2012 Olympic Marathon Course standard length for a marathon, and the 1908 marathon course was originally to have been 25 miles, passing through Uxbridge, Ruislip, Harrow-on-the-Hill before ending at the White City Stadium. It was extended to 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km) to avoid troublesome cobbles and tram lines, because of access restrictions at Windsor Castle and to improve visibility to the spectators, including Queen Alexandra, for the finishing stretch inside the stadium. This distance subsequently became the official length of the marathon. In 1948, London hosted the first Olympic Games to be held after World War II the "austerity games". The
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