Fort Lauderdale Marathon: History of Marathons

The A1A Marathon, a Fort Lauderdale Marathon, takes place in a beautiful setting. Running along one of the state’s most famous roads, the palm trees & ocean views make it one of the most scenic marathons in Florida. Marathon running has become increasingly popular in the United States, but have you ever wondered how marathons began and where the first one took place? Read below to find out!

The soldier, Pheidippides, ran 24.85 miles from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece to Athens in 490 B.C., bringing news of a Greek victory over the Persians. Legend says that Pheidippides delivered the message, “Victory!” and then collapsed and died. This was no Fort Lauderdale marathon!

When the modern Olympic games were inaugurated in 1896 in Greece, the legend of Pheidippides was revived and the first organized marathon occurred on April 10, 1986. At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26.2 miles so that the race could finish in front of the royal family’s viewing box. The route was from Windsor Castle to White City stadium.

After 16 years of discussion, this 26.2 mile distance was established as the official marathon distance.

If you are looking for a scenic, flat, course our Fort Lauderdale marathon is perfect for you! The A1A Marathon is an ideal winter destination event and a Boston Marathon qualifier! Read here to learn more about our marathon!