The marathon is an 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 the Greeks' success in a battle against the Persians. Running thought 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 Olympics in 1869 included a race of 26 miles (40 kilometers), called a marathon, to commemorate Pheidippides' run.