Lauren HollandBy Lauren Holland

Updated November 2026

The runner traditionally credited with the first marathon is Pheidippides, an Athenian messenger who, according to ancient accounts, ran from the plain of Marathon to Athens around 490 BC to announce a Greek victory over the Persians. The story is far more legend than documented fact, but it is the origin the sport still points to when people ask who ran the first marathon.

Who Was Pheidippides?

Pheidippides (sometimes spelled Philippides) was a professional courier, or herald, in ancient Athens. Greek messengers were trained to cover long distances on foot quickly, and Pheidippides had a reputation for endurance. The most famous account comes from the Greek writer Plutarch, who wrote centuries after the battle and described the run as being made in haste to bring news of victory. Other ancient sources describe Pheidippides running to Sparta before the battle to request help, a journey of roughly 240 kilometers, which suggests the Athenians valued him for exactly this kind of ground-covering work.

Shopping for one? See our guide: 7 Best Gifts for First Marathon Picks for New Runners (2026).

Why the Battle of Marathon Matters

The Battle of Marathon took place in 490 BC on the plain of Marathon, about 40 kilometers northeast of Athens. An Athenian and Plataean force defeated a Persian army that had landed by sea. The result was a major morale boost for the Greek city-states, and the battle became a defining moment in Athenian identity. The run to Athens is the event that later became attached to the battle’s legacy, even though the earliest surviving accounts do not agree on all the details.

Historians generally treat the messenger story as a later embellishment. Herodotus, the closest contemporary historian, describes Pheidippides being sent to Sparta but says nothing about a run from Marathon to Athens. That gap is one reason experts debate how literally the legend should be taken.

Factors Behind the Legend

Several factors explain why the story of who ran the first marathon became so durable:

  • Nationalist meaning. Modern Greece and the wider Western world embraced the battle as a symbol of freedom against a larger empire, and a heroic messenger fit that narrative.
  • Late sources. Accounts of the run appear in writings produced long after 490 BC, which means the details were shaped by storytelling traditions.
  • The 1896 revival. When the modern Olympic Games were launched in Athens in 1896, organizers created a race inspired by the legend. Michel Bréal, a French scholar, is often credited with suggesting a race that recalled the messenger’s run.
  • Distance standardization. The marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers was fixed much later, in 1921, and was tied to the 1908 London Olympics route. The ancient run was not measured at that length.

What the Modern Marathon Takes From the Story

The race that bears the name today is a modern construction built on an ancient inspiration. Knowing this helps runners put the history in perspective. The myth gives the event its name and ceremonial weight, while the actual distance, course and rules come from the twentieth century. If you are trying to understand the sport’s roots, treat the Pheidippides story as the origin of the tradition rather than a precise record.

Practical Tips for Learning More

  1. Read the primary sources first. Herodotus’s Histories is the earliest detailed account of the battle, and it is worth comparing with later retellings.
  2. Compare ancient and modern accounts side by side to see which details were added over time.
  3. Look up the 1896 and 1908 Olympic records to trace how the distance and course were finalized.
  4. If you are planning to run one yourself, understand that the event is now a carefully measured course rather than a reenactment of the messenger’s journey.

If you are building a training base for your own race, the history is interesting but the training decisions matter more. For a realistic sense of what to aim for, see What Is a Good First Marathon Time? Realistic Goals by Pace, and for structured preparation, Help Me Make Out Training for My First Marathon: 5 Best Guides (2026) covers the planning side.

Was Pheidippides actually the first marathon runner?

He is the traditional answer, but the evidence is thin. The best-known run from Marathon to Athens appears in later sources, and contemporary historians do not confirm it. Pheidippides is best described as the legendary figure behind the event.

How far did the ancient run go?

Modern estimates of the Marathon-to-Athens route are roughly 40 kilometers, though that figure is itself a modern calculation. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers was not adopted until 1921.

Who ran the first Olympic marathon?

The first modern Olympic marathon was held in Athens in 1896 and won by Spyridon Louis, a Greek runner. He became a national hero, and the race helped cement the marathon as the Olympic event tied to the Pheidippides legend.

Why is the marathon 26.2 miles?

The distance was set at 42.195 kilometers, which equals 26.2 miles. It was tied to the course of the 1908 London Olympics, and the figure was formally standardized in 1921.

Did women run the first marathon?

Women were not officially allowed in the Olympic marathon until 1984. For more on that history, see First Women's Olympic Marathon Winner: Joan Benoit and the 1984 Race.

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Lauren Holland

About Lauren Holland

Lauren Holland is part of our editorial team and reviews and edits our marathon & half-marathon guides, checking product details against manufacturer specifications and owner feedback.