You might think 26.2 sounds random—like someone made it up over a cup of tea. And honestly, that’s almost what happened. It all goes back to the 1908 London Olympics, when the race was extended so the royal family could watch the finish from Windsor Castle.
Before that, marathons were roughly 25 miles, based on the ancient Greek run from Marathon to Athens. But that extra 1.2 miles stuck, and by 1921, the International Association of Athletics Federations made it official. So every time you see a marathon sign, you’re looking at a piece of London history.
What Does 26.2 Miles Actually Feel Like?
Picture this: 26.2 miles is like walking from the center of London to the edge of the city, then back again. Or imagine running from Big Ben to the Tower of London, then around the entire M25 motorway—twice. It’s roughly the distance of 422 football pitches laid end to end.
For context, a typical London bus route covers about 12 miles in an hour of traffic. So you’d need to ride that bus two and a half times to match a marathon. And yes, you’d probably be sick of the bus by then.
