Many people assume a marathon is about 24 miles, but the official marathon distance is actually 42.195 kilometers, which equals 26.2 miles.

This oddly specific distance was not chosen by scientists or sports committees.
It was shaped by history, legend, and a royal request during the Olympic Games.

Let us see how it happened.

The word marathon comes from an ancient Greek story.

In 490 BCE, after the Battle of Marathon, a Greek messenger named Pheidippides was said to have run from the town of Marathon to Athens to deliver a message.

His message was simple:

"We have won."

According to legend, he delivered the news and then collapsed from exhaustion.

The distance between Marathon and Athens is roughly 40 kilometers, and this legendary run inspired the modern marathon race.

When the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, organizers wanted to honor the ancient story.

They created a race from Marathon to Athens, covering about 40 kilometers.

However, the exact distance was not strictly standardized. Different races sometimes used slightly different routes.

The marathon distance became fixed because of an unusual request during the 1908 London Olympics.

The British royal family wanted the race to start at Windsor Castle so the royal children could watch the runners begin the race.

The finish line was placed inside the Olympic Stadium in London, right in front of the royal box.

This route happened to measure 26 miles and 385 yards, which equals 42.195 kilometers.

After the London Olympics, the distance became widely used.

In 1921, the international athletics federation officially declared:

The marathon distance is 42.195 kilometers.

Since then, every major marathon around the world uses this exact measurement.

The marathon distance may seem oddly precise, but it is the result of:

A race inspired by a messenger from ancient Greece eventually became one of the most celebrated endurance events in modern sports.

No. A marathon is 42.195 kilometers, which equals 26.2 miles.

The exact distance comes from the 1908 London Olympics route from Windsor Castle to the Olympic Stadium.

The race was inspired by the legendary run of the Greek messenger Pheidippides after the Battle of Marathon.

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