Alice Chelangat
Road races
Table:
Year
Competition
Venue
Position
Notes

2001

Milan Marathon

Milan, Italy

1st

Marathon

2001

Enschede Marathon

Enschede, Netherlands

3rd

Marathon

2002

Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon

San Diego, California, U.S.

1st

Marathon

2002

Milan Marathon

Milan, Italy

2nd

Marathon

2003

Prague Marathon

Prague, Czech Republic

2nd

Marathon

2003

Nairobi Marathon

Nairobi, Kenya

1st

Marathon

2004

Hamburg Marathon

Hamburg, Germany

2nd

Marathon

2005

Florence Marathon

Florence, Italy

1st

Marathon

2006

Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon

San Diego, California, U.S.

1st

Marathon

2006

Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon

Virginia Beach, VA, U.S.

2nd

Half Marathon [1]

2007

Boston Marathon

Boston, U.S.

8th

Marathon

2008

Rotterdam Marathon

Rotterdam, the Netherlands

4th

Marathon

2009

Nairobi Marathon

Nairobi, Kenya

2nd [2]

Marathon

Using the provided table and the background passages listed.

Answer the following question: What is the common moniker of the city where Alice Chelangat finished 1st in its 2003 marathon ? Respond with the correct answer (omit explanations) in JSON format as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

The Milano City Marathon is a marathon race held every April in Milan , Italy . It was first organised in 2000 by the Milano City Marathon Club and the first nine editions were held in November .
Milan ( /mɪˈlæn/ , US also /mɪˈlɑːn/ , Italian : Milano [ miˈlaːno ] ( listen ) , Milanese : [ miˈlãː ] ( listen ) ) is a city in northern Italy , capital of Lombardy , and the second-most populous city in Italy after Rome . Milan served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire , the Duchy of Milan and the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia . The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million while its metropolitan city has 3.23 million inhabitants . Its continuously built-up urban area , that stretches well beyond the boundaries of its administrative metropolitan city , is the fourth largest in the EU with 5.27 million inhabitants . The population within the wider Milan metropolitan area , also known as Greater Milan , is estimated at 8.2 million , making it by far the largest metropolitan area in Italy and the 4th largest in the EU . Milan is considered a leading alpha global city , with strengths in the field of the art , commerce , design , education , entertainment , fashion , finance , healthcare , media , services , research and tourism . Its business district hosts Italy 's stock exchange ( Italian : Borsa Italiana ) , and the headquarters of national and international banks and companies . In terms of GDP , it has the second-largest economy among EU cities after Paris , and is the wealthiest among EU non-capital cities . Milan is considered part of the Blue Banana and one of the Four Motors for Europe . The city has been recognized as one of the world 's four fashion capitals thanks to several international events and fairs , including Milan Fashion Week and the Milan Furniture Fair , which are currently among the world 's biggest in terms of revenue , visitors and growth . It hosted the Universal Exposition in 1906 and 2015 . The city hosts numerous cultural institutions , academies and universities , with 11% of the national total enrolled students .
Italy ( Italian : Italia [ iˈtaːlja ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Italian Republic ( Italian : Repubblica Italiana [ reˈpubblika itaˈljaːna ] ) , is a European country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands . Italy is located in south-central Europe , and it is also considered a part of Western Europe . The country covers a total area of 301,340 km2 ( 116,350 sq mi ) and shares land borders with France , Switzerland , Austria , Slovenia , and the enclaved microstates of Vatican City and San Marino . Italy has a territorial exclave in Switzerland ( Campione ) and a maritime exclave in the Tunisian Sea ( Lampedusa ) . With around 60 million inhabitants , Italy is the third-most populous member state of the European Union . The capital and largest city is Rome ; other major cities are Milan , Naples , Turin , Palermo , Genoa , Bologna , Florence and Venice . Due to its central geographic location in Southern Europe and the Mediterranean , Italy has historically been home to myriad peoples and cultures . In addition to the various ancient peoples dispersed throughout what is now modern-day Italy , the most predominant being the Indo-European Italic peoples who gave the peninsula its name , beginning from the classical era , Phoenicians and Carthaginians founded colonies mostly in insular Italy , Greeks established settlements in the so-called Magna Graecia of Southern Italy , while Etruscans and Celts inhabited central and northern Italy respectively . An Italic tribe known as the Latins formed the Roman Kingdom in the 8th century BC , which eventually became a republic with a government of the Senate and the People . The Roman Republic initially conquered and assimilated its neighbours on the Italian peninsula , eventually expanding and conquering parts of Europe , North Africa and Asia . By the first century BC , the Roman Empire emerged as the dominant power in the Mediterranean Basin and became a leading cultural , political and religious centre , inaugurating the Pax Romana , a period of more than 200 years during which Italy 's law , technology , economy , art , and literature developed . Italy remained the homeland of the Romans and the metropole of the empire , whose legacy can also be observed in the global distribution of culture , governments , Christianity and the Latin script .
The Enschede Marathon is an annual marathon race held in the city of Enschede , Netherlands . The race is the distance of a typical marathon ( 42 km , 195 metres ) . It has been held annually since 1991 , after being bi-annual for the previous 44 years . The race crosses the German border through the city of Gronau . There has been a women 's competition since 1981 . Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich is the current course record holder with his winning time of 2:07:20 hours from 2011 . Russia 's Lidya Vasilevskaya holds the women 's best mark for the course with her time of 2:29:23 hours from 2002 .
Enschede ( Dutch pronunciation : [ ˈɛnsxəˌdeː ] ( listen ) , also known as Eanske [ ˈɛːnskə ] in the local dialect of Twents ) , is a municipality and city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel and in the Twente region . The municipality of Enschede consisted of the city of Enschede until 1935 , when the rural municipality of Lonneker , which surrounded the city , was annexed after the rapid industrial expansion of Enschede which began in the 1860s and involved the building of railways and the digging of the Twentekanaal . The proposal for consolidation began in 1872 , per the Turbantia newspaper article on 22 Jun 1872 that referenced a committee of 5 to oversea a study . They were : J. Mosman ( Johannes Theodorus Mosman ) , H. Fikkert , H. G. Blijdenstein J . Bz. , C. C. Schleucker , and G. J. van Heek .
The Netherlands ( Dutch : Nederland , [ ˈneːdərlɑnt ] ( listen ) ) , informally Holland , is a country in Northwestern Europe with some overseas territories in the Caribbean . In Europe , it consists of 12 provinces that border Germany to the east , Belgium to the south , and the North Sea to the northwest , with maritime borders in the North Sea with those countries and the United Kingdom . Together with the Caribbean Netherlands - Bonaire , Sint Eustatius and Saba - it forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands . The official language is Dutch and a secondary official language in the province of Friesland is West Frisian . In the north and east of the country , Low Saxon is also spoken , and in the southeast , Limburgish . In the Caribbean Netherlands English and Papiamento are recognised languages . The five largest cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam , Rotterdam , The Hague , Utrecht and Eindhoven . Amsterdam is the country 's most populous city and nominal capital , while The Hague holds the seat of the States General , Cabinet and Supreme Court . The Port of Rotterdam is the busiest seaport in Europe , and the busiest in any country outside Asia . Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the busiest airport in the Netherlands , and the third busiest in Europe . The country is a founding member of the EU , Eurozone , G10 , NATO , OECD and WTO , as well as a part of the Schengen Area and the trilateral Benelux Union . It hosts several intergovernmental organisations and international courts , many of which are centered in The Hague , which is consequently dubbed 'the world 's legal capital ' .
The Rock ' n ' Roll San Diego Marathon is an annual marathon foot-race held in San Diego , California . It was established in 1998 and has been run every year since . It is the original race in the Rock ' n ' Roll Marathon Series of marathons and half-marathons organized by the IRONMAN Group , part of Wanda Sports Holdings . A half marathon race over 21.0975 kilometres ( 13.1094 mi ) was added to supplement the established full marathon race from the 2010 edition onwards . The marathon originally commenced at 6th Avenue at Palm and concluded on Broadway Avenue downtown San Diego . The following year , the finish moved to the Naval Training Center , and three years later moved to the Parade Deck in Marine Corps Recruit Depot . In 2010 a new course was defined which ended at SeaWorld San Diego . In 2013 , the course was again rerouted with a new finish line at Petco Park . Runners have seven hours in which to complete the marathon . There is also a half-marathon over portions of the same course , and a four-person relay option with a four-hour time limit . Since its inception , the marathon claims to have raised in excess of $ 100 million for charities ( but see below ) . The 2006 marathon had 21,159 participants - 17,339 of whom successfully finished the race .
San Diego ( /ˌsæn diˈeɪɡoʊ/ , Spanish : [ san ˈdjeɣo ] ; Spanish for Saint Didacus ) is a city in the U.S. state of California on the coast of the Pacific Ocean , approximately 120 miles ( 190 km ) south of Los Angeles and immediately adjacent to the border with Mexico . With an estimated population of 1,425,976 as of July 1 , 2018 , San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest in California . It is part of the San Diego-Tijuana conurbation , the second-largest transborder agglomeration between the U.S. and a bordering country after Detroit-Windsor , with a population of 4,922,723 people . The city is known for its mild year-round climate , natural deep-water harbor , extensive beaches , long association with the United States Navy , and recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center . San Diego has been called the birthplace of California . Historically home to the Kumeyaay people , it was the first site visited by Europeans on what is now the West Coast of the United States . Upon landing in San Diego Bay in 1542 , Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claimed the area for Spain , forming the basis for the settlement of Alta California 200 years later . The Presidio and Mission San Diego de Alcalá , founded in 1769 , formed the first European settlement in what is now California . In 1821 , San Diego became part of the newly declared Mexican Empire , which reformed as the First Mexican Republic two years later . California became part of the United States in 1848 following the Mexican-American War and was admitted to the union as a state in 1850 . The city is the seat of San Diego County and is the economic center of the region as well as the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area . San Diego 's main economic engines are military and defense-related activities , tourism , international trade , and manufacturing .
The United States of America ( USA ) , commonly known as the United States ( U.S. or US ) or America , is a country consisting of 50 states , a federal district , five major self-governing territories , and various possessions . [ g ] At 3.8 million square miles ( 9.8 million km2 ) , it is the world 's third or fourth-largest country by total area [ b ] and is slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe . Most of the country is located in central North America between Canada and Mexico . With an estimated population of over 328 million , the U.S. is the third most populous country in the world . The capital is Washington , D.C. , and the most populous city is New York City . Paleo-Indians migrated from Siberia to the North American mainland at least 12,000 years ago . European colonization began in the 16th century . The United States emerged from the thirteen British colonies established along the East Coast . Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the colonies led to the American Revolutionary War lasting between 1775 and 1783 , leading to independence . The United States embarked on a vigorous expansion across North America throughout the 19th century - gradually acquiring new territories , displacing Native Americans , and admitting new states - until by 1848 it spanned the continent . During the second half of the 19th century , the American Civil War led to the abolition of slavery in the United States . The Spanish-American War and World War I confirmed the country 's status as a global military power .
The Prague Marathon ( also known as Prague International Marathon ( PIM ) and Volkswagen Prague Marathon ) is held in the city of Prague in the Czech Republic each May . It was founded in 1995 and has grown to become a significant marathon event , being awarded IAAF Gold Label status . According to media it is the world 's most international marathon , with two-thirds of runners coming from 55 different countries . Prague 's marathon course is also the seventh-fastest and has been voted one of the most beautiful in the world .
Prague ( /prɑːɡ/ ; Czech : Praha [ ˈpraɦa ] ( listen ) , German : Prag , Latin : Praga ) is the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic , the 13th largest city in the European Union and the historical capital of Bohemia . Situated on the Vltava river , Prague is home to about 1.3 million people , while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of 2.6 million . The city has a temperate oceanic climate , with relatively warm summers and chilly winters . Prague is a political , cultural and economic centre of central Europe complete with a rich history . Founded during the Romanesque and flourishing by the Gothic , Renaissance and Baroque eras , Prague was the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia and the main residence of several Holy Roman Emperors , most notably of Charles IV ( r. 1346-1378 ) . It was an important city to the Habsburg Monarchy and its Austro-Hungarian Empire . The city played major roles in the Bohemian and Protestant Reformation , the Thirty Years ' War and in 20th-century history as the capital of Czechoslovakia between the World Wars and the post-war Communist era . Prague is home to a number of well-known cultural attractions , many of which survived the violence and destruction of 20th-century Europe . Main attractions include Prague Castle , Charles Bridge , Old Town Square with the Prague astronomical clock , the Jewish Quarter , Petřín hill and Vyšehrad . Since 1992 , the extensive historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites . The city has more than ten major museums , along with numerous theatres , galleries , cinemas and other historical exhibits . An extensive modern public transportation system connects the city .
The Czech Republic ( /ˈtʃɛk -/ ( listen ) ; Czech : Česká republika [ ˈtʃɛskaː ˈrɛpublɪka ] ( listen ) ) , also known by its short-form name , Czechia ( /ˈtʃɛkiə/ ( listen ) ; Czech : Česko [ ˈtʃɛsko ] ( listen ) ) , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Poland to the northeast , Slovakia to the southeast , Austria to the south , and Germany to the west . The Czech Republic is a landlocked country with a hilly landscape that covers an area of 78,866 square kilometers ( 30,450 sq mi ) with a mostly temperate continental climate and oceanic climate . It is a unitary parliamentary republic , with 10.7 million inhabitants . Its capital and largest city is Prague , with 1.3 million residents ; other major cities are Brno , Ostrava , Olomouc and Pilsen . The Czech Republic includes the historical territories of Bohemia , Moravia , and Czech Silesia . The Czech state was formed in the late ninth century as the Duchy of Bohemia under the Great Moravian Empire . In 1002 , the duchy was formally recognized as an Imperial State of the Holy Roman Empire along with the Kingdom of Germany , the Kingdom of Burgundy , the Kingdom of Italy ; and became the Kingdom of Bohemia in 1198 , reaching its greatest territorial extent in the 14th century . Prague was the imperial seat in periods between the 14th and 17th century . The Protestant Bohemian Reformation of the 15th century led to the Hussite Wars , the first of many conflicts with the Catholic Church . Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526 , the whole Crown of Bohemia was gradually integrated into the Habsburg Monarchy . The Protestant Bohemian Revolt ( 1618-20 ) against the Catholic Habsburgs led to the Thirty Years ' War . After the Battle of the White Mountain , the Habsburgs consolidated their rule , eradicated Protestantism , reimposed Catholicism , and adopted a policy of gradual Germanization .
Nairobi Marathon is an annual road running competition over the marathon distance held in October in Nairobi , Kenya . First held in 2003 , the competition expanded and now includes a half marathon race along with the main race . It was part of The Greatest Race on Earth , fully sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank . The other three legs of this four-marathon race were the Hong Kong Marathon , the Mumbai Marathon and the Singapore Marathon .
Nairobi ( /naɪˈroʊbi/ ) is the capital and the largest city of Kenya . The name comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nairobi , which translates to cool water , a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city . The city proper had a population of 4,397,073 in the 2019 census , while the metropolitan area has a population of 9,354,580 . The city is popularly referred to as the Green City in the Sun . Nairobi was founded in 1899 by the colonial authorities in British East Africa , as a rail depot on the Uganda Railway . The town quickly grew to replace Mombasa as the capital of Kenya in 1907 . After independence in 1963 , Nairobi became the capital of the Republic of Kenya . During Kenya 's colonial period , the city became a centre for the colony 's coffee , tea and sisal industry . [ citation needed ] The city lies on the River Athi in the southern part of the country , and has an elevation of 1,795 metres ( 5,889 ft ) above sea level . According to the 2019 census , in the administrative area of Nairobi , 4,397,073 inhabitants lived within 696 km2 ( 269 sq mi ) . Home to thousands of Kenyan businesses and over 100 major international companies and organizations , including the United Nations Environment Programme ( UN Environment ) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi ( UNON ) , Nairobi is an established hub for business and culture . The Nairobi Securities Exchange ( NSE ) is one of the largest in Africa and the second-oldest exchange on the continent .
Kenya ( /ˈkɛnjə/ ( listen ) ) , officially the Republic of Kenya ( Swahili : Jamhuri ya Kenya ) , is a country in Africa with 47 semiautonomous counties governed by elected governors . At 580,367 square kilometres ( 224,081 sq mi ) , Kenya is the world 's 48th largest country by total area . With a population of more than 47.6 million people , Kenya is the 29th most populous country . Kenya 's capital and largest city is Nairobi , while its oldest city and first capital is the coastal city of Mombasa . Kisumu City is the third largest city and also an inland port on Lake Victoria . Other important urban centres include Nakuru and Eldoret . Kenya is bordered by South Sudan to the northwest , Ethiopia to the north , Somalia to the east , Uganda to the west , Tanzania to the south , and the Indian Ocean to the southeast . According to archaeological dating of associated artifacts and skeletal material , the Cushites first settled in the lowlands of Kenya between 3,200 and 1,300 BC , a phase referred to as the Lowland Savanna Pastoral Neolithic . Nilotic-speaking pastoralists ( ancestral to Kenya 's Nilotic speakers ) started migrating from present-day southern Sudan into Kenya around 500 BC . European colonisation of Kenya began in the 19th century during the European exploration of the interior . Modern-day Kenya emerged from a protectorate established by the British Empire in 1895 and the subsequent Kenya Colony , which began in 1920 . Numerous disputes between the UK and the colony led to the Mau Mau revolution , which began in 1952 , and the subsequent declaration of independence in 1963 .
The Hamburg Marathon is an annual marathon race over the classic distance of 42.195 km ( 26.219 mi ) held in Hamburg , Germany . In 2009 , 13,938 participants were counted .
Hamburg ( English : /ˈhæmbɜːrɡ/ , German : [ ˈhambʊʁk ] ( listen ) , locally also [ ˈhambʊɪ̯ç ] ( listen ) [ ˈhambɔːχ ] ; Low Saxon : Hamborg ) , officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg ( German : Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg ; Low Saxon : Friee un Hansestadt Hamborg ) , is the second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and 7th largest city in the European Union with a population of over 1.84 million . One of Germany 's 16 federal states , it is surrounded by Schleswig-Holstein to the north and Lower Saxony to the south . The city 's metropolitan region is home to more than five million people . Hamburg lies on the River Elbe and two of its tributaries , the River Alster and the River Bille . The official name reflects Hamburg 's history as a member of the medieval Hanseatic League and a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire . Before the 1871 Unification of Germany , it was a fully sovereign city state , and before 1919 formed a civic republic headed constitutionally by a class of hereditary grand burghers or Hanseaten . Beset by disasters such as the Great Fire of Hamburg , North Sea flood of 1962 and military conflicts including World War II bombing raids , the city has managed to recover and emerge wealthier after each catastrophe . Hamburg is Europe 's third-largest port . Major regional broadcaster NDR , the printing and publishing firm Gruner + Jahr and the newspapers Der Spiegel and Die Zeit are based in the city . Hamburg is the seat of Germany 's oldest stock exchange and the world 's oldest merchant bank , Berenberg Bank . Media , commercial , logistical , and industrial firms with significant locations in the city include multinationals Airbus , Blohm + Voss , Aurubis , Beiersdorf , and Unilever . The city hosts specialists in world economics and international law , including consular and diplomatic missions as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea , the EU-LAC Foundation , and the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning , multipartite international political conferences and summits such as Europe and China and the G20 .
Germany ( German : Deutschland , German pronunciation : [ ˈdɔʏtʃlant ] ) , constitutionally the Federal Republic of Germany ( German : Bundesrepublik Deutschland , listen ( help·info ) ) , [ f ] is a country in Central and Western Europe . It borders Denmark to the north , Poland and the Czech Republic to the east , Austria and Switzerland to the south , France to the southwest , and Luxembourg , Belgium , and the Netherlands to the west . Germany includes 16 constituent states , covers an area of 357,386 square kilometres ( 137,988 sq mi ) , and has a largely temperate seasonal climate . With 83 million inhabitants , it is the second most populous state of Europe after Russia , the most populous state lying entirely in Europe , as well as the most populous member state of the European Union . Germany is a very decentralised country . Its capital and largest metropolis is Berlin , while Frankfurt serves as its financial capital and has the country 's busiest airport . Various Germanic tribes have inhabited the northern parts of modern Germany since classical antiquity . A region named Germania was documented before AD 100 . Beginning in the 10th century , German territories formed a central part of the Holy Roman Empire . During the 16th century , northern German regions became the centre of the Protestant Reformation . After the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire , the German Confederation was formed in 1815 . The German revolutions of 1848-49 resulted in the Frankfurt Parliament establishing major democratic rights .
The Florence Marathon ( Italian : Maratona di Firenze ) is an annual full-length marathon race which takes place in late November in Florence , Italy .
Florence ( /ˈflɒrəns/ FLORR-ənss ; Italian : Firenze [ fiˈrɛntse ] ( listen ) ) [ a ] is a city in central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region . It is the most populated city in Tuscany , with 383,084 inhabitants in 2013 , and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area . Florence was a centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of that era . It is considered by many academics the birthplace of the Renaissance , and has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages . Its turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family and numerous religious and republican revolutions . From 1865 to 1871 the city served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy ( established in 1861 ) . The Florentine dialect forms the base of Standard Italian and it became the language of culture throughout Italy due to the prestige of the masterpieces by Dante Alighieri , Petrarch , Giovanni Boccaccio , Niccolò Machiavelli and Francesco Guicciardini . The city attracts millions of tourists each year , and UNESCO declared the Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site in 1982 . The city is noted for its culture , Renaissance art and architecture and monuments . The city also contains numerous museums and art galleries , such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Palazzo Pitti , and still exerts an influence in the fields of art , culture and politics . Due to Florence 's artistic and architectural heritage , Forbes has ranked it as one of the most beautiful cities in the world . Florence plays an important role in Italian fashion , and is ranked in the top 15 fashion capitals of the world by Global Language Monitor ; furthermore , it is a major national economic centre , as well as a tourist and industrial hub .
The Rock ' n ' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon is an annual half marathon road running event which takes place in Virginia Beach , United States , on the first Sunday of September . Owned and organized by the IRONMAN Group , part of Wanda Sports Holdings , the event was inaugurated in 2001 as part of the Rock ' n ' Roll Marathon Series which began with the Rock ' n ' Roll San Diego Marathon three years earlier . Almost 11,000 people completed the race at the first event , over half of whom were women . The elite race attracted high calibre American and international athletes , with Deena Drossin and Shadrack Hoff taking the first elite titles . Around 16,000 runners participated in the 2004 event . The 21.0975-kilometer ( 13.1-mile ) course begins at the Virginia Beach Convention Center within the city , moving on to follow Pacific Avenue and Atlantic Avenue towards the oceanfront . The course then heads south on General Booth Boulevard , looping back north along Prosperity Road near Red Wing Lake Golf Course just after the halfway point . Passing Lake Christine , the route runs back onto General Booth Boulevard at the tenth mile . The course continues north for three miles until the finishing point in the middle of Virginia Beach Boardwalk . The elite race frequently features world class runners from East Africa and Asia . The men 's race had been won by a Kenyan every year from 2002 to 2013 , with champions including former marathon world record holder Paul Tergat and New York Marathon winner Martin Lel . The men 's course record of 60:42 minutes was set by James Mwangi Macharia in 2005 .
Virginia Beach is an independent city located on the southeastern coast of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States . As of the 2010 census , the population was 437,994 ; in 2018 , it was estimated to be 450,138 . Although mostly suburban in character , it is the most populous city in Virginia and the 44th most populous city in the nation . Located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay , Virginia Beach is included in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area . This area , known as America 's First Region , also includes the independent cities of Chesapeake , Hampton , Newport News , Norfolk , Portsmouth , and Suffolk , as well as other smaller cities , counties , and towns of Hampton Roads . Virginia Beach is a resort city with miles of beaches and hundreds of hotels , motels , and restaurants along its oceanfront . Every year the city hosts the East Coast Surfing Championships as well as the North American Sand Soccer Championship , a beach soccer tournament . It is also home to several state parks , several long-protected beach areas , three military bases , a number of large corporations , Virginia Wesleyan University and Regent University , International headquarters and site of the television broadcast studios for Pat Robertson 's Christian Broadcasting Network ( CBN ) , Edgar Cayce 's Association for Research and Enlightenment , and numerous historic sites . Near the point where the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean meet , Cape Henry was the site of the first landing of the English colonists , who eventually settled in Jamestown , on April 26 , 1607 . The city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest pleasure beach in the world . It is located at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel , the longest bridge-tunnel complex in the world .
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by several cities in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts , United States . It is always held on Patriots ' Day , the third Monday of April . Begun in 1897 , the event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics . The Boston Marathon is the world 's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world 's best-known road racing events . It is one of six World Marathon Majors . Its course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Copley Square in Boston . The Boston Athletic Association ( B.A.A . ) has organized this event since 1897 , and it has been managed by DMSE Sports , Inc. since 1988 . Amateur and professional runners from all over the world compete in the Boston Marathon each year , braving the hilly Massachusetts terrain and varying weather to take part in the race . The event attracts 500,000 spectators each year , making it New England 's most widely viewed sporting event . Though starting with 15 participants in 1897 , the event now attracts an average of about 30,000 registered participants each year , with 30,251 people entering in 2015 . The Centennial Boston Marathon in 1996 established a record as the world 's largest marathon with 38,708 entrants , 36,748 starters , and 35,868 finishers .
Boston ( UK : /ˈbɒstən/ , US : /ˈbɔːstən/ ) is the capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States , and the 21st most populous city in the United States . The city proper covers 49 square miles ( 127 km2 ) with an estimated population of 694,583 in 2018 , also making it the most populous city in New England . Boston is the seat of Suffolk County as well , although the county government was disbanded on July 1 , 1999 . The city is the economic and cultural anchor of a substantially larger metropolitan area known as Greater Boston , a metropolitan statistical area ( MSA ) home to a census-estimated 4.8 million people in 2016 and ranking as the tenth-largest such area in the country . As a combined statistical area ( CSA ) , this wider commuting region is home to some 8.2 million people , making it the sixth most populous in the United States . Boston is one of the oldest municipalities in the United States , founded on the Shawmut Peninsula in 1630 by Puritan settlers from the English town of the same name . It was the scene of several key events of the American Revolution , such as the Boston Massacre , the Boston Tea Party , the Battle of Bunker Hill , and the Siege of Boston . Upon gaining U.S. independence from Great Britain , it continued to be an important port and manufacturing hub as well as a center for education and culture . The city has expanded beyond the original peninsula through land reclamation and municipal annexation . Its rich history attracts many tourists , with Faneuil Hall alone drawing more than 20 million visitors per year . Boston 's many firsts include the United States ' first public park ( Boston Common , 1634 ) , first public or state school ( Boston Latin School , 1635 ) and first subway system ( Tremont Street Subway , 1897 ) . Today , Boston is a thriving center of scientific research as well as port of entry for commerce and international immigration .
The Rotterdam Marathon , currently branded NN Rotterdam Marathon , is an annual marathon that has been held in Rotterdam , the Netherlands since 1981 . It has been held in April every year since the third edition in 1984 , and attracts many top athletes . It has also been ranked as one of the top 10 marathons in the world by Runner 's World magazine . The event is the most popular marathon in the Netherlands , followed by the marathons of Amsterdam and Eindhoven .
Rotterdam ( /ˈrɒtərdæm/ , UK also /ˌrɒtərˈdæm/ ; Dutch : [ ˌrɔtərˈdɑm ] ( listen ) ) is a city and municipality in the Netherlands . It is the second-largest Dutch city after the capital Amsterdam , and is located in the province of South Holland , at the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas channel leading into the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta at the North Sea . Its history goes back to 1270 , when a dam was constructed in the Rotte , after which people settled around it for safety . In 1340 , Rotterdam was granted city rights by the Count of Holland . The Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan area , with a population of approximately 2.7 million , is the 13th-largest in the European Union and the most populous in the country . Located in the west of the Netherlands , Rotterdam is in the centre of the Rijnmond conurbation and lies at the southwest corner of the larger Randstad conurbation . A major logistic and economic centre , Rotterdam is Europe 's largest seaport , and had previously been the largest port of the world for a long time . It has a population of 651,446 as of January 2020 and is home to over 180 nationalities . Rotterdam is known for its Erasmus University , its riverside setting , lively cultural life , maritime heritage and modern architecture . The near-complete destruction of the city centre in the World War II Rotterdam Blitz has resulted in a varied architectural landscape , including sky-scrapers ( an uncommon sight in other Dutch cities ) designed by renowned architects such as Rem Koolhaas , Piet Blom and Ben van Berkel . The Rhine , Meuse and Scheldt give waterway access into the heart of Western Europe , including the highly industrialized Ruhr . The extensive distribution system including rail , roads , and waterways have earned Rotterdam the nicknames Gateway to Europe and Gateway to the World .
The Netherlands ( Dutch : Nederland , [ ˈneːdərlɑnt ] ( listen ) ) , informally Holland , is a country in Northwestern Europe with some overseas territories in the Caribbean . In Europe , it consists of 12 provinces that border Germany to the east , Belgium to the south , and the North Sea to the northwest , with maritime borders in the North Sea with those countries and the United Kingdom . Together with the Caribbean Netherlands - Bonaire , Sint Eustatius and Saba - it forms a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands . The official language is Dutch and a secondary official language in the province of Friesland is West Frisian . In the north and east of the country , Low Saxon is also spoken , and in the southeast , Limburgish . In the Caribbean Netherlands English and Papiamento are recognised languages . The five largest cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam , Rotterdam , The Hague , Utrecht and Eindhoven . Amsterdam is the country 's most populous city and nominal capital , while The Hague holds the seat of the States General , Cabinet and Supreme Court . The Port of Rotterdam is the busiest seaport in Europe , and the busiest in any country outside Asia . Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the busiest airport in the Netherlands , and the third busiest in Europe . The country is a founding member of the EU , Eurozone , G10 , NATO , OECD and WTO , as well as a part of the Schengen Area and the trilateral Benelux Union . It hosts several intergovernmental organisations and international courts , many of which are centered in The Hague , which is consequently dubbed 'the world 's legal capital ' .