Marathon Runner

A marathon runner is the member of a special community. He or she can go the distance. They have the discipline and determination to train for their event and the desire to complete the race, no matter what the weather. The image of a marathon runner, not necessarily the winner, but a runner determined to reach the finish line no matter what, stays with you long after the race is over.

Marathon runners, including the late author, Dr. Sheehan, regarded marathon running as his “benchmark.” The late, great co-founder of the New York City Marathon, Fred Lebow, called a marathon “charismatic.” Splashed across the front of a newspaper or across a television screen, the photos of a marathon runner, exhausted but ecstatic after finishing the race, seem to support both suppositions. It is little wonder why people challenge themselves and their boundaries when they run a marathon.

The marathon was, until the 1960s, an all male event. Women marathon runners were not considered as capable of competing as any male marathon runner. Consequently, the rules and regulations forbade women from officially competing in all marathon events. In the 1960s, two women dared to buck the system firmly entrenched in the Boston Marathon. Kathrine Switzer, a Syracuse University students and Nina Kuscsika a New York nurse and housewife, made the eligibility of women running in marathons possible. Their initial efforts created a ground swell changing the rules of who could and who could not participate.

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Today, individuals of both genders start side by side or in waves at all the major marathons. They also take part as runners in the world half marathon. A half marathon is exactly half the distance of a marathon. For some individuals, it is easier to compete first in a half marathon. The theory is that, if you can do well in a half marathon, you can properly prepare yourself for the longer distance of a marathon.

The Boston, Chicago and L. A. marathons are favorites of marathon runners. They attract elite runners from the United States and around the world. Boston Marathon runners, in 2007, included the winners for the male and female categories, Robert K. Cheriuyot of Kenya and Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia. Others on the Boston Marathon runners list included second place James Kwambai of Kenya at 2:14:33, followed by Stephen Kigora at 2:14:47 and James Koskei at 2:15:05, for the men’s race, and Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia at 2:29:58 and Madia Perez of Mexico at 2:30:16, for the women’s race. You can see a specific marathon runner’s picture from either the Boston Marathon or photos of L.A. Marathon runners on their web sites.

To prepare for a marathon physically, many trainers may recommend specific diets for a marathon runner. These may include a vitamin supplementation program for marathon runners. Vitamins for marathon runners include three important ones: calcium, iron and zinc. These should be part of a balanced diet and a comprehensive exercise program to prevent such problems as muscle cramping in marathon runners.