Why do marathons run exactly that distance?
The Royal Detour
Why do marathons run exactly that distance?
You've probably heard of marathons — those races where people run 26.2 miles, which is a weirdly specific number. Not 25 miles. Not 30. Why 26.2? The answer involves an ancient Greek soldier, a battlefield victory, and — plot twist — a bunch of people in 1908 who wanted a better view of the finish line.
Let's start in 490 BCE, in Greece. The Athenians just beat the Persian army at a place called Marathon — a massive underdog victory. Legend says a messenger named Pheidippides ran from the battlefield to Athens to deliver the news. "We won!" he gasped, then collapsed. The distance? About 25 miles.
