The Starting Line That Started It All

It's a 'David vs. Goliath' story about two dueling nations who will stop at nothing to destroy the other. It's a story of Gods, warriors and legends. It's a story that has been passed down from generation to generation for all of recorded history. It's the story of...the origins of the modern-day marathon!!

Many of you probably have some vague notion of where the term 'marathon' originated. Like me, you probably cite some version of the Greek tale where a fellow runs a far distance to deliver a message. Like me, that is probably the extent of your knowledge on the subject and, as you tell your version to your pals, you silently pray you are not asked any follow-up questions or any clarification questions since you know nothing beyond what you just recounted. This being the case, I figured I would provide the full story for you so, the next time you are asked to tell the tale of where the word 'marathon' comes from, you can stand with confidence and pride secure in the knowledge that you speaketh the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

It was a cold and dark night in the Athenian town of Marathon way back in 490 B.C. Almost 26 miles from Athens, Marathon was a city in a state (no pun intended) of restful sleep (literally, as its citizens had all gone to bed). Exploiting the early-bird quality of the Marathon citizens, the Persian army landed on Marathon's plains with the intention of capturing and enslaving the city. According to many historians, a victory for the powerful Persian Empire could have destroyed the independence of the Greek city-states and effectively ended Greek civilization and culture. Not as quiet as they had though they were, the Persian's arrival was noticed by the Athenians who instantly responded and sent their own forces (albeit in much smaller numbers) to meet the Persian army. The Athenian army fell upon the vastly larger Persian forces while they were still preparing for battle and, against great odds, prevailed. With victory assured, the Athenians sent a messenger, Philippides, to Athens to carry the excellent news to the town's elders. As legend has it, Philippides ran the entire 26 mile route and, as he arrived at the senate floor, proclaimed "Nike!! (Greek for 'Victory') before dying on the senate floor. Unfortunately, since clocks had not been invented yet, Philippides' run was never timed and his pace was never recorded for the historical record. His accomplishment, however, will forever be remembered by every 26.2 mile race on the planet known as a marathon.