Marathon Marathon The marathon is a long-distance race, completed by running, walking, or a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair divisions. The marathon has an official distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.219 miles; 26 miles 385 yards), 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, who reported the victory. The marathon was one of the original modern Olympic events in 1896, though the distance did not become standardized until 1921. More than 800 marathons are held throughout the world each
Hansons-Brooks Distance Project Hansons-Brooks Distance Project The Hansons-Brooks Distance project is an Olympic development program for post-collegiate distance runners. It has produced a number of notable professional runners. It is located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The project's first Olympian was Brian Sell at the 2008 Beijing Olympiad. The most recent success is that of Desiree Davila who finished second in the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, TX, January 14, 2012. In August 2016, Davila placed 7th in the Olympic Marathon in Rio de Janeiro. On April 16, 2018, Desiree Linden was the first American woman in 33 years to win the Boston