Where will you run your next marathon ?

15 marathons will be organized during the week-end in 9 different countries.

Belgium

• Marathon Kasterlee (Sunday)

Cuba

• Marabana Marathon (Saturday)

France

• Marathon de Pau (Sunday)

India

• Bangalore Ultra Marathon (Sunday)

Italy

• Maratona internazionale Città di Palermo (Sunday)

Japan

• Tokyo International Women’s Marathon (Sunday)

Netherland

• Marathon van Leens (Saturday)

Switzerland

• Frauenfelder (Sunday)

United States of America

• Catalina Eco Marathon (Saturday)
• Grand Canyon Marathon (Saturday)
• Mountain Home Marathon for Kenya (Saturday)
• San Antonio Marathon (Sunday)
• SunTrust Richmond Marathon (Saturday)
• The Ultimatexc Utah Edition (Saturday)
• Tulsa World Route 66 Marathon (Sunday)

Have a look at the interview I did back last month where Michael Nash presented the Grand Canyon Marathon.

Until last year, the old duchy of Burgundy welcomed 3 marathons :
The marathon des grands crus de bourgogne in Dijon, Marathon des Blues Trotters and marathon du Charolais.

But 2006 was the 10th and final edition of the marathon des grands crus de Bourgorgne. For those interested, the domain name www.marathonbourgogne.org is now of sale.

The two surviving marathons follow a very specific theme.
The Marathon des Blues Trotters is a friendly race that follows during part of its course the gorgeous canal of Burgundy.

The marathon du Charolais celebrates the charolais cattle in the city of Gueugnon. Did you know that “Charolais” designated a breed of cattle but also a breed of sheep, a cheese and also a breed of chicken ?
Many delicious things to enjoy a post-marathon feast !

There are only 2 marathons in Basse-Normandie and the two will be held on the same week-end in June (9 & 10th). Is it due to chance or done on purpose ?

The older is the Marathon de la liberté de Caen which will turn 20 years old. The race commemorates the allies La course commémore le débarquement des alliés sur les plages normandes, longe la côte de Nacre, entre Courseulles-sur-mer et Caen.

The younger, Marathon du Mont Saint-Michel will held its 10th edition. The course goes from Cancale to end up in front of the Mont Saint-Michel (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Until last year, the race took place on the third week-end of June. In 2007, it will be the 10th. Who doesn’t like competition !

Many issues tear them apart:

• the former is run in the morning (9 AM), the latter in the evening (5:30 PM).
• the former is in the North, the latter in the South.
• the former is held on Saturday, the latter on Sunday.

Which will draw more runners during the week-end ? Will there be marathoners to reconcile them by running the two races in a row ?

PS : Credits to babinet for the Mont Saint-Michel picture.

With 5 marathons, Aquitaine is one of the French regions that offer the largest choice. Although the region has five differents “départements” the marathons are centered in Gironde that counts four of them. The only exception is Pau’s marathon wich is located in Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

Alike Alsace (cf. Marathons in Alsace ), the marathons are mostly rural. Pau is the only big city to host a marathon.

Marathons in Aquitaine also favor wine and gastronomy in general. Two of them celebrate wine : Le marathon du Médoc and le marathon des premières cotes de Blaye. Two names that must make wine lovers dream…

The third one, marathon de l’huitre de Gujan Mestras celebrates the oyster that is grown in the bassin d’Arcachon.

• Marathon de l’huitre de Gujan Mestras
• Marathon du Médoc
• Marathon des premières côtes de Blaye
• Marathon des villages
• Marathon de Pau

Take a few minutes to have a look at the marathon des villages website. It is gorgeous and will certainly encourage to take part. It’s a brand new marathon that will take place on October 14th. Good luck to the courageous organizers.

The marathon du Médoc has become quite an star since it’s creation 23 years ago. Its success may be due to the wine tastings that are organized along its course but also due to the fact that each and every runner must wear a disguise ! Disguise, wine tasting and hilly course, three raisons why you will not come to Pauillac to beat a personal best, but to have a great time.

Three marathons are referenced in Alsace.

1. Marathon du vignoble d’Alsace,
2. Marathon du ballon d’Alsace,
3. Marathon du Jura alsacien

As suprising as it may seem, none of the big cities in Alsace: Strasbourg, Colmar or Mulhouse host a marathon.This three marathons rural and take a great benefit of the beauty of the landscapes.
The first one wanders between the vineyards. The second one, particurlarly hilly, follows hiking trails around the Ballon d’Alsace. The third oine located in the south of the Haut-Rhin visits the plateau of the alsatian Jura.

Here is a short video, posted on dailymotion to promote the marathon du vignoble d’Alsace. One can run a marathon and still have some sense of humor.

We did our best to get an exhaustive list of the Spanish marathons, but we couldn’t get more than 16.

If you happen to know any marathon in Spain that is not in our list, please drop us an e-mail at info@42k195.com or leave a comment.

List of Spanish marathons

By the way, a Spanish translation of the site is available.

Where will you run your next marathon ?

Chile is the 70 country referenced on 42k195.com.

So far, we have found 3 marathons: two on the main land and one on the easter island.
If you’re looking for exotic marathons in the southern hemisphere, why don’t you have a look on Chile’s marathons.

Marathons in Chile

Where will you run your next marathon ?