How it works
The longest running race in the Olympic programme, the marathon covers 26 miles 385 yards (42.195km). A road race, at major championships it usually finishes inside the main stadium.
History
The event is named after the legendary 26-mile run made by a Greek soldier called Philippedes (also known as Pheidippides) from the scene of the battle of Marathon to Athens, where he announced the defeat of the invading Persians. His mission completed, he promptly died of exhaustion (he had apparently run 150 miles back from Sparta just the day before).
The organisers of the first Modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896, devised the marathon (originally 40km, or 24.8 miles) to celebrate the achievements of Ancient Greece.
The distance became 26 miles at the 1908 London Olympics, then 26.2, with the start line pulled back 385 yards so it could be seen by the children in the royal nursery at Windsor and still finish in front of Queen Alexandra at White City Stadium. This distance was standardised in 1921.
Did you know
It was discovered quickly that American Fred Lorz, who crossed the line first at the 1904 Olympics, had cheated by flagging down a car and riding 11 miles as a passenger. He was disqualified and the victory was handed to his compatriot Thomas Hicks, who (narrowly) survived the rigours of the race thanks to a combination of brandy and strychnine.
Gold standard
Male and female runners from Kenya and Ethiopia have a strong record, but athletes from Great Britain, Japan, China, Morocco, USA, Italy, Portugal and Spain have also enjoyed success at the highest level.
Icons
Abebe Bikila
The ‘Ethiopian Lion’ caused a sensation by running barefoot and winning gold, the first African to do so, at the 1960 Olympics. Four years later he retained the title, this time wearing shoes.
Paula Radcliffe
This British revolutionary set a scintillating world record of 2:15:25 at the 2003 London Marathon. She has also won the world title (2005) and triumphed in other big-city marathons: New York and Chicago. Only Olympic gold has eluded her.