Some Trivia About the Modern Marathon Race Traditions

Pheidippides carrying a letter on a French Stamp

The Ancient Greeks never ran a Marathon race, this traditon began with the modern Olympics. The first modern Olympic games were held in 1896 in Greece. The legend of Pheidippides was honored by a 24.85 mile (40,000 meters) run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens. At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium, with 385 yards added on so the race could finish in front of royal family's viewing box. This added two miles to the course, and is the origin of the Marathon tradition of shouting "God save the Queen!" (or other words relating to the Queen) as mile post 24 is passed.