A marathon is a run over a distance of more than 40 kilometers. It got its name according to one of the Greek legends. In 490 BC e. during the Battle of Marathon, the Athenians defeated. When the battle was over, a warrior named Phidippides decided to be the first to notify the citizens of Athens of the victory. He made his way from the Marathon to his hometown by running. Reporting the victory to fellow citizens, Fidippid died. When the Olympic Games were resumed, it was decided to restore the distance that the Athenian warrior ran and arrange regular races for this distance. Measuring the distance from the Marathon to Athens, the researchers first called a figure that was approximately 34-35 km. It was at this distance that the first run took place. The training of the first athletes was designed for 34.5 km. Even this distance seems colossal. But all the most amazing is yet to come.
Over time, the marathon was started on a longer track. It was lengthened for the sake of the royal family, so that it would be more convenient for the Windsor to watch the competitions from his castle. England is very fond of running. A marathon is a real pleasure for every true Englishman. Members of the royal family are no exception. Today, the exact distance of the marathon runs in the range from 40 to 42 km. The official length is 42.195 meters. This distance has been approved by the Athletics Federation. However, in many countries where amateur races take place, such requirements may not be respected. After all, no one will measure the track in meters. Yes, and Fidippid himself, in whose honor the marathon was founded, hardly had an accurate idea of what distance he covered.
By the way, in historical chronicles nothing is said about the culprit of the race. There is a suspicion that he was not at all. Nevertheless, the tradition of organizing a marathon is magnificent. She became not only a sports discipline. A marathon is a kind of performance. This is the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, and the challenge of old age, and an indicator of the health of the nation. The races are massive, and they can be caused by some celebrations and events, and not just official competitions.
Marathon running is not for weak people. It requires training, giving up bad habits and some margin of safety and patience. Officially, there are two distances for long runs: marathon and half marathon. The latter has a distance two times smaller than the first. However, a half marathon is also a test. In athletics, there is a marathon for men and women. Moreover, the distance itself remains the same, there are no indulgences for the fair sex. There are simply better indicators among the male half of athletes and among the female. As noted by statistics, the women's world record is behind the men's record by about 12 minutes.
The hardest point in the marathon is at a stage of 30 km. All athletes who are engaged in such a run, undergo special training. First, they significantly increase the amount of glycogen in the muscles, because it tends to burn. In order to successfully overcome the distance, athletes have to sit on a carbohydrate diet. This allows you to increase the supply of glycogen 3 times. Before the race itself, you need to eat foods rich in carbohydrates. Such a meal is almost a tradition. The best food in this case is pasta and potatoes.
Marathon running is carried out at a certain temperature. So, if the temperature has risen above 27-28 degrees, then the race is better to cancel. Because it can be dangerous to health and life. The most normal running temperature is about 15 degrees. Therefore, in most countries, a marathon is held in autumn and spring, when there is no strong heat. In the heat, the outcome of the race, indeed, may be the death of the participant.