Top running destinations and marathon routes
Top running destinations and marathon routes
Scenic running trails and historic marathon courses
The world's best running destinations combine a genuinely good route with the kind of organisation, including closed roads, crowd support and logistics, that turns a long run into an event worth travelling for. Some routes pass through scenery that would be remarkable on foot under any circumstances.
The destinations on this list range from major city marathons with decades of history and six-figure entry fields to smaller, scenic races through landscapes larger events couldn't easily accommodate. Some are flat and fast. Others are deliberately scenic at the expense of a personal best.
Entry systems and travel logistics matter as much as training. Many of the most famous races require lottery entry or qualifying times well over a year in advance.
Lists by region
City
New York City
Five boroughs of skyline, food and museums
The New York City Marathon starts on the Verrazzano Narrows Bridge in early November. Runners cover all five boroughs before finishing in Central Park. Crowds line First Avenue in Manhattan and cheer for hours. Central Park has a 6 mile loop road for daily runs.
City in Japan
Tokyo
Japan's capital of temples, towers and food
The Imperial Palace loop is about five kilometers around a moat and stone walls. Runners circle counterclockwise on the wide gravel path by the water. The Tokyo Marathon starts near the Metropolitan Government building each March. It is one of the six World Marathon Majors and ends at Tokyo Station.
City in Germany
Berlin
Wall history, Museum Island and all-night clubs
A flat course through wide avenues has produced many marathon world records. The race is held each September and finishes near the Brandenburg Gate. Runners pass the Reichstag and the Victory Column on the route. Tempelhof Field, an old airport, has huge open runways for training.
Country
Singapore
Tropical city-state of hawker food and gardens
The Southern Ridges trail links hill parks along a 10 kilometer route. Henderson Waves, a curved wooden bridge, rises 36 meters above the road. The Singapore Marathon is run in the early morning hours each December. Warm humid air makes early morning training the norm.
City in Japan
Kyoto
Temples, geisha districts and kaiseki dining
Fushimi Inari Shrine has thousands of red torii gates along a mountain trail. The path climbs about 230 meters to the summit. Many runners follow the Kamo River path in the early morning. The Philosopher's Path, a stone canal walk, has cherry trees that bloom in April.
Country
Bhutan
Himalayan monasteries, dzongs and trekking trails
The trail to Tiger's Nest monastery climbs about 700 meters above the Paro valley floor. The monastery clings to a cliff at roughly 3,100 meters. Prayer flags flutter along the path through pine forest. Thin mountain air makes every kilometer feel longer than it looks.
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