With just over three weeks until the 9th annual Baltimore Running Festival it’s about time to ramp up the old Phollowing Pheidippides blog again! As I’ve done in years past, we’ll start this year’s posting with a review of where the idea of running a marathon originated, which will also bring some clarity to the name of this blog (see below).
By the way…I’ll be running the half marathon this year. It is easier to train for but still keeps me in shape and it’s a fun and challenging distance to run.
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The concept of running a marathon seems to come from an infamous trek made by a greek soldier named Pheidippides way back in 490 B.C. Pheidippides was so anxious to get the news of a battlefield victory back to headquarters, he ran from Marathon to Athens (about 24.85 miles). Unfortunately, after delivering the message “Niki” (victory), he keeled over…but we won’t dwell on that part of the story! The modern day distance for the marathon was established at the 1908 Olympics in London, stretching the run to 26 miles to cover the distance from Windsor Castle to White City Stadium, and tacking on an additional 385 yards so the race could finish in front of the royal family’s viewing box. So, as you pass mile 24 and push your tired legs down the final stretch to the finish line on October 10th, feel free to blame your pain on the Queen!
Tom Tasselmyer
