Running has become a social phenomenon in recent years. It is a sport that has come with strength to stay, as those who practice it say that it makes them feel better and smile more. Its rapid popularization is reflected in the large number of marathons, popular races and half marathons held in all corners of the world. As its practice has become more widespread and there are more participants, challenges proliferate. Many of them quite tough.
To all the lovers of this accessible sport, here they go some marathons not to be missed if you are looking to find new challenges and discover new places. Would you dare to run any of them?
Kenya
One of the reasons running is so important in Kenya is because the sport can lift you out of poverty. In a country that suffers from so many deficiencies, this sport allows those who become professionals to live in a comfortable way. There, a solidarity half marathon against AIDS takes place. Kenya, at 2.400 meters above sea level, is where everyone wants to go to train. And incidentally, sightseeing to get to know its beautiful landscapes and its safaris.
Patagonia
Since 2002 it has been carried out between Puerto Fuy and San Martín de los Andes, one of the most exciting races that crosses the Andes mountain range: Cruce Columbia. Its objective is to unite Chile and Argentina through unique landscapes, covering more than 100 kilometers divided into three stages of 42, 28 and 30 kilometers.
This is one of the toughest races, for which you have to be very prepared. In fact, the Columbia Crossing has the motto "Not everyone can run it but nobody can forget it."
The runners spent days running and living in the middle of the mountains, enduring all the difficulties that this entails. The race is run in teams of two people (women, men or mixed) that must remain together throughout the course. As of 2013, it was decided to add the Individual category due to the high demand.
England
They say that Tough Guy is the most extreme obstacle course in the world, in which 33% of runners drop out because they are unable to finish it. It is a psychological race rather than a physical one since it is very important to be able to keep a cool head and calm to move on when the body no longer responds.
Tough Guy is held in Wolverhampton, West Midlands and consists of 15 kilometers of route with tunnels, water lakes and even electro-shocks. The organization forces participants to sign what is known as "the death warrant." A document in which the dangers posed by participation are recognized and accepted, exempting the organizers from any legal responsibility in the event of an accident. A challenge that, according to some participants, is life changing.
Norway
The Polar Night Halfmarathon takes place in Norway and runs at night, with 20 hours of darkness and only 4 of light. It is celebrated in February and the low temperatures that are reached during the winter make the race very difficult, making it seem that the 21 kilometers that make it up are endless.
However, the landscapes make all the effort worth it: Imagine doing the Polar Night Halfmarathon under the Norwegian Northern Lights. Simply spectacular.
California
140 kilometers south of Los Angeles, in the town of Carlsbad, the so-called Marathon of Heroes is organized every year, an event for solidarity purposes where runners from all over the world come together to pay tribute to various protagonists of stories of overcoming.
This race takes place bordering the Pacific and as the organizers themselves say, Carlsbad is a marathon unlike any other. If you are passionate about running, you should not miss this unique race. The next will take place on January 15, 2017.
Sevilla
The Zurich Marathon of Seville is ideal to achieve a good mark on a flat circuit. This race has a spectacular circuit that passes through the most emblematic places of the Seville capital: the Plaza de España, the Maestranza, the María Luisa Park, La Giralda and the Torre del Oro, among many others.
It is the flattest marathon in Europe, endorsed by the IAAF and the AIMS, where excellent treatment is provided to the runner and in which there are many parallel activities to live an experience around running as complete as possible: talks and colloquia, meetings to train, the runner's fair, photography and animation contests, etc.
The route of the Zurich Marathon of Seville is animated by singers during some stages of the race, which makes it even more entertaining and fun. It will take place on February 19, 2017.