Why is the Olympic marathon 26 miles and 385 yards?

Why is the Olympic marathon 26 miles and 385 yards?

The marathon is hailed as the ultimate test of endurance. But why is it exactly 26 miles and 385 yards long? The answer has less to do with ancient Greece, and more to do with the British Royal Family. The British Royal family requested that it start at Windsor Castle and end at the Olympic Stadium’s royal box.

Why is the marathon 26 miles long?

Supposedly Queen Alexandra requested that the race start on the lawn of Windsor Castle, which would allow the youngest royals to watch from their nursery. The race would then finish in front of the royal box at the Olympic stadium and come out to a total distance of 26.2 miles.

What is 26 miles and 385 yards long?

the Marathon
The marathon is hailed as the ultimate test of endurance.

Why is a marathon that length?

In the 1908 London Olympics, the marathon started at Windsor Castle and finished in the White City stadium, measuring 26 miles. Until that point, the marathon distance was roughly 24 miles, inspired by the ancient route run by Pheidippides.

What marathon is about 26 miles long?

The marathon may have ancient roots, but the foot race’s official length of 26.2 miles wasn’t established until the 20th century. The first organized marathon was held in Athens at the 1896 Olympics, the start of the Games’ modern era.

Did Zola Budd run barefoot?

She did run barefoot—but so did everyone else where she grew up. Through all the fragile triumphs and shifting tribulations of Zola Budd’s life—some well known, some known not at all—only one thing remained immutable: running. Once she ran to connect with someone she loved. Then she ran to be alone.

What’s a respectable marathon time?

So, for a man, anything under 4 hours could be considered a good marathon time, putting you in the top 43% of runners. For women, a time under 4 hours and 30 minutes would similarly be very good.

What is a good marathon time?

Across the board, most people finish a marathon in 4 to 5 hours, with an average mile time of 9 to 11.5 minutes. A finishing time that’s under 4 hours is a real accomplishment for everyone other than elite runners, who can finish in around 2 hours.

Why is the marathon 26 miles and 385 yards?

The choice of distance was somewhat arbitrary. The first modern Olympics in 1896 had a marathon distance of 40 km. The starting point for the 1908 Olympic marathon in London was modified so that the Royal Family could have a good view and the length happened to be 42.195 km (26 miles 385 yards).

Why is the London Marathon 26 miles long?

But why is it exactly 26 miles and 385 yards long? The answer has less to do with ancient Greece, and more to do with the British Royal Family. When London held the games in 1908, there was still no official marathon length. The British Royal family requested that it start at Windsor Castle and end at the Olympic Stadium’s royal box.

What was the length of the first marathon?

The first modern Olympics in 1896 had a marathon distance of 40 km. The starting point for the 1908 Olympic marathon in London was modified so that the Royal Family could have a good view and the length happened to be 42.195 km (26 miles 385 yards).

When was 42.195 km adopted as the marathon distance?

A fixed distance of 42.195 km was adopted in 1921 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) as the official marathon distance. Source: marathon article wikipedia Runningat Amazon.co.uk