42 is the number of kilometres in a marathon. This book presenting 42 marathons is our selection of marathons to discover around the world. From the legendary New York Marathon to the lesser-known Loch Ness Marathon, not forgetting the five ‘majors’ - Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin and Chicago - here is a suggestion of destinations where you can combine sport and tourism, sightseeing and walking, as well as offering accompanying adults the chance to encourage their runners while enjoying a pleasant environment for a weekend or a holiday. Whether it's Paris, with its many monuments to admire, or Valencia, with its ultra-fast course that's perfect for setting records, or the festive Médoc Marathon or the oldest European marathon in Kosice (100th in 2023), there's something for everyone: big city, seaside or bucolic setting. Wherever you choose, there's just one goal: to run this legendary distance of 42.195 km, on your own, with friends or family, in a competitive spirit, with the main aim of achieving the best possible time, or in a more contemplative mode to discover a town while running. If this book makes you want to run a marathon, near or far, with few participants or in a mass race, enjoy every stride and savour the experience. Any difficulties encountered are fleeting, but the memories and the title of ‘marathoner’ last a lifetime.
Frédéric Poirier, born in 1965, discovered athletics at school, particularly in winter cross-country events, and then as a member of an FFA club on the track, from the 400m to the 1,500m. In 1980, he turned to road racing, starting his first marathon at the age of 19 in Paris. In just over 40 years, he has run... 42 marathons, including a record time of 2 hours 47 minutes in Paris. A regular contributor to sports magazines such as Jogging International and Running Attitude, brands such as New Balance and Anita, sports event organisers and the French Athletics Federation, he has written this book as a reminder that marathons are as much about personal bests as they are about sharing, whether you're a runner or just a spectator.