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Walking-Only Marathons for Walkers

By Wendy Bumgardner, About.com

Updated July 09, 2007

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Marathon walkers will enjoy these events designed primarily for walkers by walkers. While walkers may be an afterthought at running marathons, at these you are the main event. The differences will be that the roads may not be closed and you may be required to stay on the sidewalks and obey traffic signals. But the events are also usually far more relaxed, allowing time to stop and enjoy, and through more scenic venues.

1. US FreedomWalk Festival

This yearly walking festival is held in October from Arlington, Virginia and features a marathon-plus route (44 kilometers) that visits all of the memorials of Washington DC as well as great trails in Arlington, Virginia. Sanctioned by the IVV and IML Walking Association. The festival includes shorter distance walks of 5K, 10K, half-marathon.
US FreedomWalk Festival

2. Discovery Walk Festival

This Vancouver, Washington event is held in April. Saturday features a marathon course. Course is open to traffic. Sanctioned by the IVV and the IML Walking Association. Full disclosure: I am the president of the non-profit organization that hosts this event.
More: Discovery Walk FestivalRead Review

3. Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

Yearly marathon walk in September benefits the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
More: Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

4. Bataan Memorial Death March

Commemorate the memory of those World War II American and Filipino soldiers who endured or died the Bataan Death March with a 26.2 mile walk through the desert at White Sands, New Mexico.
More: Bataan Memorial Death March

5. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Choose to walk a marathon followed by a half-marathon the next day, or a half-marathon each day. Walkers must raise $1800 in donations to participate. Held in several cities throughout the USA. These walks are extremely well-supported, with many food and water stops, meals, and a tent city to spend the night.
More: Avon Walk for Breast CancerRead Review
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