20 In Focus Wednesday, October 27, 2010 Wednesday, October 27, 2010 In Focus 21 Facts and figures Keep on running: The Ancient race of endurance Athens Classic Marathon O The top five marathons in the world in 2009 were: New York (43,250 finishers), London (35,266), Berlin (34,994), Chicago (33,475) and When preparations were under way for were not over a set distance, instead any Paris (30,334). Marathons: This Sunday is the 2,500th anniversary of the OWorld record holders are Haile Gebrselassie the first modern Olympics in Athens in suitable route that approximated the (2:03:59 achieved in Berlin in 2008) and Paula first iconic race in Greece. But the history of this test of 1896, French historian Michel Bréal 40km (25-mile) mark was used. proposed an event that would provide a London’s 1908 Games changed all Radcliffe (2:15:25 in London in 2003). endurance has not been a smooth one BY JAMES ELLIS OIn 2005, the average finishing time in US link between the spirit of ancient Greece that, with a number of circumstances, marathons was 4:32:08 for men and 5:06:08 and modern times. A re-enactment of including Queen Alexandra wanting for women. nyone disappointed at Classic Marathon follows what is thought Pheidippides run from Marathon to to have the best view of the finish, OThe London Marathon has 20 ever-presents who receiving a Dear John letter to have been his route. Athens was chosen. conspiring to increase the distance to have run every race since its inception in 1981. from the organisers of the While the accuracy of Pheidippides’ According to James Coote, author of 26 miles, 385 yards (42.195km). OSir Steve Redgrave collected a world record Virgin London Marathon reported exploits has been questioned, A Picture History Of The Olympics, all The ‘race of the century’, as it became £1.8million in sponsorship when he ran London Aearlier this month should there’s no doubt the marathon is a race sorts of inducements were offered if the known, where Dorando Pietri collapsed in 2006. spare a thought for the distance that captures the public winner proved to be Greek, including numerous times towards the end before OThe world’s toughest race is said to the Great Greek soldier Pheidippides. imagination more than any other, from a lifetime of free shaves, 2,000lb of he was helped over the finish line and Wall Marathon in China (pictured), which features With the Athenian and Persian armies memories of Paula Radcliffe’s infamous chocolate, a large barrel of wine and later disqualified, saw the official 5,164 steps. raging in battle outside the town of call of nature in the 2005 London race, to even a marriage proposal. Coote writes: marathon distance set to that seen in the OAt Tromsø in Norway’s midnight sun marathon Marathon 2,500 years ago, the messenger the thousands of people who complete ‘George Averoff, a local rich merchant 1908 Games in 1921. For 50 years, the you can run in middle of the night in broad daylight. was sent on a 150mile (240km) round one of the 300 annual races approved by offered the hand of his daughter and a marathon remained a niche feat of trip to Sparta to ask for help, which he the Association of International dowry of a million drachmas – exactly endurance until well into the mid-1970s. ran barefoot in two days. No sooner had Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). the cost of the reconstruction of the Pan ‘America’s Bicentennial year in 1976 he returned than he was dispatched to the ‘It’s an ultimate test of endurance,’ says Athenian stadium [where the games was the catalyst for change,’ says Jones. Greek capital to announce an Athenian Hugh Jones, former English marathon were held].’ ‘The organisers of the New York victory. So he set off again and ran the champion and AIMS secretary. ‘It’s also Fortunately for Mr Averoff’s daughter, Marathon decided to scrap the previous 25 miles to Athens and shouted: an event that, because of the distance, the victor, a water carrier called Spyridon route, multiple circuits of Central Park, ‘Nenikékamen!’ (‘We won!’) before any number of people can take part and Louis, was already married, although he and devised one through the city’s five collapsing and dying from exhaustion. say they competed against the world’s did accept the offer of a field in boroughs. 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