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The marathon is simply a unique event with more history and drama than any other. The story of Pheidippides running from Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the defeat of the Persians, exclaiming “we have won” before collapsing and dying will forever be imbedded in legend. The marathon is the ultimate endurance event at championship level and has developed from paltry fields of around 12 competitors in the 1800’s to well over 30,000 in the biggest city marathons in the world today. The distance is an enigma and stimulates interest among fun runners, joggers, celebrities, club runners and of course elite athletes worldwide. British runners have been instrumental in moving the event onwards and upwards over the years with world records from Jim Peters, Basil Heatley, Steve Jones and Paula Radcliffe. The marathon has had a true global effect with some of those best-ever times and athletes coming from every corner of the world including Asia, Oceania, the Americas, Europe and Africa. Great Marathon Runners is much more than a book charting success, it tells the story of how each athlete reached the pinnacle of their career. There are stories of joy and despair, laughter and tears, but they all lead to one thing - a definitive performance over 26 miles 385 yards. There are chapters on some of the best big city and championship events along with words on some of the best marathons races ever run throughout the world. Of course, like any good book, it finishes with in-depth statistics which tell a story in their own right. Athletics Weekly has been at most of the marathons over the last 65 years to record the passion, drama and the unexpected. We trust you enjoy the book and hope it gives you the motivation to get out there and achieve your goals whether they are covering the distance in two hours or four hours. As the great Emil Zatopek said: “If you want to win something, run 100 metres. If you want to experience something, run a marathon!