Most likely, you already know that a marathon is around 26 miles long. To be precise, it’s 26.2188 miles or 26.2 as most round it off as.
That last .2 sounds so small, but marathon runners know it’s an extra few steps that add up!!! And maybe you’ve wondered why on Earth the race isn’t simply a round number. In fact, why isn’t it 20 miles or 25 miles?
Only a few of us know exactly what events led to this odd race distance. Interestingly, it all started more than 2000 years ago in Ancient Greece with a messenger by the name of Pheidippides.
Intrigued to know how it all began? Let’s dive into some history!
The Origin of Marathon: The Battle of Marathon
A Greek legend from 490 B.C. served as the basis for the marathon as a running event.
Marathon is a small Greek village that still exists today, with a population of roughly 7,000 people.
It was the site of the Battle of Marathon in ancient Greece, a massive confrontation between the Greeks and the invading Persians.
Despite being outnumbered by the Persians, the Greeks won the fight. This was a crucial win in their fight against the invaders.
According to legend, after the victorious battle, a Greek messenger named Pheidippides observed a Persian warship heading towards Athens. He saw this as an attempt by the…
