An Illustrated History of Distance Running

The marathon was a part of the first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896. The event commemorated the story of Phidippides (or Philippides), an Athenian who, according to legend, ran approximately 26 miles from the plains of Marathon to Athens in 490 B.C. to inform the residents of an Athenian military victory over the Persian army, and to warn the city of an imminent Persian attack.

In 1896, Greece's Spyridon Louis thrilled his countrymen by winning the first Olympic marathon race.