More Than Just a Race: Beyond the 26.2 Miles
By: Cecilia Defino
The Marathon, a 26.2 mile race, has been around for over 120 years. Since 1896, the Marathon was adopted to become a “central part” of the modern Olympics and takes place in various cities around the world, according to the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.
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Many people may have wondered why the Marathon is an exact 26.2 miles. According to an article from History, 25 miles first being the length of a marathon was inspired by the legend of an ancient Greek messenger who raced from the site of Marathon to Athens. It said that after his announcement he collapsed and died and this was to commemorate his run. According to History, the marathon was extended at the 1908 Olympic Games in London when Queen Alexandra requested that the race start at Windsor Castle and finish in front of the royal box at the Olympic stadium – therefore making a distance of 26.2 miles.
Marathons are not only a way to grow physically, but to grow your mind mentally as well due to disciplined training. Wendy Lubin, a former runner of six years, said when preparing for her races, she made sure to not compare herself to others. She has run 5Ks,10Ks, half-marathons and marathons in the past and said to just get over the mental hump of other people being better than you.
“I started signing up for 5Ks to try and beat my record, and then it just snowballed. It was like a drug; running is like a drug and it snowballed into 26.2 one day,” said Lubin about when she first started running.
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To many, running brings peace and balance. A marathon is a time when people can come together of all different ages and experience levels and take on the 26.2 mile course.
According to the Olympics website, more than 800 marathons are organized annually, but only six have the title of World Marathon Major: Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Berlin Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and New York City Marathon. It said that many runners would like to complete on of these major marathons at some time in their life while others want to complete all six. Completing all six earns you a “Six Star Medal.”
In a Ted Talk about how marathons can heal communities, May El-Khalil - the Founder and President of the Beirut Marathon Association - said it is a chance to “celebrate the human spirit.” According to the TED Talk, marathons have helped people come together as a community after experiencing a tragic event. It gives people a sense of unity, such as when a group of running clubs created OneRun after the Boston Marathon. According to TED, 3,000 runners were able to finish the last mile.