Lauren HollandBy Lauren Holland

Updated November 2026

Pheidippides almost certainly did not run the first marathon at a precise, recorded speed, so there is no hard number to quote. Historians estimate he covered the roughly 25-mile route from Marathon to Athens at a pace in the range of 8 to 9 miles per hour, a strong sustained effort that would have taken him around two to three hours. Those figures are reconstructions, not measurements.

Why the exact speed is unknown

The main ancient source is Herodotus, who wrote about a runner sent from Athens to Sparta before the battle of Marathon in 490 BC. He does not record a time or distance for the later run to Athens. The famous account of a messenger reaching Athens and dying after announcing victory comes from later writers, and it is generally treated as legend. Any speed figure is therefore built from modern assumptions about the distance and what a trained courier could sustain over rough terrain.

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The factors behind the estimate

Estimates usually depend on three inputs:

  • Distance: Most modern accounts use about 25 to 26 miles for the Marathon-to-Athens route. Small changes here shift the pace noticeably.
  • Terrain and heat: The route involves hills and warm Greek conditions. A runner would have slowed on climbs and needed to manage fluids and effort.
  • Training level: A professional messenger was conditioned for long distances, but not in the way a modern marathoner trains. Sustained running at 8 to 9 mph is fast for an unbroken effort on uneven ground, so the estimate assumes a highly fit runner.

If you run the numbers, 25 miles at 8 mph takes about three hours and 8 minutes, while 9 mph takes about two hours and 47 minutes. Those times are useful for comparison, but they are not historical facts.

How to put the estimate in context

For a modern runner, the pace is more interesting as a benchmark than as a record. Elite marathoners today average well above 13 mph, so the estimated ancient pace looks slow by current standards. Most recreational runners, by contrast, finish in the range of 9 to 12 minutes per mile. If you want to compare yourself, convert your own finishing time to miles per hour and see where you land. For guidance on choosing a sustainable pace for your own race, see Average First Time Marathon Pace: What Most Beginners Run and How to Pick Yours and How to Pace Your First Marathon: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners.

Practical ways to use this history

  1. Treat ancient speed estimates as rough context, not training targets.
  2. Calculate your own pace per mile from a recent race or time trial.
  3. Read the original story to separate the documented account from later legend. The Story of the First Marathon: 490 BC, Pheidippides, and the Real Facts covers the sources in more detail.
  4. If you are preparing for your own debut, plan around your fitness, not a historical figure. How to Train for Your First Marathon: A 16-Week Beginner Guide lays out a realistic schedule.

FAQ

Did Pheidippides really run from Marathon to Athens?

The route is widely accepted as the likely path, but the account of a direct run after the battle rests on later writers. Herodotus describes a different run to Sparta.

What was the distance of the first marathon?

Modern estimates use about 25 to 26 miles for the Marathon-to-Athens route. The standard 26.2-mile marathon distance was set much later.

Is 8 to 9 mph a realistic pace for a modern runner?

It is a strong sustained pace for 25 miles, especially on hilly ground. Recreational runners usually run noticeably slower, so check with a coach or doctor before starting a demanding training plan.

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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.