Jeff Galloway is an American Olympian and
creator of the Galloway RUN-WALK-RUN™ method.
The first race, from the battle site into the 1896 Olympic
stadium, was determined to be 40 kilometers, or 25 miles. In 1908, the Olympics
were held in London and the route was charted to start 40K outside
Olympic Stadium, as in Athens. When the queen asked to have the course extended
to start at Windsor Palace, the organizers agreed. The 26.2 mile distance of
the new course became Olympic standard.
So when you pass the 25-mile mark and wish the race was
finished, you can say “God save the Queen” (or something similar). But the
distance is quite legitimate. Phidippides would not have stopped at the site of
the 1896 stadium, but would have continued into the ancient town of Athens. The
total distance would be about the currently certified distance.
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