A marathon is 26.2 miles, or 42.195 kilometers. The distance is the same for every marathon in the world, no matter which marathon you prepare for. Here is how many miles and kilometers a marathon is, how it compares with other race distances, and why it is exactly 26.2 miles: a story that takes us from Greece to England.
The short answer
- How many miles is a marathon? 26.2 miles (exactly 26 miles 385 yards).
- How many km is a marathon? 42.195 km.
- Half marathon: 13.1 miles, or 21.0975 km.
- 26.2 miles in km: strictly, 26.2 miles × 1.609 = 42.16 km. The official 42.195 km equals 26.219 miles, rounded to 26.2.
- Why 26.2 miles? The distance was set at the 1908 London Olympics and made official in 1921.
Contents
- How many miles is a marathon?
- How many kilometers is a marathon?
- Marathon and other race distances in miles and km
- Why is a marathon 26.2 miles? A legend from ancient Greece
- The marathon distance revised by the English: London, 1908
- How 26.2 miles became the official marathon distance (1921)
- How many miles is a half marathon? (And why it is slightly longer in France)
How many miles is a marathon?
A marathon is 26.2 miles long. More precisely, it is 26 miles and 385 yards, or 26.219 miles, which is rounded to 26.2 on race bibs, finisher medals and training plans.
Whether you run the Paris Marathon, the New York Marathon or the Boston Marathon, and whether you aim for 4:30, 4:00 or even 3:00, the marathon distance is always 26.2 miles.
How many kilometers is a marathon?
A marathon is 42.195 kilometers (42,195 meters). In countries that use the metric system, you will see markers every kilometer, and often every 5 km. To convert any distance between kilometers and miles, use our km to miles converter.
Marathon and other race distances in miles and km
| Race | Kilometers | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| 5K | 5 km | 3.11 miles |
| 10K | 10 km | 6.21 miles |
| Half marathon | 21.0975 km | 13.11 miles |
| 30K | 30 km | 18.64 miles |
| Marathon | 42.195 km | 26.22 miles |
| 50K | 50 km | 31.07 miles |
| 100K | 100 km | 62.14 miles |
| 100 miles | 160.93 km | 100 miles |
Why is a marathon 26.2 miles? A legend from ancient Greece
The story of the Greek messenger Pheidippides might sound familiar to you. During the first Persian War (490 BC), the Greeks defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. The messenger Pheidippides is said to have run about 25 miles (40 km) from the city of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory. After this heroic effort, he supposedly died of exhaustion just after delivering his message.
The organizers of the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 decided to create the marathon distance in honor of Pheidippides. The distance was then 25 miles (40 km), and like all the events of these first Games, it was strictly reserved for men.
The marathon distance revised by the English: London, 1908
The Olympic Games in 1908 were held in London. The organizers were free to set the exact distance of the marathon. They chose for the race to start at Windsor Castle and finish at White City Stadium. The marathon thus measured 26 miles (41.843 km).
The original route was supposed to bring the runners through the royal entrance of the stadium and have them finish in the direction of the track. Following a last-minute change, the stadium entrance became unusable, and the runners had to enter from the opposite side and finish counterclockwise, right in front of King Edward VII’s royal box and the British royal family.
As a result, an additional 385 yards (351 meters) were added to the course of the 1908 London Marathon. The distance then became: 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km).
These extra meters proved too much for the leading marathon runner, the Italian Dorando Pietri. On that hot and humid July day, he collapsed five times in the final lap. Officials helped him cross the last few meters. He crossed the finish line first but was disqualified for receiving unauthorized assistance, even though he didn’t ask for it. The following day, Queen Alexandra awarded him a special gold or silver cup in recognition of his effort.
How 26.2 miles became the official marathon distance (1921)
The marathon distance then varied between 25 miles (40 km) and 26.5 miles (42.75 km) at the discretion of each organizer. After long debates, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decided to set an official distance for all marathons. Starting in 1921, the official marathon distance was established as 26.2 miles (42.195 km), likely in honor of the memorable 1908 London race.
Since 1921, every marathon has been 26.2 miles (42.195 km). Note that the official measurement method (Jones counter) has a precision of 0.1%, and to ensure that marathon runners cover the full 26.2 miles (42.195 km), each course must be measured 42 meters longer, making it 26.2 miles and 42 meters (42.237 km). The course is measured twice, and even a third time after the race if a world record is set.
How many miles is a half marathon? (And why it is slightly longer in France)
As the name suggests, the half marathon is half of a marathon: 13.1 miles. The International Federation defines the half marathon distance as exactly 21.0975 km. However, the French Athletics Federation (FFA) rounds the half marathon distance to 21.100 km.
Thus, every half marathon in France measures 21.1 km. The only exception is an international level half marathon, where the international rule prevails, and the half marathon then measures 21.0975 km. To reassure you, 3 meters is less than a second!
Here, the Jones counter must measure 21.118 km, or 21.121 km in France, from the start line to the finish line to ensure that all half marathon runners cover the distance.
Marathon distance FAQ
How many miles is a marathon?
A marathon is 26.2 miles, or exactly 26 miles and 385 yards (26.219 miles). That is 42.195 km.
How many km is a marathon?
A marathon is 42.195 km (42,195 meters), which is 26.2 miles.
How many miles is a half marathon?
A half marathon is 13.1 miles, or 21.0975 km. In France, the national federation rounds it to 21.1 km.
Why is a marathon 26.2 miles?
At the 1908 London Olympics, the course was extended so that runners finished in front of the royal box, which brought it to 26 miles and 385 yards. This distance became the official marathon distance in 1921.
Is every marathon course exactly 26.2 miles?
Official courses are measured with a Jones counter, which has a precision of 0.1%. To make sure runners cover the full distance, each course is measured 42 meters longer, so 42.237 km.
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