I Ran My First Marathon (why is it 26.2 miles?)

We traveled to Athens and learned about the history of the marathon, from the ancient battle in Marathon to the 26.2-mile distance established at the 1908 London Olympics. We picked up our race materials, traveled by bus to Marathon, and prepared to run the historic course back to Athens. We pushed through the hills and pain, encouraged by fellow runners and spectators, and finished our first marathon.