On his journey through Greece from Marathon to Athens, the infamous Greek messenger (whose story later inspired the modern marathon) had no time for the scenic route; he had to run 25 miles to deliver news of a battle victory in 490 B.C. Lucky for him, the finish line was home to the glistening Acropolis and its grand temples, for which today’s travelers trek even greater lengths via planes, trains and automobiles to see.
Modern marathon runners can follow in his footsteps, opting to see the world in slightly longer 26.2-mile jaunts that are worthy of a bucket-list. Travel far enough, and you’ll find marathon routes lined with UNESCO World Heritage Sites atop unusual landscapes that look nothing like your high-school track. Tread steadily along sacred temples in Kyoto, warily alongside elephant herds in Kenya, and complete your next marathon like the Greek messenger himself: epically.
Lewa Safaricom Marathon–Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Kenya: Picture this: a buffalo stands before the finish line, and you must wait to cross it until the animal is ushered away by a helicopter. This is the thrill of Kenya’s Lewa Safaricom Marathon. Held annually within the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, solitude is remiss amongst the area’s 61,000 protected acres, home to over 100 rhino, herds of zebras, giraffes and more. Runners stampede atop the savannah plains with views of Mount Ololokwe, which juts from the plain like a lone molar, all in the name of wildlife conservation, where proceeds from this race are purposed.
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