Marathons have a long and storied history, with the official distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) being established in 1921. But how did this specific distance come to be? To unravel this mystery, we must delve into the ancient Greek legend of Pheidippides, the first modern Olympics, and the influence of the British Royal Family.
The name ‘Marathon’ originates from the tale of Pheidippides, a soldier who ran from Marathon to Athens in 490 BCE to announce the Greek victory in the battle of Marathon during the Persian invasion. The 42-kilometer journey ended tragically with Pheidippides’ collapse and death.
Fast forward to the 1896 Olympics in Athens, where the organizers, inspired by ancient Greek history, introduced a 40-kilometer race to honor Pheidippides. The inaugural marathon was won by Greek athlete Spyridon Louis, completing the course in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds.
Over the following years, the marathon distance saw some variations. The 1900 Paris Olympics featured a 40.2-kilometer race, while the 1904 St. Louis Olympics had a 39.9-kilometer course.
However, it was the 1908 London Olympics that solidified the modern marathon distance. Legend has it that King Edward VII and the royal family wanted to view the race start from Windsor Castle, leading to the addition of an extra mile and the establishment of the 26.2-mile distance.
