This is why a marathon is exactly 26.2 miles?♂️?
The legend we’ve heard about Pheidippides running from Marathon to Athens, announcing victory, and collapsing might not be the full truth! ?
In reality, some have argued that the real Pheidippides was an ancient Greek courier who ran 153 miles between Athens and Sparta—not to announce victory, but to gather reinforcements before the battle even took place. The famous story of a lone messenger dying after delivering the news of victory didn’t appear in historical records until centuries later.
So then how did we get the modern marathon?
In 1896, the first Olympic marathon was set at 24.85 miles (40km)—roughly the distance from Marathon to Athens—after a French scholar suggested the event. But in the 1908 London Olympics, the course was extended to 26.2 miles so the British royal family could watch the start at Windsor Castle and see the finish from the royal box.
That oddly specific distance stuck, and it’s been the standard distance for marathons ever since! ?♂️?
In reality, some have argued that the real Pheidippides was an ancient Greek courier who ran 153 miles between Athens and Sparta—not to announce victory, but to gather reinforcements before the battle even took place. The famous story of a lone messenger dying after delivering the news of victory didn’t appear in historical records until centuries later.
So then how did we get the modern marathon?
In 1896, the first Olympic marathon was set at 24.85 miles (40km)—roughly the distance from Marathon to Athens—after a French scholar suggested the event. But in the 1908 London Olympics, the course was extended to 26.2 miles so the British royal family could watch the start at Windsor Castle and see the finish from the royal box.
That oddly specific distance stuck, and it’s been the standard distance for marathons ever since! ?♂️?
Lexie Limitless
Lexie recently shattered the "Guinness World Record for the Youngest Person to Travel to Every Country." She traveled to all 196 countries by the time she turned 21 years old. To give this achievement some context, more people have been to outer space tha...