The Marathon, like no other footrace, has a certain amount of magic. When you arrive at the starting area you can feel the buzz of excitement.  The unknown is about to unfold whether you have run hundreds of them or it's your first.

The marathon has a deep history and long traditions. It has a mystique all its own.  Books have gloried it's Olympic history. Many other stories have evolved from the largest and most prestigious marathons.  New York, London, Honolulu have relatively new histories. Boston garners more press than any other, including a book by fellow columnist Joe Falls, and is seen as the pinnacle of success for non-Olympian long distance runners.

Every state in the Union has a 26.2 mile run and a growing club of runners now aspires to running a least one from each of them.  World records have given way to World best performances since courses vary significantly.  Some runners look for beauty and challenges such as the picturesque Big Sur Marathon. Others want flat and fast or downhill courses like Las Vegas or St. George, Utah. More want a glamorous spectacle like Los Angeles or Chicago. Still there is nothing like the emotion and recognition that comes from running your hometown marathon.

Whether the marathon is a brand new event or celebrating it's 25^th like Detroit, the race can't escape being part of the early beginnings.  Conceived by French aristocrats, as part of a proposal for the 1896 Athens Olympics, its final distance wasn't solidified until after the 1908 Olympics. 385 yards were adding to the original 26 miles to accommodate the royal family's viewing of the event and later this distance was officially adopted around the world.

The first U.S. marathon, a 25 mile race, ran from Stamford, Connecticut to the Bronx of New York in 1896. The Boston Marathon is the longest running marathon and it originated in 1897. What has made this event unusual is that early Olympic organizers and participants were often blue bloods whereas the marathon was run and won by working-class heroes. It was primarily the Irish immigrants who propagated a long distance running culture and celebrated running and walking contests in America.

Today, the social structure of marathoning includes every nationality and profession while reaching ages well into the nineties. Witnessing each runner's individuality creates some of the magic. Participants and spectators revel in the diversity of each runner's goals and achievements. Veterans marathoners often connect with first timers because the emotions and memories of the experience and the efforts to prepare for the distance make the accomplishment one that leaves an indelible mark and continues to create allure with its mysteries.

RACES Coming Up: 

Saturday, June 8, 9:30 a.m., Lilac Festival 10km, Mackinaw Island.  For more information call 810 659-6493 or [email protected]

Thursday, June 13, 6 p.m., AATC All Comers Track Meet, Ann Arbor, Ron Beasley 734 668-7931 or [email protected]

Friday, June 14. 7 p.m., Zanglin Run 8km, 1 Mile, Trenton, Total Runner 734 282-1101 or www.zanglinrun.com