We've had the North Pole marathon won by Scotland's Andrew Murray (no, not that Andy Murray), and the hardcore Ultra-Marathon Des Sable (six days, 151 miles = six marathons) is currently in full flow. The Virgin London marathon (good luck GT!) is coming up on 22nd April so it must be Spring Marathon time.
Before that we have Paris, Rotterdam and Boston, the latter of which isn't record-eligible (despite being one of the 'majors' and the world's oldest regular marathon). This is due to its point-to-point elevation drop not meeting IAAF standards - a shame for the Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai who ran the fastest ever marathon there last year in 2 hours 3 minutes and 2 seconds, 36 seconds faster than the official world record of Kenyan Patrick Makau in Berlin last year.
Rotterdam is renowned as a fast course so we may well see a new men's world record there, or potentially in London where the field is stronger. There is extra pressure placed this year as each country can only supply three runners for the London Olympic marathon. That means that 17 out of the top twenty mens runners last year, being all Kenyan, will miss out!
Good luck to everyone competing in a Spring Marathon. I'll be cheering from the comfort of my armchair, there in spirit, but not body, due to a shot cartilage.
