In the world held every year hundreds of marathons, and hardly their participants think of that who has thought up this kind of sports. The most severe form of athletics "invented" a hundred and ten years ago Michel Breal French scholar and connoisseur of ancient art. It was he who advised the founder of modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin to include in their program marathon. Greeks did not know of such kind of sports. (Short of legendary Fidippid who in 490 year BC has reached from the Marathon valley to Athenes and, having informed townspeople on a victory of Miltiada over Persians, and fell down dead.)
At the the first Olympic Games of 1896 in Greece in the footsteps of Fidippid have run modern marathons. A few months later these competitions were organized in the capital of France. In 1897 inhabitants of Boston have arranged running (it is still the oldest of the ongoing urban marathons).
Initially the distance was not precisely defined. Was it possible to restore the route Fidippid? Therefore the distance from start to finish ranged from 40 to 42 km. Only in 1921, the International Federation of athletes, fans began to consider it equal to 42 km 195 m.
Marathon, which takes place in New York, is relatively young: the first race was held in 1970. At the urging of Fred Lebow and the New York club of street runners start out 126 men and one woman who paid a fee of one dollar. To overcome posited distance, they had to run circles in Central Park. Up to 55 athletes reached the finish line and received prizes – an inexpensive watches.
Six years later, Lebou has decided not to become isolated in borders of park and to spend running on all to five areas of New York. At the start of 2090 then came man. And now the city cannot take all comers. (In 2005 the organizing committee filed a record 87 625 applications.) Now limit the number of participants 37 000 people. But age limits no, you need only undergo a medical examination. Lucky beggars are defined by a lot, it "certificate" – a breastplate reliably protected from fakes stands out.
Marathon takes place the first Sunday of November. The day before the start of his route is indicated by the blue line and along the route laid on Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Manhattan, are placed trays with complimentary drinks and food - but only for running. Measureless crowd starts from Verrazano Bridge on a shot from a cannon.
"Cheer" for their own or simply enjoy the atmosphere of a holiday falls of over 2 million viewers. At the marathon run 13 000 thousand volunteers, including emergency room physicians and psychologists. General organization of activities designed to trifles. (Intimate detail: in order to meet the needs of exhibitors and visitors, but it does not harm the ecology of the city, not far from the starting line at the Verrazano Bridge urinal is installed, which can be regarded as the longest in the world - almost 100 meters.)
Despite the loss of a working day, New York does not become poorer: charges of holding a marathon of over 100 million dollars. Thus the participants are not alien to the idea of charity. All the warm clothes, which they traditionally throw before the start, the organizers collect and then distribute to the poor. In addition, during the competition collecting donations, a contribution willingly many celebrities. And sometimes they themselves take part in the race, drawing attention to topical issues, which the regular marathon organizers.
Among the participants are not only amateurs but also professional runners, which attracted respectable prizes. Men and women are divided into four age categories; the top ten in each of them receive awards of different denominations. The main winner will receive 100 000 dollars.