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{{Mediawiki:kindleoasis}}__NOTOC__[[File:1896 Olympic marathon.jpg|thumbnail|300 px250px|left|Figure 1. Three runners training for the first marathon in 1896.]]The marathon is seen today as gruelling a grueling long-distance, usually over 26 -mile race. The Marathon's battle of Marathon, fought between the Greek and Persian armies, and the resulting run by a Greek warrior to tell the victory is usually cited as the origin of this sport. While there is truth in this story, the history of the marathon is complex and its presence in many major world cities shows it still stands as one of the great events that tests human will and skill.
==The Modern Sport==With the introduction of the marathon as a new sport, it soon became popular as an event that was run outside of the Olympics. In 1897, same Kathrine Switzer who ran the Boston Marathon began to be an annual event and today is one organizing a series of six major world marathon events held where the worldwomen's top runners compete. The race is the oldest continuing marathon running events and obtained powerful sponsorship from legislators and has always run on Patriot's day, most importantly, corporate money (Avon in particular). The holiday symbolizes Finally, in the first battles of the American Revolution and thus the Boston Athletic AssociationLos Angles Olympics in 1984, who runs the Olympics held it first women's marathon event, uses won by Joan Benoit from the date to tie the American struggle for freedom US with that a time of the ancient Greeks2:24:52. By then, there were 28 countries now competing in this event for women.<ref>For more information on the marathon and women's history of the Boston Marathon, see: DerderianSwitzer, TomKathrine. 20142009. Boston <i>Marathon a Celebration of Woman: Running the World’s Premier Raceto Revolutionize Women’s Sports</i>. Triumph Books. httpCambridge, MA://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1648811Da Capo Press.</ref>
The race length was not standardized in Kenya stands out as a country that has been disproportional to its early historypopulation and produced many great runners over the last few decades. The Olympics and other events ranged from 24This could be because populations there had evolved to use long-26 miles. The roughly 26.2 miles distance that now is standard became established by the 1908 London Olympicsrunning. InitiallyGenetically, the organizers wanted the race to run Kenyans from Windsor Castle to the Olympic stadium, western part of the old White City Stadium or Great Stadium. However, it was decided that, as the royal family was in the stadium, it would be good country have been shown to have a final lap around the main track and then have the race finish. Although this happened relatively efficient bone structures for the 1908 Olympics, this length was still not standardized until 1921. By 1924, the Boston Marathon, which by now had emerged as the world's premier marathon running event outside of the Olympics, standardized the distance to conform with the 1908 Olympic length. This now led the way for all international marathon events by the 1920s to be the same lengthhelping them develop advantages over others.<ref>For a history of the modern length of the marathonexample, see: Davis, David. 2012. <i>Showdown at Shepherd’s Bush: The 1908 Olympic Marathon and the Three Runners Who Launched Kenyan boys training for a Sporting Craze</i>. New York: Thomas Dunne Booksfew months has been shown to outperform Western runners trained for many years.</ref>
SurprisinglyMuch of that advantage derives from having a thin physique, given progress in other events after World War IIlong legs, women were not allowed to run marathon events in many places and in particular the Olympicsefficient body mass ratios that have helped runners from Kenya develop an advantage. In <ref>For more on Kenya's success with the 1896 Olympicsmarathon, Stamatis Rovithi became the first woman to run the marathon; howeversee Pitsiladis, she did this by not running the official course but rather in a track parallel to the course. She finished about 1.5 hours behind the winner of the race but did pass many men during her running. Violet Piercy was the first woman to be officially timed in a marathon race in 1926Yannis P, with a time of 3:40:22. Because so few women were allowed to runYannis P Pitsiladis, this record stood for more than 37 years. In the 1966 Boston MarathonVincent O Onywera, Roberta Gibb sneaked into the race and ran an unofficial time of 3:21:25Evelina Georgiades, becoming the first woman known to complete the course. In another well-known incidentWilliam O’Connell, in 1967 an entrant named and Michael KBoit. 2004.V“The Dominance of Kenyans in Distance Running. Switzer ran the race” <i>Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology 1</i> (4): 285–91. However, the person was really Kathrine Switzerdoi:10. Race officials only found out it was a woman after the race had begun1079/ECP200433. </ref>
In a somewhat comical event, the officials tried to pull her out of the race during the running once they found out the runner was a woman, but her teammates fended their attempts and she was able to complete the event with a time of over 4 hours====Why it is Still Popular?====[[File:Boston1910. It was only jpg|thumbnail|left|350 px|The Boston Marathon in 1910]]With the 1970s that entry of women's marathons, particularly in Germany, began to be organized. The main issue was many doctors at the time and health professionals strongly believe women's bodies could not cope with the long-distance race. However, it was also the Olympic rules that prevent the women's marathon from becoming official, as we know it required 25 countries to hold the event for it to be an official eventtoday had become set. The same Kathrine Switzer who ran Among the Boston Marathon began organizing a series most difficult of women's running events and obtained powerful sponsorship from legislators and, most importantly, corporate money (Avon in particular). Finally, in the Los Angles Olympics in 1984, the Olympics held it first women's marathon eventsport has become popular with many amateur runners worldwide. Because few other sports test both stamina and physical ability, won by Joan Benoit from where the US with mental challenges of running for such a time of 2:24:52long distance are as significant as the physical ones, it may explain why this sport is relatively popular. By thenThe sport is increasingly associated with raising charitable funds, there were 28 countries now competing in this as amateurs and professionals use the event to raise funds for womentheir causes.<ref>For more on the history of the how today's marathon and womenis popular with many amateur runners: Murphy, see: SwitzerSam, Kathrineand Sam Murphy. 2009. <i>Marathon Womanand Half Marathon: Running the Race From Start to Revolutionize Women’s Sports</i>Finish. CambridgeLondon: A & C Black, MA: Da Capo Presspg. 165.</ref>
Kenya stands out as Over half a country that has, disproportional to its population, produced many great million runners over ran marathon races in 2014 in the last few decades. This could be because populations there had evolved to use long-distance runningUS. GeneticallyInterestingly, Kenyans from the western part of over 40 population segment has grown the most substantially in participating in the country have been shown to have relatively efficient bone structures for running that helps them to develop advantages over othersmarathon. In examples, Kenyan boys training for a few months have been shown to outperform Western runners who had trained for many years. Much of that advantage derives from having a thin physique, long legsOnce again, it is likely the physical and efficient body mass ratios mentally demanding nature that have helped runners from Kenya develop an advantagehas pushed this sport's popularity for older athletes.<ref>For more statistics on Kenyathe marathon's success with the marathonpopularity, see: Pitsiladis, Yannis PZinner, Yannis P Pitsiladis, Vincent O Onywera, Evelina Geogiades, William O’ConnellChristoph, and Michael K BoitBilly Sperlich. 20042016. “The Dominance of Kenyans in Distance Marathon Running.” <i>Equine : Physiology, Psychology, Nutrition, and Comparative Exercise Physiology 1</i> (4): 285–91. doi:10Training Aspects, pg.1079/ECP200433108.</ref>
==Why it is Still Popular==[[File:Boston1910.jpg|thumbnail|300 px|Figure 2. The Boston Marathon]]With the entry of women, the marathon as we know it today had become set. The sport, among the For most difficult of the Olympics, has become popular with many amateur runners around the world. Because few other sports test both stamina and physical ability, where the mental challenges of running for such a long distance are as significant as the physical ones, may help to explain why this sport marathon is relatively popular. Increasingly, the sport is associated with raising charitable funds, as amateurs and professionals use the a one-time event to challenge one self and possibly raise funds for their causes.<ref>For more on how today's marathon is popular with many amateur runnersHowever, see: Murphyfor some amateurs, Sam, and Sam Murphyit is a year-round lifestyle. 2009Runners train for the many major events. Marathon and Half Marathon: From Start to Finish. London: A & C Black, pg. 165.</ref> Over half a million runners ran The marathon races has even inspired more extreme running events that have grown in 2014 in the US. Interestinglypopularity, it is the ranging from ultra-marathons that are over 40 population segment 100 miles in some cases to difficult races that has grown the most substantially in participating in the marathontraverse wild terrain and mountainous areas. Once againMedically, it is likely running can be addictive, with endorphins perhaps influencing some runners to keep running. Whatever the physical and mental demanding nature that has pushed exact reasons, the popularity of this sport for older athletes.<ref>For statistics on the popularity trend of long-distance running inspired by the marathon, see: Zinner, Christoph, continues to grow. Clubs and Billy Sperlich. 2016. Marathon Running: Physiology, Psychology, Nutrition group training events can now be found in many places in Europe and Training Aspects, pg. 108the United States in particular.</ref>
For most runners====Conclusion====Although perhaps a myth, the marathon is a onelong-time event done distance run from Marathon's plains to challenge one self and possibly raise fundsAthens helped inspire the running of the modern marathon in 1896. HoweverThe first modern Olympics soon inspired the Boston Marathon, for some amateursand ever since, it is a year-round lifestyle. Runners train for the many major events and the marathon sport has even inspired more extreme running events that have grown been growing in popularity. Today, ranging from ultra-marathons that are over 100 miles in some cases to difficult races that traverse wild terrain thousands of towns and mountainous areascities worldwide hold marathon events. Medically, Marathon running can has become a highly competitive event where millions of dollars of prize money are at stake. The sport continues to be addictivephysically demanding, and in many major marathon events there are often reports of death or injury, with endorphins perhaps influencing some runners to keep running. Whatever but the exact reasonsassociation of fundraising, physical and mental challenge, the trend and perhaps addictive nature of long-distance running inspired by the marathon continues for some has helped it to grow. Clubs and group training events can now be found in continue as a popular sport for many places in Europe and the United States in particular.
Admin moved page How did the marathon emerge? to How did the marathon emerge
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====From Ancient to the Modern Olympics====The earliest history of the marathon is likely legend based on some facts. The story of the legend states that the Greek messenger Pheidippides ran back to Athens in August/September 490 BCE, a distance of almost 26 miles, to inform the Athenian assembly that the Achaemenid army fighting at the battle of Marathon had been defeated. Very likely , this story did not occur this way, as contemporary accounts do not corroborate this story , and the story of Pheidippides' famous run only emerged in the 1st century CE. Plutarch in his work, <i>On the Glory of Athens</i>, mentions this famous event. Potentially more likely, although it is still unclear, there was a runner, perhaps called Pheidippides, who ran to Sparta from Athens to seek assistance from the Spartans as the Achaemenid army advanced.<ref>For more on the battle of Marathon and the history of the marathon's origins, see: Kyle, Donald G. 2007. <i>Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World. Ancient Cultures</i>. Malden, MA ; Oxford: Blackwell Pub, pg. 96.</ref>
Whatever the accuracy of the story, what we do know is that the ancient Greeks loved running sports and very likely there would have been athletes who trained to run long-distances. Ancient Greek sources discuss training and the use of complicated regimes to train athletes for the ancient Olympics. The origin of many events, including the pentathlon, developed from this.<ref>For more on Greek running sports, see: Woff, Richard. 1999. <i>The Ancient Greek Olympics</i>. New York: Oxford University Press.</ref>
However, because the legend of Pheidippides was so well entrenched after Roman sources began to mention this event, this story became the critical event that helped shaped the development of the modern marathon. When the Olympics were revived in 1896, the idea was to revive a key event in the history of Greece and Athens' history. Therefore, the marathon was chosen as a commemorative event and that began the history of the modern marathon. Organizers of the Olympics Michel Bréal and Pierre de Coubertin wanted something to tie the modern Olympics with the Greece's ancient glory of Greece. The idea was popular and the first winner of the 1896 Olympic Marathon was a Greek runner named Spyridon Louis.<ref>For a history of the first marathon race in the first modern Olympics, see: Holmes, Burton. 1984. <i>The Olympian Games in Athens, 1896: The First Modern Olympics</i>. 1st Evergreen ed. New York: Grove Press.</ref> ====The Modern Sport====[[File:Louis_entering_Kallimarmaron_at_the_1896_Athens_Olympics.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|Spyridon Louis entering Olympic stadium in 1896.]] With the introduction of the marathon as a new sport, it soon became popular as an event that was run outside of the Olympics. In 1897, the Boston Marathon began to be an annual event and today is one of six major world marathon events held where the world's top runners compete. The race is the oldest continuing marathon and has always been run on Patriot's Day. The holiday symbolizes the first battles of the American Revolution. Thus the Boston Athletic Association, which runs the event, uses the date to tie the American struggle for freedom with that of the ancient Greeks.<ref>For more information on the Boston Marathon history, see: Derderian, Tom. 2014. ''Boston Marathon a Celebration of the World’s Premier Race''. Triumph Books. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1648811.</ref> The race length was not standardized in its early history. The Olympics and other events ranged from 24-26 miles. The roughly 26.2 miles distance that now is standard became established by the 1908 London Olympics. Initially, the organizers wanted the race to run from Windsor Castle to the Olympic stadium. However, it was decided that, as the royal family was in the stadium, it would be good to have a final lap around the main track and then have the race finish. Although this happened for the 1908 Olympics, this length was still not standardized until 1921. By 1924, the Boston Marathon, which by now had emerged as the world's premier marathon running event outside of the Olympics, standardized the distance to conform with the 1908 Olympic length. This now led the way for all international marathon events by the 1920s to be the same length.<ref>For a history of the marathon's modern length, see: Davis, David. 2012. <i>Showdown at Shepherd’s Bush: The 1908 Olympic Marathon and the Three Runners Who Launched a Sporting Craze</i>. New York: Thomas Dunne Books.</ref> Surprisingly, given progress in other events after World War II, women were not allowed to run marathon events in many places and in particular the Olympics. In the 1896 Olympics, Stamatis Rovithi became the first woman to run the marathon; however, she did this by not running the official course but rather in a track parallel to the course. She finished about 1.5 hours behind the winner of the race but did pass many men during her running. Violet Piercy was the first woman to be officially timed in a marathon race in 1926, with a time of 3:40:22. Because so few women were allowed to run, this record stood for more than 37 years. In the 1966 Boston Marathon, Roberta Gibb sneaked into the race and ran an unofficial time of 3:21:25, becoming the first woman known to complete the course. In another well-known incident, in 1967, an entrant named K.V. Switzer ran the race. However, the person was really Kathrine Switzer. Race officials only found out it was a woman after the race had begun. <dh-ad/> In a somewhat comical event, the officials tried to pull her out of the race during the running once they found out the runner was a woman, but her teammates fended their attempts and she was able to complete the event with a time of over 4 hours. In the 1970s, women's marathons, particularly in Germany, began to be organized. The main issue was that doctors and health professionals strongly believe women's bodies could not cope with the long-distance race. However, it was also the Olympic rules that prevented the women's marathon from becoming official, as it required 25 countries to hold the event for it to be an official event.
<div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles==Conclusion==Although perhaps *[[Did Theodore Roosevelt really save Football?]]*[[How did hunting become a myth, the long-distance run from the plains symbol of Marathon to Athens helped inspire the running of aristocracy/royalty]]*[[How did the modern marathon in 1896. The first modern Olympics soon inspired tennis emerge?]]*[[Who integrated the Boston Marathon and ever since NBA?]]*[[How did the sport has been growing in popularity. Today, thousands game of towns and cities worldwide hold marathon events. Marathon running has become a highly competitive event where millions of dollars of prize money are at stake. The sport continues to be physically demanding, and in many major marathon events there are often reports of death or injury, but the association of fundraising, physical and mental challenge, and perhaps addictive nature of running for some has helped it to continue as a popular sport for many.golf emerge?]]</div>
====References====
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