In 490 BC, a Persian army landed on the plain of Marathon with the intention of capturing Athens, twenty-five miles away. The Athenians prepared for an historic battle: a victory for the powerful Persian Empire could effectively end Greek civilization and culture. A messenger named Philippides was sent to Sparta to enlist the Spartans. He covered the 150 miles in two days, a remarkable accomplishment.

Back at Marathon, however, it was decided not to wait for the Spartans. The Athenian army attacked the vastly larger Persian forces while they were still preparing for battle. Against great odds, the Greeks prevailed. 600 years later, writers claimed that a runner was dispatched to Athens to carry the news of the great victory. According to legend, he reached Athens and said, ?Rejoice, we conquer.? and fell to the ground dead.

Over the following centuries, the legend of Pheidippides and the one of a runner who died bringing news of victory to the Athenians merged. Many later writers also gave the name Pheidippides to the ill-fated runner. During the mid-1900s archaeologists began uncovering the ruins of ancient Greece and interest in the ancient city grew. Robert Browning wrote in his Dramatic Idylls of Pheidippides' dash to Athens, his announcement of victory and his death. The modern legend took hold.

A Greek businessman conceived the idea of reviving the Olympic Games when the ruins of the ancient stadium at Olympia were uncovered. Following four unsuccessful Olympic competitions from 1859 to 1889, a French baron, Pierre de Coubertin, pursued re-establishing the Olympic Games on an international scale. The first modern Olympic Games was planned to be held in Athens in 1896.

Another Frenchman, Michel Bréal, proposed a long-distance footrace to commemorate the famous run from Marathon to Athens. The new race was called ?the marathon?, to be included as the final event on the Olympic agenda. The Greeks embraced the idea: a race commemorating the feat of an ancient Greek runner. It was to be the highlight of the Games. Eager to excel, the Greeks held a trial over the proposed marathon course. Three men died during training. Twelve runners entered the trial race. Charilaos Vasilakos won, completing the course in 3:18. A second Greek trial was held a few days before the Games and was won by Lavrentis in 3:11:27. Although entries were officially closed, additional names were added to the team, including Spiridon Louis, who finished fifth in the trial.

Among the competitors were: Edwin Flack, an Australian, who had won gold medals in the 800 and 1,500 metre races; Arthur Blake of the USA, second in the 1,500 metres; Albin Lermusiaux of France, third in the 1,500 metres; and Gyula Kellner of Hungary. The rest were Greeks. Only Kellner and Greek runners had ever run such a distance.

At 2:00pm on Friday April 10 1896, seventeen runners started the first Olympic Marathon from the Marathon bridge. A crowd of over 100,000 lined the distance of 40 kilometres and filled the Olympic stadium. Doctors and officials on bicycles and in horse-drawn wagons escorted the runners. Lermusiaux took the early lead at a very fast pace. He reached the village of Pikermi, more than halfway, in only 55 minutes, leading by nearly two miles. There were no Greeks in the first four places. After Pikermi, the road climbed. Blake dropped out less than a mile after the village. Some time later, when Louis reached Pikermi, he enjoyed a glass of wine and expressed his confidence of winning the race!

Kellner slowed down and was overtaken by Vasilakos, winner of the first Greek trial. Lermusiaux began to drop his pace but still led at Karavati, where the villagers crowned him with a victor's floral wreath. Shortly past the village, Lermusiaux fell and was passed by Flack. Though he rose to his feet, Lermusiaux collapsed near the 20-mile mark and was carried away. Flack led with six miles to go. He sent a cyclist to the stadium to announce his impending victory. The crowd subdued, fell into silence. However, he was exhausted, and less than a mile later, Louis passed him. For two and a half miles they ran in sight of each other. Finally Louis speeded up and Flack relinquished and was carried from the course. Meanwhile, Greek runners had moved into second and third place. Again, a messenger was dispatched. The stadium erupted. A Greek would win!

As Louis entered the stadium, he was joined by Crown Prince Nicholas and Prince George, who ran with him to the finish line and then carried him to the royal box. Louis was an instant national hero. He had won in 2:58:50. Seven minutes later, Vasilakos crossed the line, followed by Belokas, and then the Hungarian, Kellner. The crowd was ecstatic - the Greeks had won the top three spots.

Kellner later complained that Belokas had covered part of the course in a carriage and the Hungarian was awarded third place.

The success of the first marathon helped propel the Olympic Games into the twentieth Century. The Boston Marathon was established the following year. Run every April since 1897, the Boston Marathon is considered by some runners as the most prestigious of all marathons.