The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.21875 miles, or 26 miles and 385 yards), usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.
The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, though the distance did not become standardized until 1921. More than 500 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.

Road running have grown exponentially over the years, and many people are seeking to run races around the world, beyond their home events. Many countries have their own marquee events and these races are open to runners around the world. The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), has a comprehensive list of running events in their calendar (http://aimsworldrunning.org/Calendar.htm). Going for these marathon races is a great way to travel and see the world, and at the same time, get to know like-minded souls with similar interests, and possibly make new friends. It is indeed a great way to discover life and connect with people around the world.