Why is a marathon 26.2 miles?
The marathon is 26.2 miles because of the 1908 London Olympics. The course ran from Windsor Castle to the stadium's royal box, measuring 26 miles 385 yards.
The first modern Olympic marathon in 1896 was about 40 kilometers, roughly the distance in the legend of the Greek messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens. For the next few Olympics, the distance varied.
For the 1908 Games in London, organizers planned a course starting at Windsor Castle. The finish was placed in front of the royal box in the new White City Stadium, so the total came to 26 miles and 385 yards, or 42.195 kilometers.
Making it official
The International Amateur Athletic Federation, now World Athletics, adopted 42.195 kilometers as the official marathon distance in 1921. Since then, every certified marathon around the world has used exactly this length.
Did You Know?
The 1908 Olympic marathon was dramatic: Italy's Dorando Pietri collapsed several times near the finish and was helped across the line, so he was disqualified, but he became a celebrity anyway.