Marathon
A long-distance race rooted in ancient legend and revived for the modern Olympics.
The marathon is a long-distance foot race covering 26.22 miles (42.195 kilometers), typically held on roads but also possible on trail routes. Runners may complete the distance by running or using a run/walk strategy, and wheelchair divisions exist. Over 800 marathons occur worldwide each year, with most participants being recreational athletes; large events can attract tens of thousands of entrants.
The event was conceived by French philologist Michel Bréal, inspired by an ancient Greek legend. It debuted as one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896 in Athens, though the distance was not standardized until 1921. The marathon is also featured in the World Athletics Championships, which began in 1983, and is the only running road race included in both the Olympics and those championships (road walking races are also contested in both).
The name derives from the story of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger. According to legend, during the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, he ran from the battlefield to Athens without stopping, discarding his weapons and clothes to lighten his load, and announced "we have won!" before collapsing and dying. This account first appeared in Plutarch’s writings, citing an earlier lost work. However, historian Herodotus, a primary source for the Greco-Persian Wars, mentions a runner named Philippides who ran from Athens to Sparta and back, but does not record a run from Marathon to Athens. The modern version of the legend was popularized by Robert Browning’s 1879 poem *Pheidippides*.
The first Olympic marathon in 1896 was a male-only race won by Greek water-carrier Spyridon Louis in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds. The women’s marathon was introduced at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, won by American Joan Benoit in 2 hours 24 minutes and 52 seconds. The men’s Olympic marathon traditionally concludes the athletics program on the final day of the Games.
Lore & Background
The marathon is a long-distance foot race covering 42.195 kilometers (26.22 miles), typically run on roads but occasionally on trails. Participants may run the entire distance or employ a run/walk strategy; wheelchair divisions also exist. Over 800 marathons occur worldwide each year, with most competitors being recreational athletes; major events can draw tens of thousands of entrants. The event was conceived by French philologist Michel Bréal, inspired by an ancient Greek legend, and debuted as an original modern Olympic event in 1896 in Athens. Its distance was not standardized until 1921. The marathon is the only road running race featured in both the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships (since 1983). The name derives from the story of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger who, according to legend, ran from the Battle of Marathon to Athens to announce victory, then collapsed and died. The earliest known account appears in Plutarch’s first-century AD work, citing Heraclides Ponticus, naming the runner as Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles. The satirist Lucian of Samosata later gave a version similar to the modern tale, though its historical accuracy is disputed. The historian Herodotus, a key source for the Greco-Persian Wars, mentions a messenger named Philippides running from Athens to Sparta and back, but not from Marathon to Athens. The modern marathon route from Marathon to Athens follows the coastal highway, a distance of approximately 40 kilometers, though an alternative, shorter route includes a steep climb over Mount Pentelicus. The first Olympic marathon in 1896 was won by Greek water-carrier Spyridon Louis in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds. The women’s marathon was introduced at the 1984 Olympics, won by Joan Benoit of the United States. The men’s Olympic marathon traditionally concludes the athletics program on the final day of the Games.
Reader's Guide
The marathon's significance lies in its revival as a centerpiece of the modern Olympic Games, inspired by Michel Bréal and supported by Pierre de Coubertin. The marathon remains the only running road race in both the Olympics and World Athletics Championships, and its men's race often concludes the athletics program, with medals awarded at the closing ceremony. The Kalenjin ethnic group of Kenya has produced a disproportionate share of winners.
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