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
Quarter marathon 2011, but the Congleton Harriers decided to save the race (with the support of the Congleton Lions, the Congleton Boalloy running club, the Cheshire Marshals, the Sandbach Scouts, the Army Cadets, the Air Training Corps and other local organisations). The Harriers did not include the quarter marathon in 2011 but decided to re-introduce it in 2012. There is also a yearly Quarter Marathon event held in Bredon, Worcestershire since September 2012 organised by local race organisers. Quarter marathon Quarter marathon (QM) refers to either an exact race of a quarter of a marathon, or running for 10–15 kilometers (approx. 6.5–9