A marathon is longer than 26.2 miles.

Did you know that a marathon is LONGER than 26.2 miles?

It’s true!

What various sports authorities called a marathon distance varied quite a bit from 1896 to 1924.

But the marathon distance has been officially recognized around the world as 26.21875 miles since 1924.

That’s right: There is an extra nearly 2/100 of a mile about which many people know nothing.

If the official distance were 26.2 miles, then you would have to walk or run 352 yards beyond 26 miles.

But the official distance is 26.21875 miles, so you actually have to walk or run 385 yards beyond 26 miles to complete a marathon today.

In other words:

• What many people call a marathon = 26.2 miles = 26 miles 352 yards.
• What a marathon actually is today = 26.21875 miles = 26 miles 385 yards.

That works out to an extra 33 yards — nearly one third of the length of a football field!

Have you ever reached almost the end of a marathon and heard a spectator or race volunteer tell you that you were “almost there”, only to find out that you were NOT almost there?

I have, and it is no fun.

So keep those extra 33 yards in mind as you run or walk toward the finish line of your next marathon.

Have you ever heard “You’re almost there!” from someone trying to be encouraging as you were about to finish a race, only to discover that you were NOT almost there?

Tell me about it. Please leave a comment here. Thanks!