‘Niki’ At The Battlefield, Christened The Spectator Sport ‘Marathon’

Victory At The Battlefield

The marathon is a long-distance running sport event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometers, which is usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battlefield of Marathon, Greece to Athens in August or September, 490 B.C. The cause for the Legend’s run was to deliver the momentous message “Victory” against the Persians. It is said that he ran the entire distance without stopping and burst into the assembly, exclaiming “Νενικήκαμεν” (Nenikékamen, ‘We have won.’) before collapsing and dying.

Pix Courtesy : Flickr

On the Glory of Athens in the 1st century AD which quotes from Heraclides Ponticus’s lost work, giving the runner’s name as either Thersipus of Erchius or Eucles. Lucian of Samosata (2nd century AD) also gives the story but names the runner Philippides (not Pheidippides). The historical accuracy of this legend is contradicted; excuse the point of divergences.

‘Niki’ In Greek Means ‘Victory’.

Origin Of The Road Race

As a mark of respect to the legend of Pheidippides, when a 24.85-mile run was organised from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium, Athens in the first modern Olympics held in 1896. The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896. At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26 miles, the distance Windsor Castle to White City Stadium. Though the distance did not become standardized until 1921, the total distance was increased by an additional 385 yards so the marathon could finish in front of the royal family’s viewing box. The 26 miles and 385 yards marathon race became the official distance.

Pix Courtesy : Flickr

In Honor Of The Legendary Soldier Pheidippides, Marathon Race Being Organised As A Tribute

More than 500 marathons are contested throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes. Larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.