Marathon FAQ

Question: What is the history of the marathon?

Answer: The longest races in the ancient Olympics were approximately five thousand meters (3.1 miles). The idea for the marathon race came from Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games (1896). As a young history student, Pierre was impressed with the story of the messenger Phidippides who fought in the battle of marathon (490 BC), ran the news of the Athenian victory to Athens, and died after delivering the message (according to legend). According to experts, the route of the first Olympic Marathon race was the route used by Phidippides. The marathon is only one of two events that have been run in every edition of the modern games.

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Jeff Galloway smiling near a lake with city skyline in the distance.
Jeff Galloway

Jeff Galloway, US Olympian and creator of the Run-Walk-Run method, has helped over 350,000 runners achieve their goals through his innovative training programs. As Runner's World's monthly columnist and author of North America's best-selling running book, Jeff has spent over 50 years sharing his expertise and continues to conduct running seminars worldwide as runDisney's Official Training Consultant.

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