2012 Olympic Marathon Course laps, finishing at the start point. It follows the Victoria Embankment towards the City of London where it takes a winding route and continues eastwards to Tower Hill. At this point there is a U-turn and the route heads westwards, again using the Embankment as far as the Palace of Westminster and thence back to The Mall. The last three laps are identical and are exactly 8 miles (12.875 km) each. The first lap, which only incorporates the south-western section of the route, is 2 miles and 385 yards (3.571 km) long. A summary of the course and associated distance
Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon finished. These were the standing world and Olympic records (in hours) prior to the 1912 Summer Olympics. The distance was nearly two kilometres shorter; nevertheless, Ken McArthur's winning time is registered as an Olympic record. Athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon ] The men's marathon was a track and field athletics event held as part of the athletics at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fifth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. The distance used was 40.2 kilometres, nearly 2 full kilometres