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[[File:1896 Olympic marathon.jpg|thumbnail|300 px|Figure 1. Three runners training for the first marathon in 1896.]]
The marathon is seen today as gruelling long-distance, usually over 26 mile race. The battle of Marathon, fought between the Greek and Persian armies, and the resulting run by a Greek warrior to tell the victory is usually cited as the origin of this sport. While there is truth in this story, the history of the marathon is complex and its presence in many major world cities shows it still stands as one of the great events that tests human will and skill.
==From Ancient to the Modern Olympics==
The earliest history of the marathon is likely legend based on some facts. The story of the legend states that the Greek messenger Pheidippides ran back to Athens in August/September 490 BCE, a distance of almost 26 miles, to inform the Athenian assembly that the Achaemenid army fighting at the battle of Marathon had been defeated. Very likely this story did not occur this way, as contemporary accounts do not corroborate this story and the story of Pheidippides' famous run only emerged in the 1st century CE. Plutarch in his work, <i>On the Glory of Athens</i>, mentions this famous event. Potentially more likely, although it is still unclear, there was a runner, perhaps called Pheidippides, who ran to Sparta from Athens to seek assistance from the Spartans as the Achaemenid army advanced.<ref>For more on the battle of Marathon and the history of the marathon's origins, see: Kyle, Donald G. 2007. <i>Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World. Ancient Cultures</i>. Malden, MA ; Oxford: Blackwell Pub, pg. 96.</ref>
The earliest history Whatever the accuracy of the marathon is likely legend based on some facts. The story of the legend states that the Greek messenger Pheidippides ran back to Athens in August/September 490 BCE, a distance of almost 26 miles, to inform the Athenian assembly what we do know is that the Achaemenid army fighting at the battle of Marathon had ancient Greeks loved running sports and very likely there would have been defeatedathletes who trained to run long-distances. Very likely this story did not occur this way, as contemporary accounts do not corroborate this story Ancient Greek sources discuss training and the story use of Pheidippides' famous run only emerged in complicated regimes to train athletes for the 1st century CEancient Olympics. Plutarch in his workThe origin of many events, <i>On including the Glory of Athens</i>pentathlon, mentions developed from this famous event. Potentially more likely, although it is still unclear, there was a runner, perhaps called Pheidippides, who ran to Sparta from Athens to seek assistance from the Spartans as the Achaemenid army advanced.<ref>For more on the battle of Marathon and the history of the marathon's originsGreek running sports, see: KyleWoff, Donald GRichard. 20071999. Sport and Spectacle in the <i>The Ancient WorldGreek Olympics</i>. Ancient Cultures. Malden, MA ; New York: Oxford: Blackwell Pub, pg. 96University Press.</ref>
Whatever However, because the legend of Pheidippides was so well entrenched after Roman sources began to mention this event, this story became the critical event that helped shaped the accuracy development of the storymodern marathon. When the Olympics were revived in 1896, what we do know is that the ancient Greeks loved running sports idea was to revive a key event in the history of Greece and very likely there would have been athletes who trained to run long-distancesAthens. Ancient Greek sources discuss training Therefore, the marathon was chosen as a commemorative event and that began the history of the use modern marathon. Organizers of complicated regimes the Olympics Michel Bréal and Pierre de Coubertin wanted something to train athletes for tie the modern Olympics with the ancient Olympicsglory of Greece. The origin idea was popular and the first winner of many events, including the pentathlon, developed from this1896 Olympic Marathon was a Greek named Spyridon Louis.<ref>For more on Greek running sportsa history of the first marathon race in the first modern Olympics, see: WoffHolmes, RichardBurton. 19991984. <i>The Olympian Games in Athens, 1896: The Ancient Greek First Modern Olympics</i>. 1st Evergreen ed. New York: Oxford University Grove Press.</ref>
However, because ==The Modern Sport==With the legend introduction of Pheidippides was so well entrenched after Roman sources began to mention this eventthe marathon as a new sport, this story it soon became the critical popular as an event that helped shaped the development was run outside of the modern marathonOlympics. When the Olympics were revived in 1896In 1897, the idea was Boston Marathon began to revive a key be an annual event in and today is one of six major world marathon events held where the history of Greece and Athens (Figure 1)world's top runners compete. Therefore, The race is the oldest continuing marathon was chosen as a commemorative event and that began has always run on Patriot's day. The holiday symbolizes the history first battles of the modern marathon. Organizers of American Revolution and thus the Boston Athletic Association, who runs the event, uses the Olympics Michel Bréal and Pierre de Coubertin wanted something date to tie the modern Olympics American struggle for freedom with that of the ancient glory of Greece. The idea was popular and the first winner of the 1896 Olympic Marathon was a Greek named Spyridon LouisGreeks.<ref>For a more information on the history of the first marathon race in the first modern OlympicsBoston Marathon, see: HolmesDerderian, BurtonTom. 19842014. The Olympian Games in Athens, 1896Boston Marathon a Celebration of the World’s Premier Race. Triumph Books. http: The First Modern Olympics//public.eblib. 1st Evergreen edcom/choice/publicfullrecord. New York: Grove Pressaspx?p=1648811.</ref>
[[File:1896 The race length was not standardized in its early history. The Olympics and other events ranged from 24-26 miles. The roughly 26.2 miles distance that now is standard became established by the 1908 London Olympics. Initially, the organizers wanted the race to run from Windsor Castle to the Olympic stadium, the old White City Stadium or Great Stadium. However, it was decided that, as the royal family was in the stadium, it would be good to have a final lap around the main track and then have the race finish. Although this happened for the 1908 Olympics, this length was still not standardized until 1921. By 1924, the Boston Marathon, which by now had emerged as the world's premier marathonrunning event outside of the Olympics, standardized the distance to conform with the 1908 Olympic length.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 1This now led the way for all international marathon events by the 1920s to be the same length. Three runners training for <ref>For a history of the modern length of the first marathon in 1896, see: Davis, David. 2012. <i>Showdown at Shepherd’s Bush: The 1908 Olympic Marathon and the Three Runners Who Launched a Sporting Craze</i>. New York: Thomas Dunne Books.]]</ref>
==The Modern Sport==With the introduction of the marathon as a new sportSurprisingly, given progress in other events after World War II, it soon became popular as an event that was women were not allowed to run outside of marathon events in many places and in particular the Olympics. In 1897the 1896 Olympics, Stamatis Rovithi became the Boston Marathon (Figure 2) began first woman to be an annual event and today is one of six major world run the marathon events held where ; however, she did this by not running the official course but rather in a track parallel to the world's top runners competecourse. The race is the oldest continuing marathon and has always run on Patriot's dayShe finished about 1. The holiday symbolizes 5 hours behind the first battles winner of the American Revolution and thus race but did pass many men during her running. Violet Piercy was the Boston Athletic Associationfirst woman to be officially timed in a marathon race in 1926, who runs the event, uses the date to tie the American struggle for freedom with that a time of the ancient Greeks3:40:22.<ref>For Because so few women were allowed to run, this record stood for more information on the history of than 37 years. In the 1966 Boston Marathon, seeRoberta Gibb sneaked into the race and ran an unofficial time of 3: Derderian21:25, Tom. 2014. Boston Marathon a Celebration of becoming the first woman known to complete the World’s Premier Racecourse. Triumph BooksIn another well-known incident, in 1967 an entrant named K. http://publicV.eblibSwitzer ran the race.com/choice/publicfullrecordHowever, the person was really Kathrine Switzer.aspx?p=1648811Race officials only found out it was a woman after the race had begun.</ref>
The In a somewhat comical event, the officials tried to pull her out of the race length during the running once they found out the runner was a woman, but her teammates fended their attempts and she was able to complete the event with a time of over 4 hours. It was not standardized only in the 1970s that women's marathons, particularly in its early historyGermany, began to be organized. The Olympics main issue was many doctors at the time and other events ranged from 24health professionals strongly believe women's bodies could not cope with the long-26 miles. The roughly 26.2 miles distance that now is standard became established by the 1908 London Olympics. Initially, the organizers wanted the race to run from Windsor Castle to the Olympic stadium, the old White City Stadium or Great Stadium. However, it was decided also the Olympic rules thatprevent the women's marathon from becoming official, as it required 25 countries to hold the royal family was in the stadium, event for it would to be good to have an official event. The same Kathrine Switzer who ran the Boston Marathon began organizing a final lap around the main track series of women's running events and obtained powerful sponsorship from legislators and then have the race finish. Although this happened for the 1908 Olympics, this length was still not standardized until 1921most importantly, corporate money (Avon in particular). By 1924Finally, in the Boston MarathonLos Angles Olympics in 1984, which by now had emerged as the worldOlympics held it first women's premier marathon running event outside of the Olympics, standardized won by Joan Benoit from the distance to conform US with the 1908 Olympic lengtha time of 2:24:52. This By then, there were 28 countries now led the way competing in this event for all international marathon events by the 1920s to be the same lengthwomen.<ref>For a more on the history of the modern length of the marathonand women, see: DavisSwitzer, DavidKathrine. 20122009. Showdown at Shepherd’s Bush<i>Marathon Woman: The 1908 Olympic Marathon and Running the Three Runners Who Launched a Sporting CrazeRace to Revolutionize Women’s Sports</i>. New YorkCambridge, MA: Thomas Dunne BooksDa Capo Press.</ref>
SurprisinglyKenya stands out as a country that has, given progress in other events after World War IIdisproportional to its population, women were not allowed to run marathon events in produced many places and in particular great runners over the Olympicslast few decades. In the 1896 Olympics, Stamatis Rovithi became the first woman This could be because populations there had evolved to run the marathon; however, she did this by not use long-distance running the official course but rather in a track parallel to the course. She finished about 1.5 hours behind Genetically, Kenyans from the winner western part of the race but did pass many men during her country have been shown to have relatively efficient bone structures for runningthat helps them to develop advantages over others. Violet Piercy was the first woman to be officially timed in a marathon race in 1926In examples, with Kenyan boys training for a time of 3:40:22. Because so few women were allowed months have been shown to run, this record stood outperform Western runners who had trained for more than 37 many years. In the 1966 Boston Marathon, Roberta Gibb sneaked into the race and ran an unofficial time Much of 3:21:25, becoming the first woman known to complete the course. In another well-known incident, in 1967 an entrant named K.V. Switzer ran the race. However, the person was really Kathrine Switzer. Race officials only found out it was that advantage derives from having a woman after the race had begun. In a somewhat comical eventthin physique, the officials tried to pull her out of the race during the running once they found out the runner was a womanlong legs, but her teammates fended their attempts and she was able to complete the event with a time of over 4 hours. It was only in the 1970s efficient body mass ratios that women's marathons, particularly in Germany, began to be organizedhave helped runners from Kenya develop an advantage. The main issue was many doctors at the time and health professionals strongly believe women<ref>For more on Kenya's bodies could not cope success with the long-distance race. Howevermarathon, it was also the Olympic rules that prevent the women's marathon from becoming officialsee: Pitsiladis, as it required 25 countries to hold the event for it to be an official event. The same Kathrine Switzer who ran the Boston Marathon began organizing a series of women's running events and obtained powerful sponsorship from legislators andYannis P, most importantlyYannis P Pitsiladis, corporate money (Avon in particular). FinallyVincent O Onywera, in the Los Angles Olympics in 1984Evelina Geogiades, the Olympics held it first women's marathon eventWilliam O’Connell, won by Joan Benoit from the US with a time and Michael K Boit. 2004. “The Dominance of 2:24:52. By then, there were 28 countries now competing Kenyans in this event for womenDistance Running.” <refi>For more on the history of the marathon Equine and women, seeComparative Exercise Physiology 1</i> (4): Switzer, Kathrine285–91. 2009. Marathon Womandoi: Running the Race to Revolutionize Women’s Sports10. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press1079/ECP200433.</ref>
Kenya stands out ==Why it is Still Popular==[[File:Boston1910.jpg|thumbnail|300 px|Figure 2. The Boston Marathon]]With the entry of women, the marathon as a country that haswe know it today had become set. The sport, disproportional to its populationamong the most difficult of the Olympics, produced has become popular with many great amateur runners over around the last world. Because few decades. This could be because populations there had evolved to use other sports test both stamina and physical ability, where the mental challenges of running for such a long-distance runningare as significant as the physical ones, may help to explain why this sport is relatively popular. GeneticallyIncreasingly, Kenyans from the western part of sport is associated with raising charitable funds, as amateurs and professionals use the country have been shown event to have relatively efficient bone structures raise funds for running that helps them their causes.<ref>For more on how today's marathon is popular with many amateur runners, see: Murphy, Sam, and Sam Murphy. 2009. Marathon and Half Marathon: From Start to develop advantages over othersFinish. In examplesLondon: A & C Black, Kenyan boys training for pg. 165.</ref> Over half a few months have been shown to outperform Western million runners who had trained for many yearsran marathon races in 2014 in the US. Much of Interestingly, it is the over 40 population segment that advantage derives from having a thin physique, long legshas grown the most substantially in participating in the marathon. Once again, it is likely the physical and efficient body mass ratios mental demanding nature that have helped runners from Kenya develop an advantagehas pushed the popularity of this sport for older athletes.<ref>For more statistics on Kenya's success with the popularity of the marathon, see: PitsiladisZinner, Yannis P, Yannis P Pitsiladis, Vincent O Onywera, Evelina Geogiades, William O’ConnellChristoph, and Michael K BoitBilly Sperlich. 20042016. “The Dominance of Kenyans in Distance Marathon Running.” Equine : Physiology, Psychology, Nutrition and Comparative Exercise Physiology 1 (4): 285–91. doi:10Training Aspects, pg.1079/ECP200433108.</ref>
[[File:Boston1910For most runners, the marathon is a one-time event done to challenge one self and possibly raise funds.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 2However, for some amateurs, it is a year-round lifestyle. The Boston Marathon Runners train for the many major events and the marathon has even inspired more extreme running events that have grown in 1910popularity, ranging from ultra-marathons that are over 100 miles in some cases to difficult races that traverse wild terrain and mountainous areas. Medically, running can be addictive, with endorphins perhaps influencing some runners to keep running. Whatever the exact reasons, the trend of long-distance running inspired by the marathon continues to grow. Clubs and group training events can now be found in many places in Europe and the United States in particular.]]
==Why it is Still Popular==
With the entry of women, the marathon as we know it today had become set. The sport, among the most difficult of the Olympics, has become popular with many amateur runners around the world. Because few other sports test both stamina and physical ability, where the mental challenges of running for such a long distance are as significant as the physical ones, may help to explain why this sport is relatively popular. Increasingly, the sport is associated with raising charitable funds, as amateurs and professionals use the event to raise funds for their causes.<ref>For more on how today's marathon is popular with many amateur runners, see: Murphy, Sam, and Sam Murphy. 2009. Marathon and Half Marathon: From Start to Finish. London: A & C Black, pg. 165.</ref> Over half a million runners ran marathon races in 2014 in the US. Interestingly, it is the over 40 population segment that has grown the most substantially in participating in the marathon. Once again, it is likely the physical and mental demanding nature that has pushed the popularity of this sport for older athletes.<ref>For statistics on the popularity of the marathon, see: Zinner, Christoph, and Billy Sperlich. 2016. Marathon Running: Physiology, Psychology, Nutrition and Training Aspects, pg. 108.</ref> For most runners, the marathon is a one-time event done to challenge one self and possibly raise funds. However, for some amateurs, it is a year-round lifestyle. Runners train for the many major events and the marathon has even inspired more extreme running events that have grown in popularity, ranging from ultra-marathons that are over 100 miles in some cases to difficult races that traverse wild terrain and mountainous areas. Medically, running can be addictive, with endorphins perhaps influencing some runners to keep running. Whatever the exact reasons, the trend of long-distance running inspired by the marathon continues to grow. Clubs and group training events can now be found in many places in Europe and the United States in particular.
==Conclusion==
Although perhaps a myth, the long-distance run from the plains of Marathon to Athens helped inspire the running of the modern marathon in 1896. The first modern Olympics soon inspired the Boston Marathon and ever since the sport has been growing in popularity. Today, thousands of towns and cities worldwide hold marathon events. Marathon running has become a highly competitive event where millions of dollars of prize money are at stake. The sport continues to be physically demanding, and in many major marathon events there are often reports of death or injury, but the association of fundraising, physical and mental challenge, and perhaps addictive nature of running for some has helped it to continue as a popular sport for many.
==References==
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