The Marathon, one of the world’s most ancient sporting events, is the first Athletics event of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to start the day on July 27. The runners will follow a track that takes them past many of Glasgow’s most famous landmarks in the ultimate test of endurance.
What is it?
The Marathon harks back to 490 BC when, as legend has it, after fighting in the Battle of Marathon, the Greek warrior Pheidippides ran from the site of the battle to Athens without pausing. He burst into the city and shouted “we have won!” before promptly keeling over, dead.
Things are a little easier for our modern athletes, who aren’t required to fight a battle before their run. However, the modern marathon is a battle in itself. A dash of 42.195 kilometres is no walk in the park.
The marathon is an integral event of the Commonwealth Games, first appearing the inaugural 1930 ‘British Empire Games’, and was won that year by Scotsman Duncan Wright. It has been run in every edition of the games since.
The Aussies
Michael Shelley is Australia’s big hope heading into Glasgow 2014. The Queeslander, who turns 31 in October this year, claimed the silver medal at Delhi 2010 behind Kenyan John Kelai.
Martin Dent and Liam Adams join Shelley in Australia’s male marathon team. Dent competed in the London 2012 Olympic marathon, finishing 28th, and Adams won the Gold Coast Half Marathon in 2012.
Jessica Trengove is the most experienced of Australia’s female marathoners. While this is her first Commonwealth Games appearance, Trengove represented Australia in the marathon at the London 2012 Olympics, finishing eight minutes behind first place.
Melanie Panayiotou and Sarah Klein are Australia’s other female runners. Panayiotou is one to watch having recently set a new personal best in Japan in March, while Klein finished fourth in the 2013 Melbourne marathon.
The Competition
Defending men’s champion John Kelai will be the man to beat this year, heading up the Kenyan marathon team. Kenya claimed gold in both the men’s and women’s marathons last year and will be tough to beat.
Keep an eye out for a feel-good story, English runner Steve Way, who just seven years ago weighed 102kg and smoked twenty cigarettes a day. Not a bad effort to turn it around!
Fast Facts
– Athleticism runs in Jessica Trengove’s blood – her brother Jack plays for the Melbourne Demons in the AFL and her sister Abbie has represented South Australia in rowing.
– Australia’s team this year comes from all walks of like. Sarah Klein is a teacher at Caulfield Grammar in Melbourne, while Melanie Panayiotou is the head veterinarian at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland.
– The world record for a fastest marathon ever run is 2:03:23, set by Wilson Kipsang of Kenya in Berlin in 2013. Kenyans make up eight of the top ten record holders. 2:15:25 is the record for the women’s marathon, held by Paula Radcliffe of England.
– Fauja Singh became the world’s oldest marathon runner in 2011, taking more than eight hours to complete the Toronto Waterfront Marathon at the age of 100.
What to Drink while watching
The most ancient of events calls for the most ancient of beverages. Here are the clues: If you run a marathon, you’ll certainly need it. It’s the source of all life, and makes up 70% of you. Go on, go to the tap and take a swig!
This article was first published on the Tenplay website here.
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