A marathon is a long running race of 26.2 miles. The first Olympic Marathon was held in Athens. Now, many cities host their own marathons every year.
马拉松是一项长跑比赛，全长 26.2 英里。第一届奥林匹克马拉松比赛在雅典举行。现在，许多城市每年都会举办自己的马拉松比赛。
Themes of marathons add fun and meaning to the hard miles. Runners run for helping sick kids, celebrating important events, or just enjoying nature. There is a famous marathon in Gisborne, New Zealand, which is known for being the first city in the world to welcome the sunlight every day. Runners can greet the sunrise as they race along the golden sandy beaches.
马拉松比赛的主题为其困难的赛程增添了乐趣和意义。赛跑选手可以是为帮助生病的孩子、庆祝重要的事件而奔跑，或者可以只是为享受自然而奔跑。新西兰的吉斯伯恩，因为是世界上每天第一个迎接阳光的城市而闻名，此地有一项著名的马拉松赛事。选手们可以在沿着金色的沙滩奔跑时迎接日出。
Marathon routes bring people more understanding of the old sport. Some routes provide great sporting challenges for runners. The routes offer various surfaces, from bridges to sand to hills. Runners of all skill levels can sweat freely and push their limits in the race. Some routes are well planned for runners to explore the many sides of a city. For example, the route of the Great Wall Marathon takes the runners along the great wonder of the world. The race can be an amazing chance to get to know Beijing, its people and local food.
马拉松比赛的路线能让人们对这项古老的运动有更多的了解。有些路线对选手来说是巨大的运动挑战。这些路线涵盖各种不同的路面，从桥梁到沙地再到山丘。所有技能水平的选手都能在比赛中尽情挥洒汗水，挑战自己的极限。有些路线经过精心规划，可让选手探索城市的方方面面。例如，长城马拉松的路线就带领选手们沿着这一世界奇迹奔跑。这场比赛是一个绝佳的机会，可以让选手们了解北京及其人民和当地美食。
A marathon is quite a journey for runners to enjoy the run, challenge themselves and experience the culture. There is so much more behind the race for us to explore.
马拉松比赛是一段非凡的旅程，选手们可以享受跑步的乐趣、挑战自我和体验文化。这项赛事背后还有更多值得我们探索的东西。