The marathon is an event named after the run of a Greek soldier, Pheidippides. in 490 Beca 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 through the mountains and rocky land was extremely difficult ides arrived in Athens and delivered his news he fell down and died. The first modern Olympics 1896 included a race of 26 miles(40 kilometers, called a marathon, to ides run.