The marathon's official length was dictated by a royal box

Sport & Games · Published 2 November 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Why is a marathon exactly 42.195 kilometers? The answer isn't found in ancient Greek history, but in the logistics of a 1908 British royal visit. While we celebrate it as a feat of human endurance, its specific distance was born from a desire for a convenient finish line.

During the 1896 Olympic Games' rebirth in Athens, this long-distance footrace made its initial modern appearance. This event honours a famous Greek warrior who allegedly traversed roughly 40 km (25 miles) between Marathon and Athens in 490 BCE to report an Athenian triumph against Persians before dying. The messenger's story was later merged with that of Pheidippides. He is said to have run from Athens to Sparta before the fighting began.

However, the modern standard of 42,195 meters (26 miles 385 yards) was not established until 1924. This specific measurement was a byproduct of the 1908 Olympics held in London. The British Olympic Committee decided to start the race at Windsor Castle and finish it directly in front of the royal box in the stadium, resulting in the current standardized distance. Spyridon Louis won this first modern race in 1896. The sport is typically conducted on roads rather than tracks.

The sport has seen significant milestones regarding inclusivity and performance. Women were added to the Olympic marathon program in 1984, while the Boston Marathon—held annually since 1897—became the first major race to officially allow women to compete in 1972. Eliud Kipchoge initially broke the two-hour barrier during an unofficial 2019 Vienna race, but Sabastian Sawe clocked a formal 1 hour 59 minutes 30 seconds at the 2026 London Marathon. Emil Zátopek set a record in 1952 without ever training for that specific length before. World records have dropped steadily throughout the 1900s.

Today, more than 800 marathons occur globally each year. While world records are tracked by World Athletics despite varying road difficulties, the sport remains dominated by recreational athletes who participate in events ranging from road races to trail routes. Participants can choose to run or use a walk strategy. Wheelchair divisions also exist for these events.

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