The very first marathon was held in 1896 at the Olympics in Athens. He ran the distance of 25 miles on foot to announce that the Persians had been defeated by the Athenians. The story goes that he ran from a battlefield close to the town of Marathon, Greece all the way to Athens in the year 490 B.C. The first marathon was run to commemorate the run of a solider by the name of Pheidippides. It was altered from its original length so that the marathon runners would finish in the view of the Royal family. In the 1908 Olympic games that were held in London, the distance was charted to cover the distance from the Windsor Castle to White City Stadium. The reason why the traditional marathon is 26.219 miles is deeply routed in history and tradition. Like the ironman, which is a highly challenging race that incorporates swimming, running, and cycling, they are a new spin on an old tradition for runners. If you have been doing marathons for a while, and are feeling a lack of accomplishment from them, the ultra marathon may set your goal for something more, higher, faster and longer. They are designed for the marathon runner who has already conquered the traditional marathon and are looking for a new and exciting challenge. An ultra marathon is an event that is longer than the regulatory length of 26.219 miles, or 42.195 kilometers. The Difference Between A Marathon and An Ultra Marathon Most of us would consider any marathon an ultra event, but there is a difference between a marathon and an ultra marathon.
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