The Marathon
A field guide to the world's most storied foot race — where it came from, how it grew, who runs it fastest, where it's run, and how to train, fuel, and recover when you take it on yourself.
Start with the history →Explore
Eight short sections. Read in order, or jump to whatever you're curious about.
History
From a messenger's run in 490 BC to the standard 42.195 km we race today.
Read →Records
World records, course records, and how the marathon got faster decade by decade.
Read →Famous Locations
The World Marathon Majors and other courses worth running once in a lifetime.
Read →Training
Base, long runs, threshold, intervals, and tapering — what each one is for.
Read →Nutrition
Daily fueling, race-week carb-up, on-course gels, and hydration strategy.
Read →Recovery
Sleep, easy days, mobility, and what to do in the days and weeks after a marathon.
Read →About
Why this site exists, who it's for, and how it's built.
Read →New to the marathon? Most people can train for and finish one with about 16–20 weeks of consistent running, building from a base of 25–40 km per week. Start with Training.