Reading Time: 2 minutes The history of marathons dates back to Ancient Greece, where a messenger named Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of a military victory. The modern-day marathon was introduced at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, with a distance of 40 kilometers. The first marathon race was won by a Greek runner named Spyridon Louis, and the event soon became a standard in international sporting events. Today, most marathon races are set at a distance of 26.2 miles and continue to attract runners from all over the world, offering a challenging and rewarding experience.