Lauren HollandBy Lauren Holland

Updated November 2026

The first marathon race is traditionally dated to 490 BC, when a runner is said to have carried news of a Greek victory from the plain of Marathon to Athens. The first modern marathon, run as an Olympic event, took place on April 10, 1896, in Athens. Both dates matter, because one is a legend and the other is a documented race.

Why the Answer Has Two Parts

When people ask when was the first marathon race, they usually mean one of two things. The first is the ancient origin story, which ties the distance to the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. The second is the first organized race under the modern name, which happened during the revived Olympic Games in 1896. Historians treat the ancient story with caution, since the main early source for the run is Herodotus, who wrote about the battle but did not mention a runner in the way later retellings do. The later account attributed to Lucian and others gives the runner’s name as Pheidippides, and that version became the foundation of the myth.

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The 1896 race is better documented. It was organized as part of the first modern Olympic Games, with the course running from the town of Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. Spyridon Louis, a Greek water carrier, won the race, and his victory made him a national hero. That event is the direct ancestor of every marathon run today.

Key Factors That Shaped the Early Race

Several factors determine how the first marathon is remembered and why the distance looks the way it does now.

  • The battle and the legend. The Battle of Marathon was a real Athenian victory over the Persians. The runner story was added over centuries and grew more dramatic in each retelling.
  • The Olympic revival. Baron Pierre de Coubertin wanted a long-distance event that echoed the ancient story. The 1896 organizers built the race around that idea, which is why the name stuck.
  • The distance was not fixed at first. The 1896 course was roughly 40 kilometers (about 24.8 miles). The standard of 26.2 miles was set after the 1908 London Olympics, when the course was extended so the finish could be in front of the royal box at the stadium.
  • Record keeping. Early races were run on rough roads with inconsistent measurement. Standardized course certification came much later, which is why early times are hard to compare with modern results.

How to Think About the Dates When You Research

If you are writing a report, citing a trivia answer, or simply curious, separate the myth from the record. Use the following approach to avoid mixing the two.

  1. Start with the 490 BC date for the battle, which is widely accepted by historians.
  2. Treat the runner story as a later tradition connected to Pheidippides, not a fully verified event.
  3. Use April 10, 1896 as the date of the first modern marathon race and the first Olympic marathon.
  4. Check the distance: 1896 was about 40 km, while the 26.2-mile standard came in 1908.
  5. Note that the first women’s marathon in the Olympics did not occur until 1984, so early marathon history is almost entirely male-only.

Practical Tips for Learning More About Marathon History

  • Check the Olympic Games archives and reputable sports history sources for the 1896 results.
  • Read primary sources such as Herodotus with the understanding that they were written long after the events they describe.
  • When you see a claim about the “first marathon” in a blog or video, look for a date, a location, and a named source.
  • If you are planning a visit to Greece for a historical trip, verify current access and local rules at the sites you plan to visit.

For more on the people and events behind the distance, see Who Ran the First Marathon? The 490 BC Story Explained and How Fast Was the First Marathon? The 490 BC Story and Modern Times. If you want to know about the women who changed the sport, Who Was the First Woman to Run a Marathon? Kathrine Switzer's 1967 Race covers that history.

Who ran the first marathon?

The ancient story names Pheidippides as the runner who carried news from Marathon to Athens. Historians consider this a later tradition, while the 1896 winner, Spyridon Louis, is a verified figure.

What was the distance of the first modern marathon?

The 1896 Olympic marathon was about 40 kilometers. The 26.2-mile distance was standardized after the 1908 London Games.

Where was the first modern marathon held?

The first modern marathon began in Marathon, Greece, and finished at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens.

When did women first run the Olympic marathon?

Women first ran the Olympic marathon in 1984 in Los Angeles. Joan Benoit won that race.

Is the 490 BC story proven?

The battle is well documented, but the runner story comes from later sources and is not confirmed by contemporary records. Treat it as an important tradition rather than a verified event.

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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.