Niagara Marathon
Encyclopedia
The Niagara Falls International Marathon is an annual marathon
running competition from Buffalo, New York
, USA to Niagara Falls, Ontario
, Canada
. It was first held in 1974, then had a ten year break from 1987 to 1996 before being relaunched in 1997. The course records are held by Peter Pfitzinger, who ran 2:17:10 hours in 1980, and Nicole Stevenson of Canada, whose time of 2:37:09 hours set in 2004 is the women's race record.
It is one of the few marathons in the world that starts in one country and finishes in another, together with Marathon der 3 Länder from Germany to Austria. Some other marathons cross international borders but return to the start, like the Monaco Marathon
and the Unionsmarathon. The Niagara Falls International Marathon passes a border control, while the mentioned European borders have no border control thanks to the Schengen Union
. The participants of the Niagara Falls Marathon have to show passport
or NEXUS card at the start, which will be given back at the finish line or kept by the racer during the race.
at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery
. The first 6.5 kilometres (4 mi) are along the historic parkways of Buffalo before crossing the Peace Bridge
into Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
. The remainder of the route is in Canada. After a very brief segment following the Queen Elizabeth Way
, the route curves south and then north again along the Niagara Parkway
, a landscaped road which winds along the Niagara River
. Kilometer 42, the end of the race, faces the Niagara Falls
on the U.S.-Canada international border in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario
.
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
running competition from Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, USA to Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was first held in 1974, then had a ten year break from 1987 to 1996 before being relaunched in 1997. The course records are held by Peter Pfitzinger, who ran 2:17:10 hours in 1980, and Nicole Stevenson of Canada, whose time of 2:37:09 hours set in 2004 is the women's race record.
It is one of the few marathons in the world that starts in one country and finishes in another, together with Marathon der 3 Länder from Germany to Austria. Some other marathons cross international borders but return to the start, like the Monaco Marathon
Monaco Marathon
The Monaco Marathon or the Monaco and the Riviera Marathon is a marathon run every year starting and finishing in Monaco. It crosses the border to France and Italy and goes along the coast to a turning point in Ventimiglia, Italy and back again to Monaco...
and the Unionsmarathon. The Niagara Falls International Marathon passes a border control, while the mentioned European borders have no border control thanks to the Schengen Union
Schengen Agreement
The Schengen Agreement is a treaty signed on 14 June 1985 near the town of Schengen in Luxembourg, between five of the ten member states of the European Economic Community. It was supplemented by the Convention implementing the Schengen Agreement 5 years later...
. The participants of the Niagara Falls Marathon have to show passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
or NEXUS card at the start, which will be given back at the finish line or kept by the racer during the race.
Course
The marathon begins in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery
Albright-Knox Art Gallery
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is an art museum located in Delaware Park in Buffalo, New York. The gallery is a major showplace for modern art and contemporary art. It is located directly across the street from Buffalo State College.-History:...
. The first 6.5 kilometres (4 mi) are along the historic parkways of Buffalo before crossing the Peace Bridge
Peace Bridge
The Peace Bridge is an international bridge between Canada and the United States at the east end of Lake Erie at the source of the Niagara River, about upriver of Niagara Falls. It connects the City of Buffalo, New York, in the United States to the Town of Fort Erie, Ontario, in Canada...
into Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada
Fort Erie, Ontario
Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York....
. The remainder of the route is in Canada. After a very brief segment following the Queen Elizabeth Way
Queen Elizabeth Way
The Queen Elizabeth Way, commonly abbreviated as the QEW, is a 400-Series highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The freeway links Buffalo, New York and the Niagara Peninsula with Toronto. It begins at the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie and travels around the western shore of Lake Ontario, ending...
, the route curves south and then north again along the Niagara Parkway
Niagara Parkway
The Niagara Parkway, formerly known as Niagara Boulevard and historically as the Niagara Road, is a scenic road in the province of Ontario that travels on the Canadian side of the Niagara River from the town of Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake...
, a landscaped road which winds along the Niagara River
Niagara River
The Niagara River flows north from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. It forms part of the border between the Province of Ontario in Canada and New York State in the United States. There are differing theories as to the origin of the name of the river...
. Kilometer 42, the end of the race, faces the Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
on the U.S.-Canada international border in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
.