Marathon History

The Marathon started in Greece in honor of a war hero Philippides (Phidippides) who ran himself to death during the Persian/ Greek War. He ran 140 miles in 36 hours to ask the Spartans to aid the Athenians in crushing the Persian invaders. After being turned down, he ran back to Marathon, Greece and informed them of the desolate news. Outnumbered 4 to 1, the Athenians fought the Persians in a surprise attack and forced them to sea. This pushed the Persians to attack the city of Athens in hope that the Greek army can not assemble in time. Philippides was again tasked to run a distance of 26 miles to warn the Athenians of the attack and the news of victory over Persia in Marathon. After reaching Athens in approximately 3 hours, Philippides collapsed and died of exhaustion. Athenians and Spartans defended Greece from the Persian invaders and won the war. 

The first marathon was held during the olympic games and covered a distance of 40 kilometers. A Greek postal worker completed the course in 2 hours 58 mins and 50 secs and won. The official marathon distance was later changed to 26.2 miles during the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Current world records for the Marathon include Haile Gebrselassie, an Ethiopian, during the 2008 Berlin Marathon and finished 2 hours 3 minutes and 59 secs while British Paula Radcliffe holds the female record at 2 hours 15 mins 25 secs during the 2003 London Marathon. 

Every runner dreams of joining a full marathon. We often start running distances from 5k to 10k then the half-marathon and later the full Marathon. Finishing a marathon needs persistence, patience, determination and courage. No words can describe the feeling after completing a 42 kilometer race. Elated and proud emanates from every marathon finisher.

Take the Challenge. See you on January 10, 2010 for the Cebu City INTERNATIONAL Marathon.