The marathon is a special athletic encounter. I would say the top off all, because of the legend that wraps everything. Many, if not all, heard about the story of a messenger that delivered the victory news to Athens, after the Athenians beat the Persians in Marathon, in 490 BCE, and after collapsed and died. Those 40 kilometers were the issue? Well, not quite. Especially because apart from a historic, Lucian, no other popular spring evokes this such popular happening. For this reason, it is believed that most likely Philippides’s story is more of a fairytale with a dramatic epilogue, that fascinates mases, the most solid proof being the popularity of the marathon. Oh… Then why? Well, for sure, Philippides is not a legend, and he is a hero in Herodotus tails, but not quite like incremented in the common sports wisdom.
OK, but Philippides did run other 500+ km though, LOL…
Herodotus was speaking, in his work, about Philippides going and seeking Spartan help to beat the Persians. For this, he ran almost 500 kilometers to and from Sparta in roughly 4-5 days to communicate to the Athenians: the Spartans would come, but not right away, so the battle of Marathon could not wait anymore. The Athenians are on their own and they need to surprise the Persians, because otherwise they would be crushed. So, they did, and the Athenians obtained a very unlikely, important and… in the end romantic victory. Romantic, if we mention, as everybody knows, that Philippides ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the great achievement, collapsing immediately and die. OK, this is not impossible, especially if we link the two sources.
But why 42.195?
If Philippides is known to ran from Athens to Sparta, back and then to Marathon and back, there are around 570 kilometers so, even being a “professional” messenger, this is not a little thing. Still, to die exactly after you announce the victory it is better to use in any fairytale to make a strong impression. And this did happen. Philippides remained engraved in the history of Greeks but also in the worldwide athletic history. Now we have the Authentic Marathon, which is not that authentic… I have attended the event in 2022 and figure it out here why the route should never have 42.195 kilometers.
History, as it was written for the marathon distance…
From here we understand everything is adjustable and we can imagine that Philippides either lived happily ever after announcing the victory or didn’t went at all to announce it but preferred to stay to celebrate in Marathon. Why not? It is very possible. The important thing is that the distance from Marathon to Athens consists of roughly 40 kilometers or even slightly less. Then, from where the 42.195 km? Well, please consider the following benchmarks that established this, apparently, debatable distance:
- 1896 – the first modern Olympics have a 40-kilometer route from Marathon to Athens was established.
- 1908 – the Royal family from UK, allegedly wanted to have the start from the lawn of the Windsor Castle and the finish in front of the Royal Box from the stadium. This is why, at that point, the distance became 42.462 kilometers.
- 1914 – at the IAAF congress from Lyon, France, the convention stated that the marathon should have 25 miles, or 40.20 kilometers! Later that year, also in Lyon, the decision was to have a straight 42-kilometer mark, as that was the precise distance ran in 1906, at the Intercalated Olympics from, once again, Athens!
- 1920 – because the local conditions in Antwerp, Belgium, for the Olympic Games, now the marathon length was extended to… 42.750 kilometers! The deviation was not great, but we still didn’t have a written in stone distance
- 1921 – after several years with an “adjustable” distance, in this year, finally, the length was set to 42.195 kilometers and 101 years after it is still the same. Where this happened? It happened in Geneve, Switzerland, on 27th of May it was decided, finally!
Built in ancient times, renovated in 1896, held 80.000 supporters in 1968!
Given the details below, it is obvious why we can basically win / obtain a personal best in a marathon by dreaming, imagining. Is that bad? Well, not really. I mean, it looks like some sources, at least, state the mighty death-related adventure linked to the first ever so-called marathon runner might be only a legend. Then why can’t we dream? Why can’t we write the story as far as our brains, minds can take it. It is nothing wrong with that. The history of the marathon, the original, that finishes on the Panathenaic Stadium, the old marble arena – the only one in the world buid as such, entirely of marble! Built in the sixth century before Christ (!!!!) and renovated in 1896, it even held 80.000 spectators in 1968, at a football game, between AEK Athens and Slavia Prague!
The Panathenaic Stadium, a memory never too well lived!
Since I was there in 2022, even though didn’t enjoy the finish as you might imagine – my PB was the premium benefit of it all, so don’t worry! – I like to share with you this story and especially the meanings behind it. Athens is a geat place to be. It is a stunning location to finish THE MARATHON. But, just for your information… The tale of Philippides looks to be linked more to the Spartathlon in reality, than with the Marathon itself. Doesn’t matter. We accept it as it is. About the Spartathlon I might say a few words in the future, once I will have it done. 246 kilometers in less than 36 hours, with severe cut-off times… Oh, well… :))) Let’s just dream for now, as Lucian might did, based on what Herodotus was writing! 🙂