Marathon (sport) - Revision history

Dutch Eagle: Greek records added

2018-10-27T17:41:06Z

Greek records added

Irlandos: /* Athletes */

2009-09-25T15:32:47Z

Athletes

Irlandos: /* Athletes */

2009-09-25T15:29:21Z

Athletes

Irlandos: /* See also */

2009-08-07T17:24:27Z

Irlandos: /* The marathon in Greece */

2008-08-18T11:03:33Z

The marathon in Greece

Irlandos: /* World records and world's best */

2008-08-18T11:02:55Z

World records and world's best

Irlandos at 10:54, August 18, 2008

2008-08-18T10:54:54Z

Irlandos: /* See also */

2008-08-18T10:52:27Z

Irlandos: /* Distance */

2008-08-18T10:38:58Z

Distance

Irlandos: New page: The '''marathon''' is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) that is usually run as a road race. The event is named after the fab...

2008-08-18T10:38:21Z

New page: The '''marathon''' is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) that is usually run as a road race. The event is named after the fab...

New page

The '''marathon''' is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) that is usually run as a road race. The event is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier [[Pheidippides]], a messenger from the [[Battle of Marathon]] to [[Athens]]. The historical accuracy of this legend is in doubt,<ref name=Prologue/> contradicted by accounts given by [[Herodotus]], in particular.

The marathon was one of the original [[Olympic Games|modern Olympic]] events in [[1896]], though the distance did not become standardized until [[1921]]. More than 800 marathons are contested throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes. The larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.

== History ==
The name ''marathon'' comes from the legend of Pheidippides, a [[Greeks|Greek]] messenger. The legend states that he was sent from the town of [[Marathon]] to [[Athens]] to announce that the Persians had been defeated in the [[Battle of Marathon]].<ref name=galloway>[http://www.jeffgalloway.com/retreats/athens.html Retreats - Athens]</ref> It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the Senate, exclaiming "Νενικήκαμεν" (Nenikékamen, 'We have won') before collapsing and dying.<ref>[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/faq10.html Ancient Olympics FAQ 10]</ref> The account of the run from Marathon to Athens first appears in [[Plutarch]]'s ''On the Glory of Athens'' in the 1st century AD who quotes from [[Heraclides Ponticus]]'s lost work, giving the runner's name as either Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles.<ref>Moralia 347C</ref> [[Lucian of Samosata]] (2nd century AD) also gives the story but names the runner Philippides (not Pheidippides).<ref>A slip of the tongue in Salutation, Chapter 3</ref>

There is debate about the historical accuracy of this legend.<ref name=Prologue>[http://www.marathonguide.com/history/olympicmarathons/prologue.cfm Prologue: The Legend]</ref><ref>''Persian Fire'' by Tom Holland</ref> The Greek historian [[Herodotus]], the main source for the [[Greco-Persian Wars]], mentions Pheidippides as the messenger who ran from [[Athens]] to [[Sparta]] asking for help, and then ran back, a distance of over 240 kilometres<ref>[http://www.spartathlon.gr/TheRace.html SPARTATHLON ::: International Spartathlon Association]</ref> each way.<ref>[http://www.coolrunning.co.nz/articles/2002a007.html#appendix The Great Marathon Myth]</ref> In some Herodotus manuscripts the name of the runner between Athens and Sparta is given as Philippides. Herodotus makes no mention of a messenger sent from Marathon to Athens, and relates that the main part of the Athenian army, having already fought and won the grueling battle, and fearing a naval raid by the Persian fleet against an undefended Athens, marched quickly back from the battle to Athens, arriving the same day.

==Modern Olympics marathon==

When the idea of a modern [[Olympic Games|Olympics]] became a reality at the end of the 19th century, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the ancient glory of Greece. The idea of organizing a marathon race came from Michel Bréal, who wanted the event to feature in the [[1896 Summer Olympics|first modern Olympic Games]] in [[1896]] in [[Athens]]. This idea was heavily supported by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, as well as the Greeks. The Greeks staged a selection race for the Olympic marathon, and this first marathon was won by [[Charilaos Vasilakos]] in 3 hours and 18 minutes (with the future winner of the introductory Olympic Games marathon coming in fifth). The winner of the first Olympic Marathon in [[1896]] (a male-only race) was [[Spiridon Loues|Spiridon "Spiros" Loues]], a Greek water-carrier. He won at the Olympics in 2 hours 58 minutes and 50 seconds, despite stopping on the way for a glass of wine from his uncle waiting near the village of [[Chalandri]].

The women's marathon was introduced at the [[1984]] Summer Olympics (Los Angeles, USA) and was won by Joan Benoit of the United States with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 52 seconds.<ref>[http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/3/3_1/olympic-champion-joan-ben.shtml Cool Running :: Olympic Champion Joan Benoit Samuelson To Be Guest of Honor at Manchester Marathon - Registration Closed]</ref>

Since the modern games were founded, it has become a tradition for the men's Olympic marathon to be the last event of the athletics calendar with a finish inside the Olympic stadium, often within hours of, or even incorporated into, the closing ceremonies. The marathon of the [[2004 Summer Olympics]] revived the traditional route from [[Marathon]] to [[Athens]] ending at [[Panathinaiko Stadium]], the venue for the [[1896 Summer Olympics]].

== Distance ==
{| align="right" class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:15px;"
! Year
! Distance<br>(kilometres)
! Distance<br>(miles)
|-
| 1896 and 1904 || 40 || 24.85
|-
| 1900 || 40.26 || 25.02
|-
| 1906 || 41.86 || 26.01
|-
| 1908 and 1924 onward || 42.195 || 26.22
|-
| 1912 || 40.2 || 24.98
|-
| 1920 || 42.75 || 26.56
|}

The length of a marathon was not fixed at first, since the only important factor was that all athletes competed on the same course. The marathon races in the first few Olympic Games were not of a set length, but were approximately 40 km,<ref name='Bryant'> J.Bryant, 100 Years and Still Running, ''Marathon News'' (2007)</ref> roughly the distance from Marathon to Athens by the longer, flatter route. The exact length of the Olympic marathon varied depending on the route established for each venue.

The standard distance for the marathon race was determined by the [[International Amateur Athletic Federation]] (IAAF) in 1921 (Rule 240 of their Competition Rules),[http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/imported/42192.pdf] at a distance of 26 miles 385 yards, or 42.195 km. This seemingly arbitrary distance was that adopted for the marathon at the [[1908 Summer Olympics]] in London.
==World records and world's best==
World records were not officially recognized by the IAAF until [[January 1]], [[2004]]; previously, the best times for the marathon were referred to as the 'world best'. Courses must conform to IAAF standards for a record to be recognized. However, marathon routes still vary greatly in elevation, course, and surface, making exact comparisons impossible. Typically, the fastest times are set over relatively flat courses near sea level, during good weather conditions and with the assistance of pacesetters.

The world record time for men over the distance is 2 hours 4 minutes and 26 seconds, set in the Berlin Marathon by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia on [[September 30]], [[2007]], an improvement of 21 minutes and 13 seconds since 1947. The men's world record represents an average pace of under 2:57 per kilometer (4:45 per mile).<ref>[http://www.alltime-athletics.com/mmaraok.htm All-time men's best marathon times under 2h 10'30"]</ref> The world record for women was set by Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain in the London Marathon on [[April 13]], [[2003]], in 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds. This time was set using male pacesetters; the fastest time by a woman without using a male pacesetter ("woman-only") was also set by Paula Radcliffe, again during the London Marathon, with a time of 2 hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds, on [[April 17]], [[2005]].<ref>[http://www.alltime-athletics.com/wmaraok.htm All-time women's best marathon times under 2h 30'00"]</ref>

==See also==
*[[Spiros Loues]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://www.iaaf.org/ IAAF International Association of Athletic Federations]
*[http://www.mastersathletics.net World Masters Marathon Rankings]
*[http://www.londonmarathonroute.co.uk/ London Marathon interactive guide]
*[http://www.corredorespopulares.es/index_english.html www.corredorespopulares.es/index_english]

{{Credit wikipedia}}

[[Category:Events in athletics]]

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 The world record time for men over the distance is 2 hours 4 minutes and 26 seconds, set in the Berlin Marathon by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia on [[September 30]], [[2007]], an improvement of 21 minutes and 13 seconds since 1947. The men's world record represents an average pace of under 2:57 per kilometer (4:45 per mile).<ref>[http://www.alltime-athletics.com/mmaraok.htm All-time men's best marathon times under 2h 10'30"]</ref> The world record for women was set by Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain in the London Marathon on [[April 13]], [[2003]], in 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds. This time was set using male pacesetters; the fastest time by a woman without using a male pacesetter ("woman-only") was also set by Paula Radcliffe, again during the London Marathon, with a time of 2 hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds, on [[April 17]], [[2005]].<ref>[http://www.alltime-athletics.com/wmaraok.htm All-time women's best marathon times under 2h 30'00"]</ref>
 ==The marathon in Greece==
 Greece won gold in the first Olympiad of [[1896]] thanks to [[Spiros Loues]]. The silver medalist - [[Charilaos Vasilakos]] - was also Greek as were most of the top-10 finishers.
-==Athletes==
+==Greek hammer throw==
 *[[Spiros Loues]]
 *[[Charilaos Vasilakos]]
@@ Line 55: / Line 59: @@
 *[[Spyros Andriopoulos]]
 *[[Christos Vartzakis]]
 ==References==

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 *[[Charilaos Vasilakos]]
 *[[Stelios Kyriakidis]]
 *[[Spyros Andriopoulos]]
 *[[Christos Vartzakis]]

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 *[[Charilaos Vasilakos]]
 *[[Stelios Kyriakidis]]
 *[[Christos Vartzakis]]

@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 Greece won gold in the first Olympiad of [[1896]] thanks to [[Spiros Loues]]. The silver medalist - [[Charilaos Vasilakos]] - was also Greek as were most of the top-10 finishers.
-==See also==
+==Athletes==
 *[[Spiros Loues]]
 *[[Stelios Kyriakidis]]
 ==References==

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 The world record time for men over the distance is 2 hours 4 minutes and 26 seconds, set in the Berlin Marathon by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia on [[September 30]], [[2007]], an improvement of 21 minutes and 13 seconds since 1947. The men's world record represents an average pace of under 2:57 per kilometer (4:45 per mile).<ref>[http://www.alltime-athletics.com/mmaraok.htm All-time men's best marathon times under 2h 10'30"]</ref> The world record for women was set by Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain in the London Marathon on [[April 13]], [[2003]], in 2 hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds. This time was set using male pacesetters; the fastest time by a woman without using a male pacesetter ("woman-only") was also set by Paula Radcliffe, again during the London Marathon, with a time of 2 hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds, on [[April 17]], [[2005]].<ref>[http://www.alltime-athletics.com/wmaraok.htm All-time women's best marathon times under 2h 30'00"]</ref>
 ==The marathon in Greece==
-Greece won gold in the first Olympiad of [[1896]] thanks to [[Spiros Loues]]. The silver medalist was also Greek as were most of the top-10 finishers.
+Greece won gold in the first Olympiad of [[1896]] thanks to [[Spiros Loues]]. The silver medalist - [[Charilaos Vasilakos]] - was also Greek as were most of the top-10 finishers.
 ==See also==

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:54, August 18, 2008
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	The '''marathon''' is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) that is usually run as a road race. The event is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier [[Pheidippides]], a messenger from the [[Battle of Marathon]] to [[Athens]]. The historical accuracy of this legend is in doubt,<ref name=Prologue/> contradicted by accounts given by [[Herodotus]], in particular.	+	The '''marathon''' is a long-distance [[athletics]] running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometers (26 miles 385 yards) that is usually run as a road race. The event is named after the fabled run of the Greek soldier [[Pheidippides]], a messenger from the [[Battle of Marathon]] to [[Athens]]. The historical accuracy of this legend is in doubt,<ref name=Prologue/> contradicted by accounts given by [[Herodotus]], in particular.

	The marathon was one of the original [[Olympic Games\|modern Olympic]] events in [[1896]], though the distance did not become standardized until [[1921]]. More than 800 marathons are contested throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes. The larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.		The marathon was one of the original [[Olympic Games\|modern Olympic]] events in [[1896]], though the distance did not become standardized until [[1921]]. More than 800 marathons are contested throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes. The larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.

@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 The length of a marathon was not fixed at first, since the only important factor was that all athletes competed on the same course. The marathon races in the first few Olympic Games were not of a set length, but were approximately 40 km,<ref name='Bryant'>  J.Bryant, 100 Years and Still Running, ''Marathon News'' (2007)</ref> roughly the distance from Marathon to Athens by the longer, flatter route. The exact length of the Olympic marathon varied depending on the route established for each venue.
-The standard distance for the marathon race was determined by the [[International Amateur Athletic Federation]] (IAAF) in 1921 (Rule 240 of their Competition Rules),[http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/imported/42192.pdf] at a distance of 26 miles 385 yards, or 42.195 km. This seemingly arbitrary distance was that adopted for the marathon at the [[1908 Summer Olympics]] in London.
+The standard distance for the marathon race was determined by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) in 1921 (Rule 240 of their Competition Rules),[http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/imported/42192.pdf] at a distance of 26 miles 385 yards, or 42.195 km. This seemingly arbitrary distance was that adopted for the marathon at the [[1908]] Summer Olympics in London.
 ==World records and world's best==
 World records were not officially recognized by the IAAF until [[January 1]], [[2004]]; previously, the best times for the marathon were referred to as the 'world best'. Courses must conform to IAAF standards for a record to be recognized. However, marathon routes still vary greatly in elevation, course, and surface, making exact comparisons impossible. Typically, the fastest times are set over relatively flat courses near sea level, during good weather conditions and with the assistance of pacesetters.