Definition of MARATHON
1: a footrace run on an open course usually of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers); broadly : a long-distance race
2a : an endurance contest
b : something (as an event, activity, or session) characterized by great length or concentrated effort
My mother like many non runners does not know the distance of a marathon. She’s getting better. When I first started running, she called all my races marathons and would tell everyone that her daughter was a marathon runner. It used to make me feel like a fraud until I actually ran one. Now she can say it. She’s learning now and asks how far I’m running. If your a runner, you know that a marathon is 26.2 miles, but you also know that it is so much more than that. It is a run that will test your endurance. It will test your dedication and determination. It will test your sense of reason and logic. It is so much more than miles.
So Much More!
I have only ever completed one marathon, The Philly Gortex, and crossing the finish line was an amazing experience made more special by the surprise visit of my mother and sister. It was a total surprise and I really don’t know if I could have finished without their support as I was thinking of just doing the half instead of the full. You can read more about Philly in my Hang on Snoopy post.
This was the moment where I went from thinking of giving up, to the moment where I knew that I had to finish.
My Mother’s excitement was contagious and I heard her over the announcer saying, “Half Marathoners finish to the right” which made me stay to the left. Running a marathon is more than just putting one foot in front of the other although at some points you must remind yourself to do that. A marathon is a mental game from start to finish.
It is mental game just with the first thought of signing up and it only gets more intense.
In 2014 according to Marathon Statistics there were 590,145 marathon finishers for races in the U.S. and Canada.
Here are the Statistics from the 10 biggest Marathons again in the U.S. and Canada
Finishers (2014):
| Race | Finishers |
| New York City Marathon | 50,564 |
| Chicago Marathon | 40,802 |
| Boston Marathon | 31,926 |
| Honolulu Marathon | 21,824 |
| Los Angeles Marathon | 21,506 |
| Marine Corps Marathon | 19,689 |
| Walt Disney World Marathon | 19,235 |
| Philadelphia Marathon | 10,363 |
| Twin Cities Marathon | 8,853 |
| Houston Marathon | 6,945 |
When you are in a running group where so many of the Mama’s have run multiple marathons, you start to think that everyone has done one. Then you realize that is not the case as the numbers don’t lie. I am happy to see that the Philadelphia Marathon made the top 10 list of largest marathon finishers and happy to be in that number. This year I am running the Marine Corps Marathon and in 2016 I hope to run the biggest marathon, the New York City Marathon!
Hmmm, then maybe I should start making travel plans for the other ones:) Wouldn’t that be nice. I can dream the dream. One never knows as the oldest woman marathon finisher just competed a marathon last month at the age of 92!
For now, it is nice to know that I’ve completed one, am training for my second, and will run the ultimate marathon in 2016.
One marathon at a time:)
Have you ever run a marathon?
Is it on your bucket list?
The Accidentally Running Mama 
I think it’s so funny when people ask, now how long is that marathon? All marathons are same distance. And not all races are marathons. Goodluck in your next marathon.
I know! I have friends who do it all the time too. I guess unless your a runner it doesn’t really matter:)