Marathon

Short History & Explanation

Set of simple rules

Photos

What is a Marathon?

The marathon is a long-distance running

event with an official distance of 42.195

kilometers (26 miles) that is usually run as a

road race.

History of Marathon

The name marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, who 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 Senate, exclaiming "Νενικήκαμεν" (Nenikékamen, 'We have won') before collapsing and dying of exhaustion.

Marathon in Modern Olympics

In 1896 Olympic Games, in Athens, Marathon was the 6th event on the 5th day.

(photo)The winner of the Marathon race Spyridon Louis

Set of Rules.

• Before the race• During the last two or three weeks before the marathon,

runners reduce their weekly training. • During the week before the marathon, marathoners

increase carbohydrate intake by eating spaghetti, bread and cereals to allow their bodies to store more glycogen.

• Immediately before the race, many runners refrain from eating solid food to avoid digestive problems.

• They drink plenty of water.• They stretch before the race to keep muscles limber.

Marathon recordsMen's Olympic Marathon Times -

1990 to 2010

• Aug 9, 1992 - Men's Olympic MarathonHwang Young Cho (Korea) - 2:13:23Olympic Marathon, Barcelona, Spain

• Aug 3, 1996 - Men's Olympic MarathonJosia Thugwane (South Africa) - 2:12:36Olympic Marathon, Atlanta, USA

• Oct 1, 2000 - Men's Olympic MarathonGezahgne Abera (Ethiopia) - 2:10:11Olympic Marathon, Sydney, Australia

• Aug 29, 2004 - Men's Olympic MarathonStefano Baldini (Italy) - 2:10:55Olympic Marathon, Athens, Greece