Marathoning's Minors | Runner's World Marathoning's Minors Not the majors, but in the same league By Jim Gerweck Monday, March 1, 2010, 12:00 am Perhaps it was mere coincidence, but one couldn't help but discern the underlying symbolism of the New York Yankees winning the World Series just three days after the ING New York City Marathon had effectively closed the books on another season of major league marathoning. And for an observer of baseball and running, the similarity was almost too obvious to ignore: Big market, big money teams, or races, have essentially spent their way to the top of their respective games. Just as the Bronx Bombers locked up their world championship by outspending the rest of the major league teams, it seems the Big Five of the World Marathon Majors--Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York--have relegated other races to an existence as the marathon equivalent of the Minnesota Twins or Milwaukee Brewers, destined to mostly futile attempts to compete with the big boys, or resignation to being second-or even third-fiddle races in this new world order of international marathons.

But those who aren't part of the WMM "elite" don't feel like second-class events, and exhibit none of the negative outlook expressed, justifiably, by fans of teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates. Advertisement Privacy Policy | About Us "There's room for everybody," says Jos Hermens, a European-based agent for many top African runners and a consultant to several top marathons such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam. "There are so many good runners now that it's impossible for the Majors to take everyone, even if they wanted to," he continues.

"London, for instance, goes after the big names, but they don't want to have 30 elites, even if they could afford it--it would create an overload and the race probably wouldn't be as exciting." With such self-imposed limits and only two or three Majors each half-year season, that leaves plenty of talent to go around to the other "semi-majors." "What's happened since the introduction of the Majors is the other marathons just below them have been liberated to concentrate on other aspects besides assembling a full, top-notch field, and creating head-to-head competition," says Dave Monti, editor and publisher of Race Results Weekly and elite athlete coordinator for the New York City Marathon. "Look at the times from Frankfurt and Rotterdam [in 2009, won in 2:06:14 and 2:04:27, respectively]. They can assemble a group of pacemakers who can focus solely on running fast, and they succeeded. "Each race is trying to pick something to set it apart. For instance Vienna brought in only marathon debutants, and wound up with a 2:08:21 winning time.

There's no question that the races below the Majors have had to raise their game, and as a result they've become bigger and better." Still, just as the top baseball free agents all eventually sign with the big money teams, since it gives them the best chance to play in the World Series, many top marathoners will run only in a WMM event--assuming they can get in. "The Majors are where the best runners want to be," says Ray Flynn , agent for top American marathoners Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor. "Unfortunately, there are only so many spots in these races." Flynn thinks that, in some ways, the top U.S. runners may be in a better position in this regard. "The African runners are in some respects their own worst enemies," he says. "It's always going to be more difficult for them to establish themselves among their countrymen--there's no shortage of great Kenyan marathoners." "Compared to the Majors, we have a limited budget," says Hermens. "So we have to be careful and creative.

We have our own training camps in Africa, and we are close to the managers, so we know who the up-and-coming runners are." And just like a ballplayer who excels with a small-market team eventually cashes in as a free agent with the Yankees or Phillies, runners who win other races in fast times soon begin receiving invitations from the elite coordinators of WMM races. Consider someone like Felix Limo , who debuted at Amsterdam with a 2:06:42 win in 2003, and went on to win Berlin (2004), Chicago (2005), and London (2006). MAJORS AND THE MASSES That's all well and good for a 2:06 marathoner, but what does it mean to runners finishing an hour or two behind the winners? When the Majors were established, a goal that didn't receive much publicity was raising the operational level of the races and establishing a set of "best practices" other events could follow. In that regard, the Majors have been a success, according to Bank of America Chicago Marathon director Carey Pinkowski. "Our medical, marketing, operations people all talk to each other," he says.

But besides trading tips, they have passed them on to other national and regional events at race director conferences held in conjunction with Majors events. "We're not keeping any secrets," says Pinkowski. "If we get better, that's good, and if regional races get better, that's good too." Virginia Brophy Achman, executive director of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, one of the top "second-level" races, agrees. "It's so important that runners have a good experience and want to continue in the sport," she says. "All of us--the Majors, the regional races, even the 'mom and pop' events--play a part. The challenge is to provide the same level of quality for these new runners." Races like Twin Cities, which has served as a U.S. championship on numerous occasions, also nurture up-and-coming American elites who might not be able to gain entry to a Major or might be overwhelmed by the international fields there. In 2009, Jason Hartmann won Twin Cities in a PR 2:12:09, presaging the similar breakthrough Meb Keflezighi would fashion the following month in New York.

"I think an athlete has to look at where they are in their career," says Flynn. "If you're a young, up-and-coming athlete, you might be better to go win a second-tier marathon than finishing 12th in a major race." But for the established international stars, the biggest accolades (and commensurately larger paychecks) are to be found in the biggest races, and these days, that means one of the Majors. The "carryover" scoring system, in which performances from the second year of a concluding series become the first year of the next cycle, also tends to lock athletes into running one of the Big Five, especially if they've established a commanding lead, and why not? Irina Mikitenko seems likely to parlay strong London/Berlin perfectas into half-million dollar WMM bonuses for the foreseeable future.

Her fellow '08-'09 Majors champ, Sammy Wanjiru, even figured out a way to eat his cake and have it too; although the only gold his Beijing Olympic win produced was his medal, it gave him enough WMM points that victories in London and Chicago the following year netted him an oversized $500,000 check and a leg up on next year's series. The lone exception to this process seems to be that most exceptional of runners, Haile Gebrselassie, who is quite content to keep making world record attempts (and collecting the attendant appearance fees) at Berlin and Dubai; whether that citystate's recent financial troubles mean its big money marathon time trial will go similarly bankrupt and change his M.O. remains to be seen. MINOR ISSUES Perhaps the only relative failure of the Majors has been the inability to catch the interest of the running public. While each individual race has reached a higher profile due to the alliance, only a tiny fraction of running fans seem to know, care or perhaps understand the WMM series competition, in spite of the half-million dollar bonus checks awarded the past three years the day after New York.

In spite of NYCM director Mary Wittenberg's assertion that the WMM is "almost a framework of a more typical sport, the equivalent of car racing," the somewhat convoluted nature of the series scoring has proved mildly off-putting. Perhaps the biggest anomaly is that, although each series is a two-year cycle, the scoring doesn't completely reset. Imagine the baseball season starting with the teams all sporting their records from last year's All-Star break and you can understand the public's confusion. "A one-year series might be better," Wittenberg admits. While running fans may not understand the Majors' convoluted scoring system, their interest still piques whenever fast times are thrown down, for better or worse. Even if the majors doesn't take off, a redrawn playing field in term of time may be the salient story of the second decade of 21st-century marathoning. "Athletes have lost respect for times," says Hermens. "One guy runs 2:04, and the guys who train with him say, 'I train with him, I can run that, too.' It's a pyramid effect.

You get a bunch of guys running 2:05, 2:06 and then a couple run 2:04. With no major championships this year, I think you'll see a lot of runners just trying to run fast. And once you get a lot running 2:04, 2:05, you're going to see two or three run 2:03." Whether it's baseball or marathons, driven by big bucks, you're going to see more and more guys swinging for the fences. THE LEAGUE OF MARATHONS: 2009 STATS Race Name Race Facts | 2016 Boston Marathon Media Guide Learn More Patriots’ Award Since 2002, the B.A.A. and the City of Boston have presented the Patriots’ Award at a ceremony in the days before the Boston Marathon. Awarded to a New England-based individual, group, or organization that is patriotic, philanthropic, and inspirational, and fosters goodwill and sportsmanship, the Patriots’ Award further unifies the Boston Marathon with Patriots’ Day, the holiday on which the race has been held since 1897.

Recipients of the Award 2002 // Robert and Myra Kraft and the New England Patriots 2003 // Red Auerbach and the Red Auerbach Youth Foundation 2004 // Ron Burton and the Ron Burton Training Village 2005 // Boston Red Sox Foundation 2006 // Rick and Dick Hoyt 2007 // Joan Benoit Samuelson 2008 // Mike Andrews and the Jimmy Fund 2009 // Eddie Doyle and Tommy Leonard, longtime Boston bartenders and philanthropists 2010 // Tedy Bruschi, lifetime New England Patriot and three-time Super Bowl champion 2011 // Carol Fulp, Senior Vice President of Brand Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility for John Hancock Financial Services 2012 // Tim Wakefield, long-time Boston Red Sox pitcher and active community philanthropist 2013 // Lt. Colonel Rodney Freeman, founder of the Boston Marathon Shadow Run 2014 // One Fund Boston, Inc. 2015 // Thomas M.

Menino Fund for Boston First to Sponsor Wheelchair Division The Boston Marathon became the first major marathon to include a wheelchair division competition when it officially recognized Bob Hall in 1975. Since that time, the Boston Marathon has hosted over 1,500 competitors in the wheelchair division. This year, they’ll compete for a $84,500 prize purse, with $20,000 going to the first-place finishers. AT&T Athlete Alert Program Official runners of the 2016 Boston Marathon can register to send friends and family automatic updates on their progress along the course, using the AT&T Athlete Alert Program. Messages will be automatically delivered to any device capable of receiving short messages, such as a digital cellular phone, pager, hand-held device, or e-mail address. Alerts will be broadcast from the 10-kilometer, half-marathon, 30-kilometer, 35-kilomter, and 40-kilometer marks, as well as the finish, when the runner passes those locations. The B.A.A. first used the electronic timing and scoring device in 1995 on a trial basis with the push rim wheelchair division.

All participants in the historic 100th Boston Marathon in 1996 were scored using the ChampionChip. Club 120 and the B.A.A. Relay Challenge 2016 marks the 20th year of the Boston Athletic Association and adidas’s youth running program, designed to introduce kids to the benefits of the sport of running. “Club 120” is derived from the current year’s Marathon and begins four weeks before the program’s culmination: the B.A.A. Relay Challenge. Coaches train participants each week in one-hour sessions, providing instruction that includes concepts such as teamwork, motivation, and goal-setting. Last year, nearly 840 children from 19 Boston and neighboring-community youth clubs experienced the exhilaration and triumph of crossing the historic Boston Marathon finish line. The Relay Challenge consists of a series of age-group and team-oriented relay races. Club 120 and the B.A.A. Relay Challenge are part of the year-round Training Basics youth program, an initiative created from the partnership between the B.A.A. and adidas. Over 20,000 Boston-area youths have participated in the B.A.A.

Relay Challenge since its inception in 1997. More Age-Group Awards Top athletes in age-group divisions will receive awards. The age groups are: 40–44, 45–49, 50–54, 55–59, 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79, and 80 and older. Most Boston Marathons: John A. Kelley One of the most colorful characters in the history of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, John A. Kelley (no relation to John J. Kelley), was a fixture of the race for nearly seven decades. A starter on race day 61 times, Kelley completed 58 Boston Marathons. Kelley was not only a two-time winner of Boston (1935 and 1945), but he also finished second a record seven times and recorded 18 finishes in the top 10.

Kelley first tried the race in 1928, but it was not until 1933, in his third attempt, that he completed the course, placing 37th in 3:03:56. He completed his last marathon at Boston in 1992 at the age of 84. In 1993, the statue “Young at Heart” was dedicated in honor of Kelley. Located at the base of Heartbreak Hill in Newton, a landmark named in reference to one of Kelley’s seven runner-up performances, the statue depicts a young Kelley winning in 1935 at age 27 and clasping hands with an older Kelley finishing in 1991 at age 83. The sculpture stands in tribute to his longevity and spirit. Kelley served as the Boston Marathon’s grand marshal from 1995 to 2004 (missing only 1999 due to illness), preceding the race in a pace car. On October 6, 2004, John A. Kelley passed away, leaving behind an endless trail of contributions to the sport of running that will continue to inspire generations of athletes for years to come.

Four Olympic Champions Have Won Boston Three-time women’s champion Fatuma Roba (ETH) became the fourth person to win the Olympic Games Marathon and the B.A.A. Boston Marathon, when she posted a time of 2:26:23 to win the 1997 Boston Marathon. Roba, who won the 1996 Olympic Marathon, joined fellow women’s champions Joan Benoit Samuelson, who won Boston in 1979 and 1983 before adding the 1984 Olympic Games title; and Rosa Mota (POR), who won a trio of Boston crowns (1987, 1988, and 1990), while adding the 1988 Olympic title. Gelindo Bordin (ITA) is the only man to have won the Olympic (1988) and Boston (1990) titles. Only B.A.A. Running Club Champion 2007 marked the 50th anniversary of John J. Kelley becoming the only B.A.A.

Club member to win the Boston Marathon, as he established a then-course record of 2:20:05 to capture the 1957 race. Kelley finished second on five other occasions (1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, and 1963). In total, a runner from the B.A.A. has finished in the runner-up spot 10 times; the others were Ted Vogel (1948), John Patrick Lafferty (1951), Pat McMahon (1971), and Patti Lyons Catalano (1979 and 1980). Catalano represented Athletics West when she posted her third consecutive runner-up finish in 1981. John J. Kelley passed away at the age of 80 on August 21, 2011. Past Champions Six significant milestone anniversaries are being celebrated in 2015.

Among the Boston Marathon champions to be honored in 2015 are Cheri Blauwet (2005), Gelindo Bordin (1990), Lisa Larsen Rainsberger (1985), Geoff Smith (1985), Bill Rodgers (1975), and Morio Shigematsu (1965). 25+ Consecutive Boston Marathons Completed A total of 76 official participants have completed 25 or more consecutive Boston Marathons. This PDF lists Boston’s active list, through the 2015 race. 10-year Anniversary (2006) The B.A.A. Boston Marathon—Nothing Like it in the World Tweet The B.A.A. Boston Marathon—Nothing Like it in the World The Marathon! The BAA Boston Marathon is the standard by which all are measured, races and marathon runners. This annual celebration of distance running is the most famous road race in the world. It is innovative and intense, vibrant and venerable, empowering and enduring, mesmerizing and memorable—it is The Boston.

By Skip Cleaver Posted Tuesday, 11 December, 2007 The 112th running of the B.A.A. Boston Marathon will step off on the morning of Monday, April 21, 2008. It is simply the most prestigious annual road race in the world, and 25,000 proud runners will toe the line in historic Hopkinton on this unique Massachusetts holiday. This is the world’s oldest, most venerable annual marathon; it is tremendously enjoyable for participants and for spectators, simply because it is—The Boston. Participants in marathons throughout the USA and around the world inevitably hear conversations including the words “qualifying time”; as in, “I qualified”, or “I was so close to qualifying”, or “I was on pace to qualify”, or thousands of similar statements. What they invariably refer to, of course, is their qualifying standard established for the B.A.A. Boston Marathon. Those standards, and the race they have been established for, measure relative success in races around the USA and the world. Some races even boast of qualifying percentage of their participants. A marathon runner qualifying for Boston has “arrived” as a legitimate distance athlete.

The legacy of the Boston Marathon continues unbroken from the founding and first running in 1897. Boston provides a living tradition and unique experience for all participants as they trek those famous hills and the 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. Every finisher links her or his name to the historic B.A.A., and John McDermott and those first 15 runners at the B.A.A. Games Marathon the innaugaral year. (In the first modern Olympic Games of 1896, half the 10-man track and field team came from the B.A.A.) This year's marathon weekend will include another very important race—the U.S. Olympic Team Trials—Women's Marathon. B.A.A. Boston Marathon participants, friends and family from far and near will have the opportunity to watch this race on Sunday, April 20, running on a new loop course created specifically for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials—Women's Marathon. Innovation Is Key to Success Despite the historic links and venerable traditions, the B.A.A. Boston Marathon has proved to be innovative and tremendously resilient over its 112 years.

For example, there are four starts: The wheelchair start will be at 9:25, followed by Elite Women at 9:35 a.m. The first wave including elite men goes at 10:00, and the second wave with about half the field will step off at 10:30 a.m. There will be an expanded athletes' village to reduce crowding. All runners will receive net time, of course. Probably the greatest innovative impact on the world of marathons was the introduction of qualifying standards in 1970. They have been adjusted several times since in response to marathon demographics. But they remain THE standard for marathons in every corner of the earth. Qualifying times for each age group are outlined on the B.A.A. Website. With over a century of incomparable tradition and history, the B.A.A. has made significant and innovative changes; credit Executive Director Guy Morse, incomparable Race Director Dave McGillivray, and the rest of the terrific B.A.A. crew. This event has evolved, steadily, deftly, to remain at the pinnacle of distance racing.

Boston was the first marathon to officially allow wheelchair racing in 1975 with Bob Hall completing the course in just under three hours. They adopted the separate women’s elite start ahead of the main event in 2004. They were in the forefront of chip timing in 1996, and have been innovative in recording all runners every 5K, which allows friends and relatives to track each runner’s progress. The 38,708 entrants for the 100th Boston in 1996 and 35,868 finishers were all-time records (since eclipsed by ING New York); that single total was more than all entrants of all Boston races from inception through 1978. Innovative change, introduction of technology, superior planning, and attention to detail make for a tremendously enjoyable, high quality racing experience in Boston. Boston was the original marathon to support charity programs, and has continued to build a very successful charity running program. There will be 24 official charities supported by the B.A.A. this year (guaranteed entries), and many other unofficial ones supported by dedicated qualified runners.

Last year charity runners from 21 different charitable organizations earned over $7.7 million for their respective causes. The B.A.A. is also masterful at attracting thousand of capable, knowledgeable volunteers who are integral to the tremendous success of the race. The three-day race expo near the fabled finish line, tours of the famous point-to-point course, pasta dinner, and post race party are terrific draws—all arranged and handled superbly. The World Marathon Majors The B.A.A. Boston Marathon is one of five members of the World Marathon Majors initiative (WMM), a long term commitment that provides a series championship based on performance in any of these events (Best four of five are scored, with at least one required in each calendar year.) The 2006-07 World Marathon Majors series began with the B.A.A. Boston Marathon in April, 2006 and the first two-year cycle continued with Flora London, real-Berlin, and the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. The first year concluded with the ING New York City Marathon.

The second year began with BAA Boston on April 16, 2007, included the World Championships Women’s and Men’s Marathons, and concluded with ING New York City in November 2007. The World Marathon Majors awarded a $1,000,000 prize purse following ING New York in 2007. The World Marathon Majors two-year cycles overlap (2007-2008, 2008-2009, etc), keeping the two-year format, but awarding prize money each year. The WMM for 2008 includes Boston and the other four majors, plus the women’s and men’s Olympic Marathons next summer in Beijing. Perseverance in 2007 Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia won a stormy, close race last April with her 2:29:18, a 40-second margin over runner-up Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia.

Five different countries were represented in the top five, with Madai Perez of Mexico third (2:30:16), Rita Jeptoo of Kenya fourth (2:33:08), and USA Olympic Bronze Medalist Deena Kastor fifth at 2:35:09. Kenyan Robert Cheruiyot defended his title at 2:14:13 with a narrow 20-second victory over countryman James Kwambai. Peter Gilmore was top American with 2:16:41 in eighth place. The Hansons-Brooks Distance Project won the women’s open team title, as did the adidas Racing Team on the men’s side. Host B.A.A. was second in both open races. The local Whirlaway Racing Team repeated as men’s masters team champs, with North Jersey Masters winning the women’s masters crown. Fans Like No Other The 26.2 mile course is always lined with anywhere from 500,000 to one million knowledgeable informed racing fans, and they are loud—start to finish. They encourage the last runners as enthusiastically as the first.

These spectators know marathons—some of them have been cheering form the same location on the course for generations. They make Boston unique. This is one of the most watched single day sporting events in the USA. Hundreds of media outlets from around the globe testify to the significance of this event, and add to the meaningful, memorable experience of each runner. Advancing the Sport, Continuing the Tradition When runners participate in the 2008 B.A.A. Boston Marathon they are helping to advance the sport by running in the world’s most prestigious race; they are also part of a tradition that goes directly back to the beginning of the marathon. The B.A.A. raised funds and sent five athletes to participate in the first Olympics in Athens in 1896. The Americans won 9 of the 12 Olympic track and field events. The B.A.A. men on returning were so impressed with the marathon, a 24.5-mile trek from the Greek village of Marathon to the stadium in Athens (three B.A.A. men ran in this race, won by Spyridon Louis of Greece), that they determined to establish a similar race in Boston—and mirror the point to point course over the hills as closely as possible.

It would be in conjunction with the B.A.A. Games, set for Patriots Day, 1897. The “American Marathon” ran April 19, 1897. The 112th running on April 21, 2008 will be another chapter in this venerable legacy. And every 2008 participant will be part of this tradition, a member of a unique “club”. The B.A.A. Boston Marathon—Nothing like it in the world. Running your absolute best at Boston is running at its very pinnacle. Can you qualify? Top 10 Best Major High-End International Marathons | Running Equipment BACK TO TOP OF PAGE Top 10 International Marathons | Running Equipment The MARATHON is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards), that is usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.

The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, though the distance did not become standardized until 1921. More than 500 marathons are held throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes. Smaller marathons, such as the Stanley Marathon, can have just dozens of participants, while larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants. District Vision - "Running Sunglasses Made in Japan." Men's & women's. ECCO - "It is ECCO's vision to be the most wanted brand within innovation and comfort footwear." ENDOMONDO - sports community based on free real-time GPS tracking of running, cycling, etc. Bring your mobile on the track and get a complete training log! FITBIT FLEX - "Make fitness a lifestyle with Flex." Wireless activity & sleep wristband. "This slim, stylish device is with you all the time. During the day, it tracks steps, distance, and calories burned. At night, it tracks your sleep cycle and wakes you silently in the morning." Garmin - all running watches.

NIKE RUNNING Omron Walking style III - "Do more with a simple step counter." Slim and lightweight, you can take it with you anywhere to improve your walking skills. An easy way to monitor your health. Features: calories burned, fat burned, intensity of your walking mode, records how far you have gone, 2D sensor, daily steps, memory, and a 24 hour digital clock is included. ON - "Running re-invented." PEBBLE WATCH - "E-Paper Watch for iPhone and Android." E-paper smart watch design that connects to your iPhone or Android-powered smart phone. It can be customized to the nth degree, with different watch faces and apps that are downloaded to the watch. It alerts you to incoming calls, texts and emails, you can play your music from it, and you can even access the GPS on your phone to get information like distance and pace when cycling or running. POLAR ELECTRO - "Listens To Your Body." Manufacturer of advanced sports training computers, heart rate monitoring equipment & sports GPS watches since 1977.

Polar RC3 GPS Tour de France - "Essential features in one compact package." POLAR RS800CX - "The most accurate way to measure your speed and distance as well as plan, monitor and analyze your body's response to your training sessions." SUUNTO - sports precision instruments for diving, training, mountaineering, hiking, skiing and sailing. All models. Best US Cities for Sports Lovers | Viator Travel Blog Best US Cities for Sports Lovers Pin It What makes a city a great sports city? It could be the rabid, loyal fans who sell out every home game, the presence of pro teams in all four major sports, the historic stadium that is a must-see on every out-of-towner’s agenda or it could even be that the city hosts a variety of sporting events throughout the year, from the Super Bowl to an international marathon to the national curling championships. The best U.S. cities for sports lovers arguably have any or all of the above and debates on which cities are the best could be endless. While others are certainly worthy of consideration, here are ten American cities that no sports lover should miss: 1. Chicago Wrigley Field. Photo credit: Michael Lehet via Flickr.

The United States’ most recent candidate to host the Summer Olympics, Chicago was named the Best Sports City in the country by the Sporting News in 1993, 2006 and 2010 for good reason. Home of the “lovable loser” Cubs (who make their home in historic Wrigley Field ) and the 2005 World Champion White Sox, Chicago has been the only city with 2 Major League Baseball teams since 1901. The Blackhawks are one of the Original Six hockey franchises and hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2010 and the Chicago Bulls claimed six NBA championships in the 1990s. One of the five World Marathon Majors, the Chicago Marathon welcomes over 40,000 runners and more than a million spectators each October, while the Race to Mackinac, a 330 mile offshore sailboat race, is the longest annual freshwater sailing distance race in the world. And Chicago residents don’t just love to watch, they join the fun as well, playing in hundreds of volleyball, softball, basketball and soccer leagues throughout the year. 2.

Boston Fenway Park Boston has been a city of championships in recent years, with the Boston Celtics winning an NBA championship, the Red Sox twice winning the World Series, the Bruins claiming the Stanley Cup and the nearby New England Patriots grabbing three Super Bowl rings. But Beantown has much more than just pro sports on the lineup. The Head of the Charles Regatta rowing competition takes place each year on the Charles River. Four NCAA Division 1 schools play in the city so visitors can find entertaining collegiate competition in dozens of sports, including the Beanpot Tournament – a hockey tournament held by the four schools every year. Boston has its history as well; Fenway Park i s the oldest professional sports stadium in the country and the Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest marathon. And like Chicago, Bostonians love to play sports almost as much as they love to watch them. 3. Philadelphia Penn Relays. Photo credit: mrloke via Flickr. The City of Brotherly Love may offer the most variety of any city on this list. It hosts the Penn Relays, the oldest and largest track & field competition in the United States, as well as the Philadelphia International Championship, one of the most prestigious one-day cycling races outside of Europe.

Philly also hosted the 2012 U.S. Curling Championships and will do so again in 2014. The city is home to five Division I college basketball programs known as the “Big Five” and the Aberdeen Dad Vail Regatta, held on the Schuylkill River, is the largest regular intercollegiate rowing event in the country. Not only does Philadelphia have teams in all four major professional sports (the Eagles, Flyers, Phillies and 76ers), it has pro teams in sports like lacrosse and ultimate Frisbee as well. 4. Indianapolis Considered by some to be the “Amateur Sports Capital of the World,” Indianapolis is home to the NCAA Hall of Champions, a great museum for any collegiate sports fan to visit. In recent years, Indy has hosted the Big Ten basketball tournament and football championship game, as well as the Super Bowl. The Indiana Fever were WNBA champions in 2012 and the Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl several years earlier.

Car racing fans flock to the city for the Indy 500, Brickyard 400 and the Indianapolis Grand Prix each year while baseball lovers can check out the Indianapolis Indians, the second oldest minor league baseball team, playing since 1902. Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis may be one of the most iconic sites in sports movie history. Today home to the Butler University Bulldogs, it was where the championship game was played that inspired the movie “Hoosiers.” 5. Las Vegas Boxing in Vegas. Photo credit: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas via Flickr. Las Vegas may not have any major professional teams, but it still has a lot to offer casual and serious sports fans alike. It hosts college football’s Las Vegas Bowl and the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament, as well as the USA Sevens, the largest rugby tournament in the USA. NASCAR, rodeo, bull riding, mixed martial arts, golf and boxing are all on the calendar, not to mention minor league teams in baseball and hockey. The Ironman 70.3 World Championships take place in the Las Vegas metro area and law enforcement officials from around the country participate in the 120 mile Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay.

And of course, there are the dozens of sportsbooks at the casinos, great for cheering on your favorite team while perhaps placing a bet or two. Racing fans can get behind the wheel on our Las Vegas Race Car Driving – Richard Petty Rookie Experience 6. Minneapolis/St. Paul More than anything, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are all about hockey. The University of Minnesota men’s and women’s hockey teams are national powerhouses and Minneapolis plays host to the US Pond Hockey Championships each year. The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament is the largest state sports tournament in the country, with over 100,000 attending every year. Aside from hockey, the Metrodome in Minneapolis has the distinction of being the only stadium in the country to have hosted a World Series, Final Four, Super Bowl and MLB All-Star Game. Runners pound the pavement twice a year for the Minneapolis Marathon and the Twin Cities Marathon, the latter sometimes called the “Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America.” 7.

New York Madison Square Garden The Big Apple is a professional sports lover’s dream, with two baseball teams (Yankees and Mets), two basketball teams (Knicks and Nets) and a hockey team (Rangers) playing within the city limits. It is also home to the New York City Marathon, one of the largest marathons in the world, and the US Open, one of tennis’ Grand Slams. Arthur Ashe Stadium at the National Tennis Center is by far the largest tennis-only venue in the world. The National Invitational Tournament was the first national college basketball tournament and has been held in the city since 1938 and Madison Square Garden may be one of the most popular arenas in the country. Yankees fans can Experience New York: Tour Yankee Stadium with a Yankees Legend 8. Phoenix If you’re a baseball fan, Phoenix is the place to be each spring, when no less than 15 Major League Baseball teams hold spring training in the metro area. The city is also home to the Phoenix Suns (NBA), Arizona Cardinals (NFL), Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB) and Phoenix Coyotes (NHL).

It hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 2009 and the University of Phoenix stadium in suburban Glendale is the site of college football’s Fiesta Bowl each year. The Phoenix International Raceway hosts two major NASCAR events and the two-time champion Phoenix Mercury was one of the original eight WNBA teams. Leave your golf clubs at home and still be able to play with our Phoenix Golf Club Rental 9. Oklahoma City Horse racing at Remington Park. Photo credit: katsrcool via Flickr. Long neglected by major professional franchises, Oklahoma City has embraced the relocated Thunder, who advanced to the NBA Finals in 2012. The city has a strong collegiate focus, with the nearby University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University occasionally playing home games in the city. It also hosts the Big 12 Baseball Tournament, the World Cup of Softball and the Women’s College World Series, as well as the Bricktown Showdown AAA Baseball Championship Game. Horse racing at Remington Park and minor league baseball and hockey teams are also popular with residents. 10.

Atlanta When it comes to sports, Atlanta may be best known for hosting the 1992 Summer Olympics, the history of which is showcased in the Centennial Olympic Games Museum at the Atlanta History Center. The Atlanta Braves are perennial contenders in Major League Baseball and won an unprecedented 14 straight division titles from 1991 to 2005. The city hosts the Atlanta Open tennis tournament each summer and will soon be home to the College Football Hall of Fame, scheduled to open in the fall of 2014. – Katie Aune

Question: Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, and New York City have since 2006 hosted five annual championship 'majors' of what sporting event?
Answer: Marathon