If you’re going to spend the best part of a morning running 26.2 miles, you might as well do it in a beautiful place. And perhaps the most picturesque of all marathons? Big Sur International Marathon.
The starting gun will fire for the 27th annual running of this oceanside race at 6:45am this Sunday. Around 5,000 people representing all 50 US states and 34 countries will tackle the breathtaking route, which follows California’s stunning Highway 1, also known as the “Pacific Coast Highway”. You can imagine the views.
Huffing and puffing their way from Big Sur’s Pfeiffer State Park all the way to Rio Road in Carmel, runners will tour numerous local landmarks including Point Sur (9 miles), Hurricane Point (12 Miles), Bixby Bridge (13 miles) and Rocky Point (15.5 miles).
Winding its way over rolling hills and through redwood forests and rural ranch land, the marathon is famous for its undulating terrain and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.
The oldest entrant, 80-year old Californian Aloysius Casey, is expected to complete the course in 4 hours 45 minutes, while the elite male athletes are expected to comfortably break the two-and-a-half hour mark.
Runner’s World has designated the Big Sur International as both the most scenic marathon and the best destination marathon in North America. So that got us wondering – do any other destination runs capture the hearts and eyes of endurance racers?
Two Oceans Marathon – Cape Town, South Africa
This punishing 56k ultra-marathon takes in vast swathes of Atlantic and Indian Ocean shoreline – we suspect much more than many entrants bargain for. With the incomparable Table Mountain as a backdrop and the stunning Chapman’s Peak driving the course highlight, the Two Oceans makes a strong claim for the world’s most beautiful marathon.
Everest Marathon – Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal
What’s harder than running 26.2 miles as fast as you can? Running it at altitude, that’s what. The trek alone to Gorak Shep, which sits at the foot of the world’s tallest mountain is a challenge in itself. The predominantly downhill course ends in Namche Bazaar, but we can’t help wondering if entrants are too busy catching their breath to take in the spectacular Himalayan scenery en route.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: SeeMonterey)
