2006-10-20 02:55:18 · 7 answers · asked by bobopro1020 2 in Sports ➔ Olympics
At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance
was changed to 26 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City stadium, with 385 yards added on so the race could finish in front of King Edward VII's royal box. After 16 years of extremely heated discussion, this 26.2 mile distance was esta-blished at the 1924 Olympics in Paris as the official marathon distance.
Not until 1921, however, was that distance adopted as the "official" Marathon distance by the IAAF.
2006-10-20 04:11:53 · answer #1 · answered by moglie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
During a battle of Athena or something in Greek mythology or reality, some bloke ran from the war zone to marathon which was 26.3 mile. So that's how long the modern marathon is.
2006-10-20 09:59:36 · answer #2 · answered by Jay W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not the exact distance from Marathon to Athens as is commonly believed. The exact distance of the marathon was decided for the viewing pleasure of the English royal family.
2006-10-20 09:59:37 · answer #3 · answered by Kuji 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That was the distance that Marathon ran to tell the Greeks that they were under attack. Legend says he died as soon as he told them from running, so to run the Marathon and live to tell about it was the biggest athletic feat in the Olympics.
2006-10-20 09:59:00 · answer #4 · answered by TrainerMan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey homesickle, its 26.22
The name "marathon" comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier who, according to legend, was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens to announce that the Persians had been miraculously defeated in the Battle of Marathon. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping, but moments after proclaiming his message to the city, he collapsed dead
2006-10-20 13:12:23 · answer #5 · answered by McClane 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why not MORON!! You already know the answer, and if by chance you don't you're still a friggin' MORON!!
2006-10-20 10:07:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why 26.3 miles please specific more details
2006-10-20 09:58:49 · answer #7 · answered by Boston_Bull_Lover2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋