Commemorating the run by a foot-soldier bearing news of the victory of the Greeks over the Persians in the Battle of Marathon in 490BC, the race became one of the most competitive events during the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896.
This year reportedly saw 40,000 entrants registered to run either the 42.195-kilometre (26-mile) marathon or the five (5K) and 10-kilometre (10K) road races that took place on the same day.
And
