Marathons have become a fundamental part of the annual fitness calendar for many cities – attracting thousands of participants to the long courses that traverse cities, including London, New York, Athens, Boston and Dubai. 

Spanning courses of 42km or 26.1 miles, (fun fact: the extra 0.1km is said to have been added to allow the London Marathon finish on the strip by Buckingham Palace so the Queen could see the finale), marathons are generally more about participation, than winning. 

Given the distances, marathons have become a bucket-list achievement for many runners, and the beauty of it is, that anyone can take part; from teenagers to pensioners, people with injuries, all nationalities, skill-levels (well, to a degree), and all walks of life. 

Recommended

OPINION: The UAE Is Quickly Set To Become The Publishing Capital Of The Middle East and North AfricaOPINION: The UAE’s Compassion For People Of Determination Knows No BoundsIndia-UAE Travel Ban: Why I Decided To Fly From Delhi To Dubai Onboard A Charter Flight

Marathons are often one of the highlights of a city’s annual event calendar

The great marathon events around the world attract more than 30,000 runners like New York, and are very difficult to get into with some even requiring qualifying times like Boston. 

The ballots can be as oversubscribed as an Ed Sheeran concert.

 Many marathons are run in support of charity causes – the day of the London Marathon sees more money raised for charity than any other 

They require discipline and sacrifice in training in the lead-up. It’s suggested to train between 12 and 16 weeks beforehand, with almost 600km generally covered in preparation.

The courses are normally the scenic route of a city – showcasing its best features

Another special element is the support.

 At every stretch of the New York and London Marathons, the crowds elevate you.

The London course starts in Greenwich, traverses through East London, crosses London Bridge and ends down in Westminster passing Big Ben and finishes in St. James Park. 

The New York course travels through the five boroughs, crossing Brooklyn Bridge, running down First Avenue, and finishing in Central Park. The Barcelona route is better than any guided bus tour, and in Florence, the route is quintessential Italian history. 

Supporters come out in force, often carrying signs, handing out jelly babies and Vaseline, the cheers at every bend, the music and bands at corners, it is enough to give you goose bumps.

The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon took place last week

Though it was almost a sideshow to the 10k event, which was a nice course with views of the Burj Al Arab.

For the full marathon, there wasn’t as much support as other events, and the course was four repeated laps. 

 It seems that Dubai is missing a trick here.

Dubai has a lot more to offer in terms of beautiful attractions and community support 

 There are so many nationalities in this great city, and people lining the streets supporting their fellow country-men and women, would make for a wonderful atmosphere.

Sure, it’s only one event, but there is a lot of competition in tourism for sporting events – to attract participants. 

 If the course route was to change, and the focus shifted more on the 42km rather than the 10km race, we could have even more people coming to take part.

Imagine the course showcasing not only the Burj Al Arab, but with a backdrop of Burj Khalifa too, past iconic sites like Al Shindaga, Palm Jumeirah or Dubai Marina. 

Imagine if the Dubai Marathon became as in-demand to participate in, as the New York or London Marathon? People flying from all over the world, to tick off the bucket-list experience of running the Dubai Marathon. 

Imagine if it went through the Dubai Marina – residents cheering from their balconies – through Downtown Dubai, with people in the cafes and restaurants showing their support, imagine if the whole city got involved and supported the competition. 

With some changes the Dubai Marathon can be one of the greatest in the world

Dubai has absolutely nailed hosting global events for elite athletes, just ask the golfers who took part in the Omega Dessert Classic last weekend, or the cyclists who will take part in the Dubai Tour next week.

Last year, I sat in a Team Vittoria car on the Nakheel Stage on the tour, there were two Italians in the front of the car with little English, so our conversation was limited for the four hours as we followed the riders for the day. 

These guys travel on all the cycling tours around the world, including the stunning Tour de France. However, as we crossed onto The Palm Jumeirah, overlooking the bay, the boats, the Marina Skyline behind us, the Burj Al Arab to our right, the driver turned to his companion and uttered a single word ‘bella’.  

A world record may well be broken in Dubai one day. But wouldn’t it be great if we also ended up having one of the great marathons that people travel the world to attend?