Nov 12, 2024

Articles & Stories

Famous First Marathons

From famous ultramarathoners to the founders of the running revolution, to the ordinary man or woman on the street, everyone who has run a marathon has a story about their first. In her book, "First Marathons", Gail Kislevitz brings together interviews and first marathon stories from dozens of famous marathoners.

By permission of the publisher, we were able to include a few chapters from Gail Kislevitz's book - take a look and enjoy:

Find this book and more at Breakaway Books - run by a way cool guy and another great runner: Garth Battista!

From the Editor

Every marathoner has their first marathon story. If they've run a lot, they might forget the details of other races, but the first marathon lives in their mind - each and every mile. And most find that marathoning is like eating a bag of potato chips - it's nearly impossible to stop after just one.

In this area of MarathonGuide.com, you can read my first marathon story, read the stories of famous runners (above) or of the runners that you've probably seen at your last race (to the right). You can also contribute your own story as we ask you to make an effort to become part of the marathoning and MarathonGuide.com worldwide community. Please contribute to this website in whatever way you can (your stories, your posts, your comments, your efforts), contribute your time or efforts to your local marathon and/or local running club, get involved.

And, most importantly, remember what got you running in the first place and use the marathon to keep you inspired and to become an inspiration to others.
- John Elliott

Your First Marathons

Be it gratifying or grueling, unexpectedly humorous or inspirational and life altering, a runner's first marathon will forever be imprinted in the mind. In this section, runners from across the globe shared their stories of the motivation that first powered them onto a marathon course, the new friendships and self-determination formed over 26.2 miles, and their overwhelming joy in reaching the ultimate goal: the finish line. Some recounted their tale from the starting line to the finish; others summed it up in a short narrative or amusing anecdote. And while each runner's experience is unique, every story conveys the universal pride that comes from accomplishing a first marathon.

Read these wonderful stories from MarathonGuide.com visitors and experience that first marathon once again... and, if you have a first marathon story that you'd like to see here: send it to us.

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