the marathon is and event named after the run of a Greek soldier,Pheidippides. in 490 B.C.E,Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens (about 26 miles, or 40 kilometers) to deliver news about news about the Greek's success in a battle against the Persians. Running through the mountains and rocky land was extremely difficult. After Pheidippides arrived in Athens and delivered his news he fell down and died. the first modern Olympic in 1896 included a race of 26 miles (40 kilometers), called a marathon, to commemorate Pheidippides' run