Battle of Marathon of events, with the competitors running from Marathon to Athens. So popular was this event that it quickly caught on, becoming a fixture at the Olympic games, with major cities staging their own annual events. The distance eventually became fixed at 26 miles 385 yards, or 42.195 km, though for the first years it was variable, being around —the approximate distance from Marathon to Athens. Battle of Marathon The Battle of Marathon (Greek: , "Machē tou Marathōnos") took place in 490 BC, during the first Persian invasion of Greece. It was fought between the citizens of Athens, aided by Plataea,
Des Moines Marathon neighborhoods. "The IMT Des Moines Marathon is all about community; the community of volunteers, race committee, and the great city of Des Moines that embraces this awesome event. The IMT Des Moines Marathon is a perfect size event with 9,000 runners. Large enough that you have plenty of runners to run with but small enough that you feel like you're part of the IMT Des Moines Marathon family," said Bart Yasso, Runner's World Chief Running Officer. The first running of the marathon was held in 2002. More than 9,000 athletes participated in the 2013 races. Des Moines Marathon The IMT