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Marathon
42.195 km race commemorating Pheidippides' legendary run from Marathon to Athens in 490 BC
Greece ๐ฌ๐ท 490 BC Athletics & Records
Key Facts
- 1
Named after the Battle of Marathon (490 BC); legend says Pheidippides ran to Athens with news of victory then died
- 2
Distance fixed at 42.195 km at 1908 London Olympics to accommodate the British royal family's viewing preferences
- 3
Current world record: Kelvin Kiptum (Kenya, 2:00:35 at Chicago 2023); Eliud Kipchoge ran sub-2 hours in 2019 (unofficial)
๐ Did you know? The exact 42.195 km distance was standardised at the 1908 London Olympics to go from Windsor Castle to the Olympic Stadium
Quick Reference
Category
Athletics & Records
Country
๐ฌ๐ท Greece
Year / Era
490 BC
About
42.195 km race commemorating Pheidippides' legendary run from Marathon to Athens in 490 BC