The Historical Roots of the Marathon

The marathon's origin is rooted in an ancient Greek legend that tells of a messenger running approximately 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce a military victory. The first official marathon race took place at the inaugural modern Olympic Games in 1896, signaling the commencement of marathon competitions. Subsequently, the Boston Marathon was established the following year by an observer of that initial race. The fixed marathon distance of 26.2 miles was standardized during the 1908 London Olympics, where some historians believe it was modified to suit the preferences of the Royal Family.