An unprecedented visual and literary tour of the marathon throughout history
The marathon is the most popular independent athletic event in the world, with over a million people set to enter one this year and another 50 million cheering them on from the sidelines. This glorious volume is the first book to set the marathon on the large world stage and examine the historic and universal appeal of this ultimate individual challenge.
Hundreds of powerful images by such renowned photographers as Helmut Newton and Susan Meiselas, along with personal reminiscences from many well-known marathoners, capture the endless hours of practice and the overwhelming rush of emotion at crossing the finish line. Examining the marathon through the lenses of history, philosophy, sociology, athletics, pop culture, fashion, and science, the book salutes the determination and courage of those who willingly push themselves to test their personal best.
| 1 | Prelude to the race | 14 |
| 2 | The starting line | 22 |
| 3 | Out of the gate | 30 |
| 4 | Olympic distance | 36 |
| 5 | Mapping the course | 48 |
| 6 | Motivations | 56 |
| 7 | Heroes 1896-1956 | 62 |
| 8 | Training | 68 |
| 9 | Running for your life | 76 |
| 10 | Joining the race | 86 |
| 11 | The pack | 98 |
| 12 | Sidelines | 104 |
| 13 | Halfway | 118 |
| 14 | Run the world | 122 |
| 15 | Gear | 146 |
| 16 | Ritual and religion | 156 |
| 17 | Shortcuts | 164 |
| 18 | The body in question | 170 |
| 19 | The story of a word | 176 |
| 20 | Heroes 1956-1982 | 184 |
| 21 | The course and the cause | 190 |
| 22 | The agony | 198 |
| 23 | Time | 204 |
| 24 | Out of the rift valley | 212 |
| 25 | Souvenirs | 220 |
| 26 | Heroes 1982-2003 | 228 |
| 26.2 | The ecstasy | 234 |
Overview
An unprecedented visual and literary tour of the marathon throughout history
The marathon is the most popular independent athletic event in the world, with over a million people set to enter one this year and another 50 million cheering them on from the sidelines. This glorious volume is the first book to set the marathon on the large world stage and examine the historic and universal appeal of this ultimate individual challenge.
Hundreds of ...