By 1924, the distance was standardized for all future Olympic marathons at 42 kilometers (26 miles, 385 yards).

In fact, of the first seven Olympic Games, there were six different marathon distances between 40 and 42.75 kilometers. For the 1912 Olympics, the length was changed to 40.2 kilometers (24.98 miles) and changed again to 42.75 kilometers (26.56 miles) for the 1920 Olympics. Organizers added extra yards to the finish around a track, 385 to be exact, so the runners would finish in front of the king and queen’s royal box. The distance between the castle and the Olympic Stadium in London proved to be 26 miles. That year, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandria wanted the marathon race to begin at Windsor Castle outside the city so that the Royal family could view the start. The marathon distance was later changed as a result of the 1908 Olympic Games in London. Exhausted as he approached the leaders of the City of Athens, he staggered and gasped, “Rejoice! We Conquer!” and then collapsed. The 1896 Olympic marathon distance of 24.8 miles was based on the distance run, according to famous Greek legend, in which the Greek foot-soldier Pheidippides was sent from the plains of Marathon to Athens with the news of the astounding victory over a superior Persian army.

In 1924, the course was lengthened to 26 miles, 385 yards to conform to the Olympic standard, and the starting line was moved west from Ashland to Hopkinton. Marathon in 2:55:10, and, in the process, forever secured his name in sports history. McDermott of New York, emerged from a 15-member starting field and captured the first B.A.A. Holton, various routes were considered, before a measured distance of 24.5 miles from Metcalf’s Mill in Ashland to the Irvington Oval in Boston was eventually selected. With the assistance of Boston businessman Herbert H.

member and inaugural US Olympic Team Manager John Graham was inspired to organize and conduct a marathon in the Boston area.

HISTORY OF THE BOSTON MARATHON The First Boston MarathonĪfter experiencing the spirit and majesty of the Olympic Marathon, B.A.A.

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