sourced by JMJF
In our modern day world of distance races, triathlons, and Iron Man races, a term has emerged for distance races of most kinds: the MARATHON. Any student of history will probably guess that the word has something to do with a famous place in ancient Greece. Actually, the word comes from a significant event in Greek history when a small army of about 10,000 Greeks beat a much larger force of 100,000 Persians in the Battle of Marathon. Word of the stirring victory was relayed to the city of Athens by a courageous runner who sprinted 26 miles to spread the good news.
Sometime later, in the latter part of the 19th Century, when the Olympic Games were revived, a long distance race was planned based on the original route and distance covered by that first marathon runner. Not surprisingly, a Greek came out on top in the event.
Because of the rather flexible application of the word, it is now used to describe any event requiring great patience of endurance, e.g., a marathon chess tournament or a dance marathon lasting all night.
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