Races that are whole stories
Most races are a distance and a date. A small handful are something you plan a chapter of your life around.
Planning figures only. Dates, fees and travel costs change. Verify with the race organiser before you book.
The big legacy ones
- Durban to Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Comrades
About 20,000 runners from 80+ countries, and 2027 is meant to be the 100th edition.
- Cape Town, South Africa
Two Oceans
56 km along the coast. Around 14,000 in the ultra alone.
- Athens to Sparta, Greece
Spartathlon
246 km. 400+ runners from 56 countries, tracing the route of the messenger before the Battle of Marathon.
The ones about the place
- Nepal
Everest Marathon
Starts near base camp. The altitude is the hard part.
- China
Great Wall Marathon
Actual steps on the actual wall. About 2,000 runners from 61 countries.
- Morocco
Marathon des Sables
Seven days across the Sahara, with 68 countries on the start line.
- France, Italy and Switzerland
UTMB Mont-Blanc
France, Italy and Switzerland in one loop, with 88 countries.
The two weird ones
- China
Wuhan Marathon
30,000 runners from 69 countries, and the course has food stops. Hot dry noodles at 15 km, cherry blossom cake at 22 km.
- Lethbridge, Canada
Lost Soul Ultra
A river valley loop with a name that says it all.
And one from home
- Leh, India
Ladakh Marathon
Up to about 17,600 ft. 7,200+ registered from 28+ countries. Billed as the world's highest, though Guinness lists Kilimanjaro for that title.
None of these are about finish times. They are the ones people talk about for years. Most are far from Pune and cost a lot, so for now they stay on a list. Ours is the race calendar.
Which one would you pick if you only got one? Tell us on the original post on r/punerunners (opens in a new tab).
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