With running clubs and marathons growing in South Africa, a recent study found that the Big Five Marathon is the most in-demand race in the world.
A recent study from Sportshoes (an online retailer and publication that serves as a comprehensive destination for fitness enthusiasts) ranked international marathons based on the number of Google searches in connection to the number of available runner spots, with South Africa’s Big Five Marathon taking the top spot.
With 444.4 searches for each finisher, the Big Five Marathon in South Africa is evidently the most sought-after running event in the world.
This marathon takes place at the Entabeni Game Reserve in Limpopo, with 42.2km and 21.1km running routes. What makes this race so special is its location, with runners passing through the animal habitats.
This means runners will see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo) in their natural habitat, making it an attractive race for international runners. The track is also quite challenging, featuring rugged terrain, deep sand, and dramatic elevation changes.
This year’s Big Five Marathon will take place on 13 June, with spots already completely filled. This race is truly a bucket-list marathon, with racers sharing the course with wildlife and scenic views. Demand greatly outpaces supply, as seen by 44 000 worldwide searches for the event and 99 finishers in its most recent iteration.
Details of the marathon are available on the Big Five Marathon’s official website.
The study also highlighted several other international marathons that rank highly in terms of demand. The second place goes to the Antarctic Ice Marathon, taking place in December.
This is one of the most extreme running events of the year, taking place on the icy continent near the Union Glacier. With a registration fee of $22 500, it is also one of the most exclusive marathons, ranking second to the Big Five Marathon only by Google Search results (346.5 searches per finisher)
In third place, the Great Wall Marathon in China is known as one of the hardest marathons in the world. Participants ascend thousands of steps along the well-known monument while admiring expansive vistas of the surrounding countryside. With 193.1 worldwide searches per finisher, runners are drawn to this race because of its unique combination of history and physical difficulty.
In terms of the rest of the rankings, European marathons tend to dominate the list, with ten appearing in the Top 20 worldwide. This includes:
- The Zermatt Marathon – Switzerland (#4)
- Lausanne Marathon – Switzerland (#6)
- Zagreb Marathon – Croatia (#7)
- Midnight Sun Marathon – Norway (#10)
- Berlin Marathon – Germany (#11)
- Salzburg Marathon – Austria (#13)
- Helsinki City Marathon – Finland (#14)
- Graz Marathon – Austria (#19)
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