26 miles and 385 yards. 42 kilometers and 195 meters.
The distance of the marathon, a hallmark of the modern Olympics, has a more complicated history than you might think, dating back to the 1908 London Games. This historic distance was involved in a series of dramatic and controversial events involving the royal family and an Italian runner named Dorando Pietri.
The 1908 London Olympics, only the fourth modern Olympic Games, had a few significant growing pains as the event evolved towards the format we recognize today…for several reasons.
These Games were the longest in history, spanning from April to October. They introduced the practice of awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals and required athletes to compete as part of national teams for the first time.
Alongside these growing pains, the 1908 Olympics also saw their share of controversies, including a notable incident in the marathon.
In the 1908 London Olympics, 22-year-old Pietri was leading the marathon but collapsed multiple times just yards from the finish line. Each time, he was helped to his feet, and he ultimately crossed the finish line to the cheers of nearly 100,000 spectators at White City Stadium.
Despite his first-place finish, Pietri was disqualified for receiving outside assistance, and the American runner Johnny Hayes was declared the winner.
Although he was disqualified, Pietri’s struggle and determination captured the public’s eye, including the royal family. Queen Alexandra presented him with a cup in recognition of his effort, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was watching the event, helped raise £300 (equivalent to about £40,000 today) for Pietri.
The 1908 Olympic marathon was significant for the sport, not just for its drama but for setting and confirming the marathon distance to 26 miles and 385 yards, a standard that has remained for over a century. Previously, marathons were approximately 25 miles.
However, a century later, former Daily Telegraph editor John Bryant revealed an interesting discovery: the 1908 marathon course had been remeasured using modern techniques and found to be 174 yards short. The course measurement discrepancy was attributed to a last-minute change in the starting point at Windsor Castle.
This revelation spurred retiree Joe Neanor, an avid marathon runner, to investigate.
He spent four years researching the exact starting point within Windsor Castle, sifting through historical records and photographs. Neanor’s breakthrough came from a panoramic image in the Illustrated London News showing the start line and the Crown Prince of Sweden marking the line, with royal children Princess Mary and the future George VI also in the shot.
“It’s the only photograph that brings those two elements together in a single image,” said Neanor to The Guardian. “And it only exists because of the two children at the bottom of it, Princess Mary and the future George VI, the grandfather of our King Charles. The photographer clearly wanted something beyond a bunch of runners so took an image with the royal children.”
With the starting point identified, Neanor enlisted the help of Hugh Jones, a marathon course measurer and former London Marathon winner. After receiving permission from King Charles to access the private grounds of Windsor Castle, Neanor and Jones meticulously measured the disputed first 700 yards of the 1908 marathon course.
Their measurements confirmed that the original course had indeed been accurately measured, confirming the 26-mile 385-yard distance.
“We are examining the possibility of marking the position of the start for future reference,” a spokesperson of Windsor Castle said to The Guardian. “But nothing has been agreed at this time.”
Neanor’s investigation not only resolves a century-old mystery but also confirms the validity of the 1908 London Olympic marathon, establishing the 42,195-meter distance that marathon runners continue to endure today.
