[ Did you Know? ] - The Marathon

The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26 miles and 385 yards), that is usually run as a road race. The event was instituted in commemoration of the fabled run of the Greek soldier Pheidippides, a messenger from the Battle of Marathon to Athens.
The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, though the distance did not become standardized until 1921. More than 500 marathons are held throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes. Smaller marathons, such as the Stanley Marathon, can have just dozens of participants, while larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon

10 Benefits Of Marathon Running


These 10 benefits of marathon running far outweigh the downsides such as back aches, legs cramps, sore feet and soaking wet clothes at the end of a long run. With marathons held throughout the year and found just about anywhere you look, there is no doubt that the sport will become even more popular. So without further ado, here are our top ten benefits of marathon running:

1. It makes it easy to stay fit
2. You can do it anywhere. 
3. You can control your blood pressure. 
4. You’ll have powerful lungs, and it keeps you from smoking. 
5. You can’t beat the rush afterwards. 
6. It will keep your diet in check.
7. You have a chance to help others.
8. You lessen your risk for a heart attack.
9. You can be a good role model. 
10. You’ll be around for your grandchildren.