• BOMBS@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Fun facts!

    Origin

    The name Marathon comes from the legend of Pheidippides, the Greek messenger. The legend states that, while he was taking part in the Battle of Marathon, which took place in August or September 490 BC,[3] he witnessed a Persian vessel changing its course towards Athens as the battle was near a victorious end for the Greek army. He interpreted this as an attempt by the defeated Persians to rush into the city to claim a false victory or simply raid,[4] hence claiming their authority over Greek land. It was said that he ran the entire distance to Athens without stopping, discarding his weapons and even clothes to lose as much weight as possible, and burst into the assembly, exclaiming “we have won!”, before collapsing and dying.[5]

    Modern Olympic marathon

    When the modern Olympics began in 1896, the initiators and organizers were looking for a great popularizing event, recalling the glory of ancient Greece. The idea of a marathon race came from Michel Bréal, who wanted the event to feature in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This idea was heavily supported by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, as well as by the Greeks.[15]

  • niktemadur@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Define “fun”. It’s still a grueling ordeal, about pushing the human body much closer to its’ limits than it is at rest state, via a constant, monotonous, extended strain on it.

    “Fun” would be a 5K.

    • egonallanon@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      I mean I quite enjoy running marathons ultimately even though they’re a lot of effort.

    • LeroyJenkins@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      we’re gatekeeping fun now, I see. NO having fun when running a marathon. it’s a HARD rule. are you smiling while you run? fuck you. you’re not doing it right. you should be wincing in pain, you pussy! /s

      sheez most marathoners will tell you the grueling ordeal is the fun part.

    • nova_ad_vitum@lemmy.ca
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      5 months ago

      Modern YouTubers: let’s see if I can run this marathon for fun with absolutely no training after years of eating nothing but Cheetos and funions.