BOSTON — There's a difference between the Masters and the Southern Farm Bureau Classic, between the French Open and the country club championship, between the Kentucky Derby and the eighth race at Aqueduct.
For marathoners, there have always been courses that stood out for their prestige, their tradition, and their purse. Starting in Boston today, those races are now the World Marathon Majors.
"The whole point is to be the best runner in the world," Olympic silver medalist Meb Keflezighi said as he prepared to make his debut in the Boston Marathon and try to take the early lead in a two-year competition for bragging rights — and a $500,000 bonus.
Joining marathons in London, Berlin, New York, Chicago and Boston, the World Marathon Majors will award points and $1 million in prize money to the world's top man and woman at the 26.2-mile distance over two years.
"Monday is the start of two races," New York City Marathon director Mary Wittenberg said. "One of the races will be over in 2 1/2 hours. The other race — to be the world's greatest marathoner — won't be over for 18 months."
Marathons have a devoted but — compared to leagues like the NFL — relatively small following that keeps the sport from reaping billion-dollar TV deals and more lucrative licensing fees.