In 490 b.c. a Persian fleet landed 20,000 soldiers on the plain of Marathon,only a short distance from Athens.
Athens Classic Marathon was created in 1972.
The name marathon comes from the Battle of Marathon. It was fought between Persia and Athens at Marathon, Greece. After the Greeks defeated the Persians, they sent a runner back to Athens to inform the Greeks of their victory. The distance between Marathon and Athens was around 25 to 26 kilometers. He burst into the assembly hall exclaiming Νενικήκαμεν (We have won!) then collapsed and died from exhaustion. This is just a legend.
The marathon is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens. The legend states that he was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming We have won, before collapsing and dying.
Pheidippides ran 150 miles from Marathon to Sparta, then another 22 miles to Athens.
Athens - the Plain of Marathon was part of Athens' territory.
The distance has remained the same since ancient Greecian times. It has consistantly been 26.1 miles or 42.1 kilometers. It was made that distance because it is the distance from the battle of marathon to the city of Athens, in which a messenger ran back and forth from during the battle. No one changed it.
Athens and Marathon are located in the region of Attica in Greece.
Supposedly the first marathon was 26 miles by a Greek runner from Marathon to Athens. In 1921 the present distance of 26 miles 385 yards was standardized.
The event commemorates the fabled run by the Greek soldier Pheidippides from the Battle of Marathon to Athens which was a distance of 26 miles and 385 yards.
The Battle of Marathon was an exceptional achievement for the Greeks over the numerically superior Persians . To send news of this signal victory to Athens , Pheidippides was sent to inform them which required crossing a distance of approximately 25 miles - the approximate distance from Marathon to Athens . To celebrate this victory the Marathon race was run annually and is now synonymous with a great achievement . The Marathon Race of today eventually became fixed at 26 miles 385 yards in length .
Greece. The soldiers of Athens went to war against Persia at Marathon. At the end of the battle, a messenger was sent to Athens to tell them that Athens was victorious. The distance between Marathon and Athens was 26 miles. When the messenger arrived at Athens, he raised his hands up and shouted "Nike!" which is the Greek goddess of Victory. After that, the messenger collapsed and died.