Marathon

Marathon

What is a marathon? These runners are taking part in a marathon. A marathon is a race that's 42 kilometres long (26 miles). Marathons are held in many big cities.

How marathons began In 490BC the Ancient Greeks won a battle at a place called Marathon. They sent a runner from Marathon to the city of Athens with the news that they had won. He ran 42 kilometres. This is how the marathon got its name.

The first marathon race was held at the Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. It was won by a Greek postman called Spiridon Louis. In 1897, the American city of Boston held the first marathon that anybody could enter. The Boston marathon is still run today.

Starting the race Nowadays, thousands of runners race in marathons. They can't all cross the start line at the same time. The fastest runners start at the front and the other runners start further back.

On the way Marathon runners often pass famous buildings or cross famous bridges. They can't stop to look!