Marathon Runners

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Marathoners are the recreational or professional runners who participate in a marathon. The marathon is a long-distance running event usually run as a road race. A marathon officially covers a distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards). The marathon is one of the major Olympic events, first included in the modern Olympics in 1896. Marathons are very popular sporting events with more than 500 marathons being held throughout the world each year. Both professional runners and recreational athletes take part in marathons. Professional runners who rank among the top-finishers in major marathons earn good monetary rewards. There are also certain athletes who charge appearance fees for entering high-profile marathons. It is also common for celebrities from other fields like show business to participate in a marathon in order to promote some social cause. To run a marathon, the participants need to be in peak physical and mental conditions as the long-distance race is as much a test of their strength and endurance as it of their determination and resilience. Marathon running is also not without its risks; common risks include injury, fatigue, sprains and dehydration. Browse this section to explore about the life and works of various famous marathoners from all over the world.

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 1 
Paula Radcliffe
(British Former Long-Distance Runner)
Paula Radcliffe
4
Birthdate: December 17, 1973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Davenham, Cheshire, England

Paula Radcliffe is a retired distance runner, credited with winning the London Marathon and the New York Marathon three times each. Born into an athletic family, she emerged as a running talent by the time she was in her teens, winning the world junior cross-country title at the age of nineteen, eventually. She held the Women's World Marathon Record from 2003 to 2019.

 2 
Haile Gebrselassie
(Former Ethiopian Long-Distance Track Athlete and Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)
Haile Gebrselassie
16
Birthdate: April 18, 1973
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Assela, Ethiopia

Ethiopian Olympic legend and businessman, Haile Gebrselassie, a retired long-distance, road and track running athlete, is counted among the greatest distance runners in history. He set 27 world records in athletics and broke 61 Ethiopian national records. His achievements include winning two Olympic gold medals, four World Championship titles, four World Indoor Championship titles and one World Half Marathon Championship.  

 3 
Abebe Bikila
(First African to Win Olympic Gold Medal and the First Athlete to Win Two Olympic Marathons Back-to-Back)
Abebe Bikila
8
Birthdate: July 7, 1932
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Shewa, Ethiopia
Died: October 25, 1973

Ethiopian marathon runner, Abebe Bikil,a became the first black African Olympic gold medalist at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Four years later, he won his second gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. He created world record both the times. A pioneer in long-distance running, he participated in a total of 16 marathons. 

 4 
Tom Longboat
(Onondaga Athlete Who Specialized in Distance Running)
Tom Longboat
4
Birthdate: July 4, 1886
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Six Nations Reserve Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Died: January 9, 1949

Tom Longboat was an Onondaga athlete who specialized in distance running. Nicknamed the bulldog of Britannia, Longboat also served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as a soldier during the First World War. In 1996, Tom Longboat was honored posthumously with an induction into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. 

 5 
Fauja Singh
(British Marathon Runner)
Fauja Singh
6
Birthdate: April 1, 1911
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Beas Pind, Punjab, India

Indian Sikh marathon runner Fauja Singh, who later moved to the U.K., made history by becoming the oldest person to complete a marathon, at age 100. His biography, Fauja Singh Keeps Going, became a bestseller. It is believed, the death of his fifth son motivated him to follow his passion.

 6 
Alberto Salazar
(American Former Track Coach and Long-Distance Runner)
Alberto Salazar
4
Birthdate: August 7, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba

Alberto Salazar is an American former long-distance runner who won the silver medal at the 1982 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Rome, Italy. After his retirement from the sport, Salazar served as the head coach for the Nike Oregon Project and received the 2013 IAAF Coaching Achievement Award in Monaco. He was later banned for doping and sexual offenses.

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 7 
Emil Zatopek
(Czech Long-Distance Runner Who Was Considered One of the Greatest Runners of the 20th Century)
Emil Zatopek
4
Birthdate: September 19, 1922
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kopřivnice, Czech Republic
Died: November 21, 2000

Winner of four Olympic golds, three of which came from the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, Czech long-distance runner Emil Zatopek came to be known as the Czech Locomotive and The Bouncing Czech for his speed. He lost his Communist Party membership for criticizing the 1968 Soviet takeover of Czechoslovakia.

 8 
Brigid Kosgei
(Marathon runner)
Brigid Kosgei
6
Birthdate: February 20, 1994
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sinon, Kapsowar, Kenya
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 9 
Eliud Kipchoge
(Kenyan Long-Distance Runner and the Greatest Marathon Runner of All Time)
Eliud Kipchoge
2
Birthdate: November 5, 1984
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kapsisiywa, Nandi County, Kenya
 10 
Meb Keflezighi
(American Long-distance Runner and Olympic Silver Medalist in the Marathon)
Meb Keflezighi
4
Birthdate: May 5, 1975
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Asmara, Eritrea
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 11 
Tirunesh Dibaba
(The Youngest Female World Champion in Long-Distance Track Event)
Tirunesh Dibaba
10
Birthdate: June 1, 1985
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bekoji, Ethiopia

Ethiopian distance runner Tirunesh Dibaba scripted history by becoming the youngest female World Champion, in 2003, when she was a little over 18 years. She is also the first female to win the Olympic 5,000m/10,000m double. The 5-time World Champion is also a 3-time Olympic gold medalist.

 12 
Kenenisa Bekele
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner and 3-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)
Kenenisa Bekele
4
Birthdate: June 13, 1982
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bekoji, Ethiopia

Ethiopian long-distance runner Kenenisa Bekele is not just a 3-time Olympic gold medalist but has also won the World Championship gold 5 times. He also has 11 World Cross Country Championship gold medals in his kitty. Initially a master of the 5,000m and 10,000m categories, he later focused on marathons.

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 13 
Bobbi Gibb
(American Marathon Runner)
Bobbi Gibb
4
Birthdate: November 2, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
 14 
Ryan Hall
(American Long-Distance Runner Who Holds the U.S. Record in the Half Marathon)
Ryan Hall
4
Birthdate: October 14, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kirkland, Washington, United States
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 15 
Joan Benoit
(American Marathon Runner Who Was the First Women’s Olympic Games Marathon Champion)
Joan Benoit
1
Birthdate: May 16, 1957
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cape Elizabeth, Maine, United States
 16 
Zola Budd
(Former South African Middle-Distance and Long-Distance Runner)
Zola Budd
2
Birthdate: May 26, 1966
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bloemfontein, South Africa

Zola Budd is a South African former athlete who used to compete in long-distance and middle-distance running. Budd represented Great Britain at the 1984 Olympic Games before representing South Africa at the 1992 Olympic Games. Zola Budd also took part in the 1985 and 1986 World Cross Country Championships, winning gold medals on both occasions.

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 17 
Kara Goucher
(American Long-Distance Runner)
Kara Goucher
4
Birthdate: July 9, 1978
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Queens, New York, United States
 18 
Frank Shorter
(American Former Long-distance Runner Olympic Gold Medalists)
Frank Shorter
3
Birthdate: October 31, 1947
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
 19 
Yuki Kawauchi
(Marathon runner)
Yuki Kawauchi
1
Birthdate: May 5, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
 20 
Samuel Wanjiru
(Athlete)
Samuel Wanjiru
4
Birthdate: November 10, 1986
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Nyahururu, Kenya
Died: May 15, 2011
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 21 
Spyridon Louis
(Greek Water Carrier, Marathon Runner and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Spyridon Louis
3
Birthdate: January 12, 1873
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Marousi, Greece
Died: March 26, 1940

Spiridon Louis was a Greek water carrier-turned-national hero. Louis achieved widespread popularity after becoming the first person to win the modern-day Olympic marathon at the 1896 Olympics in Athens. A former soldier, Louis is an example of an early rags-to-riches story where he wins the Olympic medal at a crucial moment and later becomes a police officer.

 22 
Deena Kastor
(American Long-Distance Runner)
Deena Kastor
4
Birthdate: February 14, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
 23 
Grete Waitz
(Norwegian Marathon Runner and Former World Record Holder)
Grete Waitz
3
Birthdate: October 1, 1953
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Oslo, Norway
Died: April 19, 2011

Grete Waitz was a Norwegian marathon runner who became the first female runner to complete a marathon in less than two and a half hours in 1979. A former world record holder, Waitz won a record nine New York City Marathons between 1978 and 1988. Grete Waitz is also remembered for winning the silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games.  

 24 
Dennis Kipruto Kimetto
(Kenyan Marathon Runner)
Dennis Kipruto Kimetto
5
Birthdate: April 22, 1984
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kenya
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 25 
Mary Jepkosgei Keitany
(Long-distance runner, Marathon runner)
Mary Jepkosgei Keitany
5
Birthdate: January 18, 1982
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kabarnet, Baringo County, Kenya
 26 
Geoffrey Mutai
(Marathon runner)
Geoffrey Mutai
5
Birthdate: October 7, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Koibatek District, Kenya
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 27 
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
(Long-distance running)
Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich
3
Birthdate: March 15, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Keiyo District, Kenya
 28 
Ron Hill
(British Marathon runner)
Ron Hill
3
Birthdate: September 25, 1938
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Accrington, Lancashire, England
Died: May 23, 2021
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 29 
Bill Rodgers
(American Runner, Olympian, and Former Record Holder in the Marathon)
Bill Rodgers
3
Birthdate: December 23, 1947
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States
 30 
Sohn Kee-chung
(Long-distance runner)
Sohn Kee-chung
1
Birthdate: August 29, 1912
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sinuiju, North Korea
Died: November 15, 2002
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 31 
Paul Tergat
(Long-distance runner)
Paul Tergat
3
Birthdate: June 17, 1969
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kenya
 32 
Robert de Castella
(Long-distance runner)
Robert de Castella
1
Birthdate: February 22, 1957
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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 33 
Carlos Lopes
(Portuguese Former Long-Distance Runner)
Carlos Lopes
3
Birthdate: February 18, 1947
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Viseu, Portugal

Carlos Lopes is a Portuguese retired athlete who specialized in long-distance running. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the men's marathon event at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He was the first Olympic gold medalist from Portugal. Carlos Lopes also won three gold medals at the World Cross Country Championships between 1976 and 1985.

 34 
Khalid Khannouchi
(American Marathoner Who is the Former World Record Holder for the Marathon for 20 KM Distance)
Khalid Khannouchi
5
Birthdate: September 12, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Meknes, Morocco
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 35 
Stephen Kiprotich
(Ugandan Long-Distance Runner)
Stephen Kiprotich
1
Birthdate: February 27, 1989
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kapchorwa District, Uganda
 36 
Feyisa Lilesa
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner)
Feyisa Lilesa
5
Birthdate: February 1, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Oromia, Ethiopia

Feyisa Lilesa is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. He achieved popularity in 2010 when he became the youngest man to complete the men's marathon at the NN Rotterdam Marathon under 2:06. He went on to win a bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu. Feyisa Lilesa also won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.

 37 
Rosa Mota
(Marathon Runner)
Rosa Mota
1
Birthdate: June 29, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Porto, Portugal
 38 
Hannes Kolehmainen
(Finnish Athlete and 4-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Who Was One of the 'Flying Finns')
Hannes Kolehmainen
5
Birthdate: December 9, 1889
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kuopio, Finland
Died: January 11, 1966

Legendary Finnish track and field athlete Hannes Kolehmainen was one of the Flying Finns and had won 4 Olympic gold medals and a silver. Known for undergoing rigorous training sessions, he also maintained a vegetarian diet. Though a bricklayer by profession, he had a sports-loving family and 2 brothers who were long-distance runners.

 39 
Mamo Wolde
(Ethiopian Long Distance Runner and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Mamo Wolde
3
Birthdate: June 12, 1932
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ada'a, Ethiopia
Died: May 26, 2002

Ethiopian Olympic legend Degaga "Mamo" Wolde, an international distance running star, was a cross-country, road and track running athlete. He won gold medal in men’s marathon event and silver medal in 10000 m event at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. Wolde bagged his third Olympic medal, a bronze, at the 1972 Olympic marathon in Munich, West Germany.

 40 
Ingrid Kristiansen
(Former World Record Holder in the 5000 Metres, 10,000 Metres and the Marathon)
Ingrid Kristiansen
1
Birthdate: March 21, 1956
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Trondheim, Norway

One of the most successful female long-distance runners of her time, Norwegian athlete Ingrid Kristiansen was a World Champion and a European Champion. However, she missed out on an Olympic medal, as she finished 4th in the women’s marathon. She was also a talented cross-country skier in her teens.

 41 
Waldemar Cierpinski
(German Marathon Runner and Two Time Olympic Champion)
Waldemar Cierpinski
3
Birthdate: August 3, 1950
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Neugattersleben, Nienburg, Germany
 42 
Tegla Loroupe
(First African Woman to Hold the Marathon World Record)
Tegla Loroupe
3
Birthdate: December 9, 1979
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kapsait, Kenya
 43 
Steve Jones
(Welsh Marathon Runner)
Steve Jones
0
Birthdate: August 4, 1955
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Tredegar, Wales
 44 
Naoko Takahashi
(Japanese Marathon Runner)
Naoko Takahashi
1
Birthdate: May 6, 1972
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Gifu, Gifu, Japan
 45 
Tiki Gelana
(Ethiopian Long-Distance Runner Who Specializes in Marathon)
Tiki Gelana
5
Birthdate: October 22, 1987
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Jijiga, Ethiopia

Tiki Gelana is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in long-distance running. She achieved popularity in 2012 when she won the gold medal and created a new Olympic record in the women's marathon event at the Olympic Games in London. From 2012 to 2017, Tiki Gelana held the Ethiopian national record for marathon with a personal best time of 2:18:58.

 46 
Stefano Baldini
(Long-distance runner)
Stefano Baldini
1
Birthdate: May 25, 1971
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Castelnovo di Sotto, Italy
 47 
Catherine Ndereba
(Kenyan Long-Distance Runner)
Catherine Ndereba
3
Birthdate: July 21, 1972
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Nyeri County, Kenya
 48 
Gezahegne Abera
(Ethiopian Athlete Who Specializes in Marathon Races)
Gezahegne Abera
3
Birthdate: April 23, 1978
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ethiopia

Gezahegne Abera is an Ethiopian athlete who specializes in marathon races. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 2000 Olympics. He won the medal at the age of 22, becoming the youngest marathon winner since 1932 when Juan Carlos Zabala won the race. Abera went on to win the gold medal at the 2001 World Championships.

 49 
Catherina McKiernan
(Former Irish Marathon Runner)
Catherina McKiernan
3
Birthdate: November 30, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cavan, Ireland
 50 
Jacqueline Gareau
(Canadian Marathon Runner)
Jacqueline Gareau
3
Birthdate: March 10, 1953
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: L'Annonciation, Quebec, Canada