets you meet Mickey and co. in the process. Dozens of character photo ops line the course in case you need to take a break with your favorite character.
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How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon
16Man vs. Horse Marathon
Handout//Getty Images Who can finish the race quicker? A man running or a man on a horse? That is the question this event (not technically a marathon at only 22 miles) seeks to answer. Spoiler Alert: The winner of this Welsh race is usually a horse.
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17Marathon du Medoc
NICOLAS TUCAT//Getty Images Ready to get DRUNK OUT OF YOUR MIND mid-marathon? If that’s your vibe, then this French winery marathon is for you. Twenty-three wine-tasting stations along the way are sure to have you staggering across that finish line. Enjoy the sore legs/hangover combo the next day.
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18Burro Days
Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images//Getty Images It’s hard enough getting your own ass to the finish line, let alone dragging a whole other ass along with you. This race, run every year in Fairplay, Colorado, asks entrants to run alongside a burro (donkey) for the 26.2, cajoling the creature toward the finish line and praying he doesn’t wander off.
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How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon
19Beat the Blerch Marathon
MARATHONER: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon Give A Gift. The question for runners is can they beat the blerch to the finish line? It’s a good goal to have.
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20Marine Corps Marathon
Chaz Niell//Getty Images The White House. The Capitol. The Lincoln Memorial. The Pentagon. The Washington Memorial. The Potomac. It is hard to find a marathon with more sites along the route then this race. Also, its organized by the Marines, and when they salute you and put a medal around your neck, you get a little teary eyed.
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How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon
How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon
How to Get Into the 2024 NYC Marathon