marathon is among the most fabled athletic events of all times. The modern-day Olympic Games, arguable the largest athletic spectacle worldwide, are rooted in ancient rites more storied than the traditions of the major religions. While the modern-day games are rooted in the post-war spirit of pacific global competition under the guise of competition, the age-old tradition of the marathon is entrenched in the collective memory of ancient history. More than two thousand years later, the marathon has become the epitome of athletic competition, rivaling the Olympics for rigor, demand, and athleticism. Held in cities all over the globe, the marathon has witnessed a recent event-tide in flourishing popularity with more people taking part each year to be part not only of the history, but reap the incredible health, metaphysical, and interpersonal rewards the race offers.

"The ancient Greeks were no strangers to long-distance running," marathon scholar Charlie Lovett writes....
[ View Full Essay]