I'm just so proud to know someone who qualified for the Boston marathon. Maybe, on the 3rd Monday of April, you'd like to review why you have to run an extra mile+ after Heartbreak Hill ... I thought this was interesting, and I'm sure I can seque back to rowing or space ... :... and with boston cmng up in less than a, gulp, month, my erging/rowing won't be increasing ...barbara
Why the marathon is called the marathon, and why it is 26.2 miles.
Phillippides was one of the men who battled the Persians at Marathon in Greece, in 490 BC. When the battle was won, he ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to report the victory. Upon arrival, he was so exhausted that he collapsed and died. When the modern Olympic Games were inaugurated in Greece in 1896, the legend of Phillippides was revived by a 24.85 mile run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens.
So why is a marathon 26.2 miles? The 1908 Olympics were held in London, but because the royal family wanted the marathon’s finish line to be in front of the royal viewing box, the course was lengthened to 26.2 miles! After years of heated discussion, 26.2 miles was established at the 1924 Olympics in Paris as the official marathon distance.
Chris (I may be a Londoner, but don't hold that against me!)
... and, yes Gina, there are a lot of view of these team pages ... now, that gives one pause! (BTW, what means 500m, 1k, paddler, etc.?)