Phidippides was the FASTEST marathoner that EVER LIVED!!

If and when a runner breaks 1:50, people like you will say that this guy ran 1:30. (and so on and so on and so on.....)

I don't think the distance was actually 26.2 miles.

the distance was actually somewhere in the ballpark of 24 miles

doesn't matter how far it was, we still wont know how long it took. That guy just pulled that out of no where.

It just so happens that Phidippides would have been CLOSE to 1:30 on his unprecedented Marathon tour, were it not for a MAJOR tactical miscalculation.

As it were, adrenaline was teeming with force after having just slayed countless Persian war foes. They numbered many and the field of combat lingered a brutal incarnadine massacre while the souls of the dead were destined to meet their maker.

Though weary and exhausted, yet still energized with rage and adrenaline, the swift Phidippides set off to conquer the distance. The fatal flaw he made? Opening up much too fast and flirting with a pace ludicrously beyond his lactate threshold. But patience subdued him and he settled into his current record holding pace. Quite possibly the exertion was GODLY enough to set EVERY distance event from the metric mile all the way to the championed marathon. If it weren't for going out too hard, you can be sure he would have easily bested his undocumented 1:50 record of today... Phidippides was a tried and true WORLD BEATER. Will there ever be another?

Pheidippides purported run from Marathon to Athens (and his untimely demise) is one of the original urban myths. If you re-read Histories you'll find that Pheidippides was nowhere near Marathon at the time. "Dip", as they used to call him, was a professional messenger and was on his regular 145 mile (one way) Athens to Sparta route at the time. "Dip" was sent to Sparta to request help since they were badly outnumbered by the invading Persian army. The Spartans, being bad-assed-muthuhs, said "let's rumble", as they always do, but were right in the middle of another bacchanalia. Bacchanals were the Grecian equivalent to tailgating. Being a little hung over from drinking fermented grapes, they warned that they'd be a little late to the battle. The Athenians couldn't wait, and even though badly outnumbered, they still opened up an urn of whoop-ass on the Persian Army. That is the way it happened.

So how did the urban myth of Pheidippides' run from Marathon to Athens get started? No one really knows for sure. HOWEVER...just guess who is the earliest known perpetuator of the great Marathon myth? That's right, our good friend and modern day uber-embellisher JEFF GALLOWAY.

Just thought you'd like to know the facts.

Phidippides was HOME SCHOOLED. His parents reared him extraordinarily well, teaching him the basics; how to tie his shoes, the correct way to carry message scrolls, stride technique, and so forth. They also enlightened him on the fundamentals of WARFARE, like how to wield a sword, sharpen a spearhead, and how to off an enemy in 101 ways.

Phidippides was taught book smarts as well, not just street smarts, so you can be sure he was a well rounded student-athlete. He had the kind of grades that would get him into any of today's most highly esteemed educational institutions, though he was disenchanted by the arts and social studies. Mathematics and hard sciences were more to his favor. He'd dabble in many endeavors such as experimenting with a range of HR intensities during runs and devising time conversion tables for various journeys he'd done.

For one of his science projects, he plotted blueprints of a small TENT-LIKE structure with sticks bound by string with a TOGA draped over it. Unable to convince his teachers (he was not allowed to call them "mom" and "dad" during school) of the idea's viability, the project was scrapped and instead he went on to INVENT what is known as today's modern LETTER OPENER. It is said that his unfinished scientific undertaking was the precursor to today's ALTITUDE TENTS. Imagine how much LOWER his EARTH SHATTERING 1:50 record would be if some MYOPIC teacher didn't dash his dreams of SIMULATING HIGH ALTITUDES.

damn funny stuff. More! More!

first off the distance was between 24 - 25 miles, (the modern day 26.2 was establised when the royal family wanted to see the Marathoners run past their balcony instead of having to go out onto the course, thereby creating the current distance)

and secondly Phidippides didn't die, 26 miles would have been a walk in the park compared to his 100 mile messenger runs with only a small animal bladder filled with water and whatever streams, rivers and water he could find along the way...

the story of his death was added by Shakespeare and yes it is a myth

and Galloway is a fool

Sadly, 'Dips' performance falls into the same category as D Clayton's 2:08...unvalidatable. And, since there were no stopped times, no record. Dips route has certainly changed in all these years and can't be recreated...plus it wasn't certified ahead of time. These technicalities shouldn't overshadow perhaps the greatest of all Greek myths...I mean, running performances!

In contrast to other posters, c'mon, give Jeff G some applause for naming his stores after Dip, the unvalidatable record holder of all time! I suspect Dip took some walking, stooping breaks to get stream water enroute, thus his exceptional time. This is not lost on Jeff G.

If only the poor bastard would have incorporated walking breaks into his first orgininal marathon, he no doubt would have ran well under 1:30 and finished pain-free. Of course, after that, he never would have run a step again having realized the ultimate accomplish. And I'm sure the emperor would have given him a nice medal since when you walk, everybody is a winner.

You and scott hubbard are ridiculous. At least when you walk you stand a better chance of not dying. Running is highly over rated--Galloway is greatly underrated--at least from dumbass, egocentric runners. I am for running from a standpoint of improving one's health and even for competition. I am against running if all it does is produce egotistical nerds. Deep down I think all we males are is a bunch of 4th graders (females are a bunch of second graders). I mean--something has to explain why males in general are so immature and goofy. So, that is my new theory.

I agree with Gaylord.

It is just cool to think that some guy ran so fast the effort killed him. Regardless of whether he did or not. . .

You have an interesting last name Greg. How exactly do you pronounce it?

just like its spelled....f-o-c-k-e-r...focker

Phidippides was not just your average cat. "Dip" was a STUD, a veritable gladiator of running. Sharp witted and tactical, he knew full well the damage intermittent WALKING (he liked to call them "coffee breaks") during RACES might do to his performances.

Now, his fabled run from Marathon to Athens was no mere race. It wasn't like many meets where he'd run just to get a T-SHIRT or a first place BLUE RIBBON and PLASTIC, GOLD-COLORED TROPHY. No, this pursuit was bigger than any he had ever entered before, larger than life itself. HUGE. The implications it had on Greece and quite possibly the FATE of GOD'S GREEN SPHERE kept playing in his thoughts like the broken record syndrome.

However, a dilemma arose and he was at odds with himself at roughly the 20 mile mark. To his dismay he felt he'd only traveled half way and that he may be RIGGING. Pensively, Phidippides incoherently muttered to himself, "No one's looking... Maybe I'll walk a bit?"

Fortunately, faintly ahead in the distance alongside the dusty, beaten pathway a vendor was selling COKES. Back then a Coca-Cola sold for a lot cheaper. Yes, even less than a NICKEL. Without stopping, he tossed a coin at the vendor, reached over and snagged a gleaming, ice-cold bottle then bellowed "Keep tha change, ya filthy animal!" Thank the sun, moon and stars that it happened to be a "BIG GULP", the large ones with a better than average spout, for time was of the essence. Perpetually in full stride, Dip devoured the caffeine laced sugar water and his BLOOD GLUCOSE promptly climbed to more obliging levels.

Refueled, revived, refreshed, and belching, the unwavering Phidippides completed the blistering run with only minor CRAMPS, followed shortly thereafter with major FATALITY. Note that had he taken a "coffee break" he would NOT have managed his inconceivable 1:50 marathon and the continent of Europe would formally be known at present as PERSIA MINOR. Dip held true to the platitude that pain is TEMPORARY, but pride is FOREVER, by refusing to walk. The world may not yet be ready for another Phidippides who was, and is, the ONCE and FUTURE harrier of all time.

A most inspiring tale Gay Fock. So good I plan to rename my first born Dip. Boy, is he in for a surprise.

hey focker, keep it coming man tyhis is good stuff.

brilliant stuff! Work in a few more common letsrun themes into this tale.