Best Flat

The Chicago Marathon is one of the world’s premier marathon events held annually in October. It traverses the city's diverse neighborhoods offering a relatively flat course suitable for runners of all abilities. The race attracts over 40,000 participants including competitive athletes and recreation...

The Berlin Marathon is an annual marathon race held in Germany, consistently recognized as one of the world’s premier major marathons since 1974. Its flat course and consistent road surface have made it a favored location for achieving new world records across both men's and women's divisions. Runne...

Ariocarpus kotschoubeyanus is a species of geophytic cactus native to the Mexican states of San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Querétaro, first described scientifically in 1842 by Prince Salm-Dyck. The plant is mostly subterranean in habitat, with a flattened, gray-green tubercle-bearing stem that sel...

The NN Marathon Rotterdam is an annual road race held in the Netherlands that has been organized since 1981. Recognized as one of the fastest marathon courses in the world, its largely flat terrain at or near sea level makes it highly attractive to elite runners aiming for record times, as well as m...

The Valencia Marathon (officially the Valencia Marathon Trinidad Alfonso) is an annual road race held in December in Valencia, Spain. Established in 1981, the flat, coastal course has earned a reputation as one of the world's fastest marathon routes, helping to set multiple world records including K...

The Gold Coast Marathon is an annual road race held in Queensland, Australia, typically in early July during the Southern Hemisphere winter. Established in 1979, the event features a flat, fast course that runs parallel to the Gold Coast's beaches, making it attractive to runners seeking personal be...

Dickinsonia costata is an extinct organism known from Ediacaran fossil deposits, particularly in South Australia and Russia. Its flattened, oval body is divided into repeated rib-like units extending from a central axis, and specimens range considerably in size. Its biological affinities were long d...

The TCS Amsterdam Marathon is an annual road race held in the Netherlands since 1975. Sponsored by Tata Consultancy Services, the event is highly regarded by distance runners for its fast, flat course, which frequently results in competitive finishing times. The route begins and ends inside the city...

The Zurich Maratón de Sevilla is an annual road marathon held in the city of Seville, Spain. Recognized internationally for its incredibly flat and fast course, the event is an ideal environment for elite runners and amateurs aiming to set personal records. The route takes participants past many of...

The Memphis Marathon is an annual road race held in Memphis, Tennessee, featuring a full marathon, half marathon, and a 10K race. The event is closely associated with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, serving as a major fundraising platform that has generated millions of dollars for pediatric c...

The Frankfurt Marathon is an annual road marathon in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, first held in 1981 and known under sponsorship as the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Its urban course is generally flat and is used by elite and recreational runners seeking fast times. A distinctive feature is the indoor...

The Chevron Houston Marathon is an annual marathon held in Houston, Texas, typically in January, first run in 1972. The race features a flat, fast course through downtown Houston and surrounding areas, making it popular among runners seeking personal best times, and it has hosted the United States O...

The Shanghai International Marathon is an annual road running event held in Shanghai, China. Recognized as a premier marathon by World Athletics, the race attracts both elite international competitors and thousands of amateur runners. The course winds through the city's urban landscape, passing prom...

The Dong-A Seoul Marathon is an annual marathon held in Seoul, South Korea, first staged in 1931 and recognized as one of Asia's oldest marathon races. Organized by the Dong-A Ilbo newspaper, the event expanded over the decades into a major international road race. The course is known for being rela...

Discocactus horstii is a rare Brazilian cactus belonging to the Cephalium cacti group. It’s distinguished by the dense, woolly white cephalium that develops at its top during maturation. This species is endemic to specific regions of Brazil and faces endangerment due to habitat loss. It is primarily...

The Star Cactus, *Astrophytum asterias*, is a small, globular cactus native to Texas and northeastern Mexico. Its distinctive eight-ribbed star shape makes it an attractive ornamental plant. Due to habitat loss and overcollection, this species is federally endangered in the United States, primarily...

The Bayshore Marathon is an annual long-distance running event held in Traverse City, Michigan, traditionally scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. The race features a flat, fast out-and-back course that traces the eastern shoreline of the Old Mission Peninsula along Grand Traverse Bay. Because of its...

The Rotterdam Marathon, officially known as the ABN AMRO Rotterdam Marathon, is an annual road race held in the Netherlands since 1981. Known for its exceptionally flat and fast course, it attracts elite international athletes aiming to break records. The race frequently serves as the Dutch national...

The Paris Marathon is an annual 42.195-kilometer road race held in Paris, France, typically in April. First held in 1976, it has grown to become one of the largest marathons in the world, regularly attracting over 40,000 runners. The largely flat, urban course begins on the Champs-Élysées and finish...

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is an annual marathon held in Toronto, Ontario, typically taking place in October. The race follows a flat, fast course along the shores of Lake Ontario and serves as a qualifying event for the Boston Marathon. It is classified as an Elite Label road race b...

The Xiamen International Marathon is an annual road race held in Fujian, China, recognized as a top-tier World Athletics Platinum Label event. The course is known for its flat, fast profile along a coastal route, which has historically facilitated record-breaking finishing times. It typically takes...

The Chester Marathon is an annual long-distance running event held in Chester, England, typically taking place in the autumn. The race features a looped course that begins in the historic city center, passing by Roman landmarks before winding through the surrounding rural villages and countryside of...

Ariocarpus fissuratus is a flat-bodied cactus native to the Chihuahuan Desert. Its distinctive gray-green tubercles create excellent camouflage amongst rocky terrain. This slow-growing species is notable for its unique adaptation to survive in harsh conditions and is particularly relevant to botanis...

The Nagoya Women's Marathon is an annual women-only road race held in Nagoya, Japan, typically taking place in March. Recognized as one of the largest female-exclusive marathons in the world, it holds a World Athletics Platinum Label status. The flat, fast course starts and finishes at the Nagoya Do...

The Volkswagen Prague Marathon is an annual road race held in the capital of the Czech Republic. Established in 1995, the event takes participants on a course through the historic city center, crossing the Vltava River multiple times. Known for its flat terrain, the springtime marathon attracts thou...

Discocactus zehntneri is a Brazilian cactus species notable for its distinctive flat, disc-shaped growth form. Native to Bahia, it produces nocturnal white flowers that emerge from a specialized flowering structure called a cephalium. This endangered plant is of interest to botanists and those study...

The Artichoke Cactus Obregonia denegrii is a unique Mexican cactus notable for its distinctive artichoke-like appearance. It features flattened, triangular growths resembling bracts surrounding a central bud. This species is rare and endangered, found only in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Its slow growth make...

The Space Coast Marathon is an annual running event held in Brevard County, Florida, typically taking place in late November or early December. The race course navigates the region surrounding the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, drawing heavily on the area's aerospace history for its themat...

The Frankfurt Marathon, officially known as the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon, is an annual road race held in Frankfurt, Germany, typically in late October. Founded in 1981, the event features a largely flat and fast loop course that begins and ends in the city center near the banks of the Main River....