Just watched the documentary on the battle of Marathon the other night and fascinating viewing. The Athenians were outnumbered by the Persian horde 2.1 but they seized the day using terrain to their advantage. A little like leonardis the Spartan commander did forty years later at those hot gates.
A little info on the Marathon and amazing runS of pheidippides.
Battle of marathon pheidippides run clip to sparta
The length of a marathon has to do with Ancient Greek mythology, the Olympics and the British royal family.
www.history.com
After the battlke of Marathon he ran to athens to tell them of their victory but also to warn that the Persians may be sailing to athens Right Now!! for a sea assualt. After running about 25 miles to the Acropolis he burst into the chambers and gallantly hailed his countrymen with
“Nike! Nike! Nenikekiam” (“Victory! Victory! Rejoice, we conquer!”). And then he promptly collapsed from exhaustion and died.
Turns out, however, the story is bigger than that. Much bigger.
Ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes visits his ancestral homeland for the truth about the original “marathoner.” Think you can handle it?
www.runnersworld.com