Running is an increasingly popular sport, and many runners see the marathon as the ultimate challenge.

Most people know the ancient origins of the marathon, but the history of the modern marathon is less well known. You can read a description of the first modern marathon at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens.

The official Flora London Marathon web site (www.london-marathon.co.uk) has a page about how the event started:
http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/marathon_info/race_history.shtm

If you would like to attend the marathon as a spectator, the Course Map will help you plan your trip and find the best vantage points.

The BBC Sports web site has articles about how best to prepare for the marathon and how to recover afterwards.

If, after all that, you are still tempted to try to run a marathon yourself, you can find lots of training tips at the marathonguide web site.

© REEP, Lazenby Education