There hasn't always been so much choice in 26.2's. Until a flurry of five marathons from Atlanta to Alaska debuted in 1963, there were only these nine in the U.S. (plus a couple that have since vanished). They've aged well.
February 16: WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
Greenbelt, Maryland Est. 1962; 198 runners
Chilly weather and post-race chili can be expected on this three-loop run past USDA experimental-crop fields. Gwmarathon.com
More: 11 Chances to Chase a Boston Qualifier This Year
April 21: BOSTON
Est. 1897; limited to a set number of qualifying runners
It's the world's oldest and arguably most prestigious and popular marathon, even (especially?) after the tragedy of 2013. The hardest part for many runners is meeting the challenging qualifying standards. baa.org
May 4: LONG ISLAND
East Meadow, New York Est. 1958; 677 runners
Half of this 26.2-mile tour of Nassau County is on the Long Island Parkway, and all of it is closed to traffic. run-li.com
More: 5 Tips for Marathon Pacing
August 17: PIKES PEAK MARATHON
Manitou Springs, Colorado Est. 1956; 800-runner field fills in hours in March
Tough as they come: a trail grind from 6,300 to 14,115 feet and back down. pikespeakmarathon.org
September 1: HEART OF AMERICA
Columbia, Missouri Est. 1960; 237 runners
Small city, small field—but big hills and big-hearted volunteers. heartofamericamarathon.com
September 21: MAUI
Kahului-Kaanapali, Hawaii Est. 1953; 723 runners
At this prance through paradise, the last 18 miles are alongside the blue Pacific. mauimarathonhawaii.com
September 28 (tentative): YONKERS
Yonkers, New York Est. 1907; 196 runners
Best known for its hills and history, it's the world's second-oldest marathon. theyonkersmarathon.com
More: Fueling For Peak Marathon Performance
October 19: ATLANTIC CITY
Atlantic City, New Jersey Est. 1958; 1,100 runners
Flat and mostly hugging the Jersey shore, nine miles are right on the boardwalk. acmarathon.org
Register now
The 25 Golden Rules of Running
November 23: PHILADELPHIA
Est. 1954; 16,000 runners
Parks, neighborhoods, historic sites, and a Rocky-like finish near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "Adrian!"philadelphiamarathon.com
More: The 3-Month Marathon Training Plan
Sign up for your next race.