The Sydney Marathon has joined the ranks of New York, Boston, Chicago, London, Berlin and Tokyo, receiving a designation reserved for the most elite races in the world.

© Steve Markham/EPA, via Shutterstock

Two runners with injuries ended the New York City Marathon on their own two feet — and a pair of crutches.

© Adrienne Grunwald for The New York Times

Here’s our guide to picking a good cheering location, whether you are following one runner’s progress or looking for a good spot to park yourself for the day.

© Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times

After a lifetime of running, a writer reflects on why he’s coming back for one last race.

© Jackson Gibbs

The marathon is glorious in part because it represents an ideal of civic life: people striving to accomplish their goals while seeking connection with others.