Anand wrote:
I say, you are so confused, you cannot recognise your own mirror image. I am only telling you that Pheidippides not wearing any footwear is as true as Lincoln sporting a beard. Both come to us as works of art. And if you want to verify that, go to Athens,or just log into Wikipedia.
And don't keep challenging me on the distance part. When skippers are convinced, I cant care less for fellers. Look at Guinness certificate on my page.
Anand, I don't believe anything you say, except that 155 of the 306 runners ran faster than 2:30:00.
As others have said, the winner was barely jogging, he was not going 5:20, or even 6:20 pace. He was as slow as molasses.
2:30:00 is 11:27 per mile. Which looks about as fast as most of those people were running. If half of them ran 2:30:00 that means that half ran SLOWER than 2:30:00. This is not running. It's barely Gallowalking, err, I mean Gandharwalking.
Your account of Phiedippides is also incorrect. For one the myth that he was at the Plains of Marathon during battle is wrong. I don't know where you get the idea that he was barefoot. He was employed by the State as a messenger. No doubt he was wearing shoes, as everyone else had them too.
Study up on your History, Anand.
In Herotodus' authoritative account of the Persian Wars in Histories (440 BC), he makes no mention of any messenger by any name making the trek from marathon to Athens to pronounce victory. The only messenger cited anywhere in Histories was Philppides, who was nowhere near the Battle at Marathon. The tale of Pheidippides and his early demise wouldn't come for another 600 years.
490 BC September Athenian army, badly outnumbered, defeat Persian army at Marathon.
484 BC Herodotus (aptly known as 'the father of history") is born (died 424 BC), would write 'Histories' the authoritative account of the battle of Marathon.
From 'Histories':
Pheidippides purported run from Marathon to Athens is one of the original urban myths. If you re-read Histories you'll find that Pheidippides was nowhere near Marathon at the time. In fact, there is no mention of Pheidippedes in 'Histories' at all.
Philippedes, who was a professional messenger, and was on his regular 145 mile (one way) Athens to Sparta route at the time. Philippedes was sent to Sparta to request help since the Athenians were badly outnumbered by the invading Persian army. The Spartans, being bad-assed-muthas, said "let's rumble", as they always do, but were right in the middle of another bacchanalia. Bacchanals were the Grecian equivalent of 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's the way it happened, 2500 years ago.
Note that there is no mention in 'Histories' of a messenger by ANY name being sent to Athens from Marathon after the Battle.
-----------------------
300 BC The philosopher Pontikos said that Thersippus, a soldier made the trek from Marathon in full armor and died after announcing victory.
600 years after the Battle of Marathon:
100 AD Plutarch wrote in 'Moralia' that it was Eukles made the 25 mile run from Marathon to Athens.
150 AD Finally, satirist Lucianus (basically the Dave Barry of the day) said that Pheidippides made the run from Athens to Marathon. After reaching the city, he said, "Rejoice, we conquer," and then collapsed and died
In summation, the urban legend of Pheidippides demise came 640 years after the battle of Marathon by a Greek comedian.
Rim shot.
As a parting gift I'm going to leave you a little video montage that I made featuring two of the best musicians who ever lived performing a live rendition of "Song of India" flawlessly against a backdrop of images of your beautiful country.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Vafareunculo#p/f/3/23XD7zNvQSA