The marathon is a very popular race distance that runners aspire to complete—and many complete them multiple times. But unless you’re a seasoned runner, the exact length of a marathon can seem ambiguous. Unlike 5Ks and 10Ks that at least have a number in the name (even if you have to convert kilometers to miles—thats 3.1 and 6.2 miles, btw), the distance of a marathon isn’t as clear. This may leave some people wondering, exactly how long is a marathon?
The answer is quite simple: The marathon is 26.2 miles or 42.1 kilometers. The reason the event hits these exact numbers is a bit more complicated. There’s that pesky point-freaking-two—385 yards with inestimable importance. In those last few yards, races are won and lost, Boston-qualifying dreams come true (or die). The realization that you did it happens, but you still have 0.2 to go.
“It hurts everywhere if you’ve done it right,” says Des Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon champion. “And if you’ve done it wrong, you’re suffering. Either way, it hurts.”
So, exactly how did a marathon come to be 26.2 miles? Let us explain.
How long is a marathon?
Again, the marathon is 26.2 miles. But when considering its distance, you want to know where this curse-worthy, exhilarating 0.2 came from. In the 1908 London Olympics, the marathon started at Windsor Castle and finished in the White City stadium, measuring 26 miles.
Until that point, the marathon distance was roughly 24 miles, inspired by the ancient route run by Pheidippides. But the royal family wanted the runners to finish directly in front of their viewing box, which added on 385 yards. For years, the marathon distance varied from 24 to 26.2 miles, but in 1921, for no recorded reason, twenty-six-point-two became official, and we just have to deal with it.
Why is the last stretch of a marathon so important?
Let’s go back to Boston 2011, before Linden became a champion. She turns onto Boylston Street with two other women. The finish is so close, and she surges, taking the lead. Kenya’s Caroline Kilel responds, matching her stride for stride. With a little less than 385 yards to go, Linden is just barely ahead before Kilel pulls forward. It becomes a mad dash to the finish, Kilel’s gap widens, and Linden finishes behind her by just two seconds.
“How much of a procrastinator are you to have to sprint to the finish of a 26.2-mile race?” Linden says. “It’s not over until you cross the line.”
That final stretch is a stage showcasing elation, defeat, triumph.
You can also take Paul Tergat and Hendrick Ramaala at the 2005 New York City Marathon, roaring down the final stretch in a battle that put Tergat ahead by one-third—one-third!—of a second and left Ramaala fallen, collapsed across the line.
Or in 1984, at the first women’s Olympic Marathon in L.A. when Gabriela Andersen-Schiess staggered into the stadium 20 minutes behind the first-place finisher, her legs like concrete, suffering from the 86-degree heat, 95-percent humidity, and direct sun. She waved paramedics off and lurched down the track with little control of her extremities for the final 0.2, the crowd cheering each agonizing stomp until she reached the end.
Then there’s Shalane Flanagan’s New York City win in 2017 when, with 20 yards to go, she raised her fist and screamed, “F--- yeah!”
“When it gets down to the .2, there are some runners who say, ‘I made it. I’m here.’ And they just float to the finish line,” says Stephen Walker, Ph.D., a sports psychologist who works with Olympic marathoners. “And then there are those who are wondering whether they’re going to make it. They hit the .2 and think, ‘My God, I cannot go on. No, this is my last step.’”
Even with no steps to go, legs buckling beneath them, some will do anything to make it, like Devon Bieling at the 2017 Tunnel Vision Marathon. Trying to BQ, she stopped, dropped in a controlled manner and rolled—yes, rolled—through the line in 3:34:02—58 seconds under her qualifying standard.
It’s a complicated feeling, reaching that 26-mile mark. It’s elation when it’s approaching, knowing you only have 0.2 to go. But the final meters grind. They seem endless, a stretch of road that tests your every mental and physical capacity. Only the race you run that day can dictate if you’ll surge or flop, sprint or fall. But once you get there, don’t be shy: raise your arms in triumph or cry out in pain. This is the moment you’ve trained for—the final stretch, the end.
So, how do you train to endure the full 26.2 miles?
Now that you know how long a marathon is, you’re probably wondering how to get ready for your next (or first) marathon. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or new to the roads, one thing is true: It takes time to properly train for a marathon. Runner’s World, along with most experts, recommends 16 to 20 weeks to train for a marathon. (And having a training base before your start on your race journey is very helpful.)
To help you get to your finish line healthy and injury-free, we offer 16-week marathon training plans. All of our plans were designed to help out all runners—from new runners to advanced ones. Several were created to help runners hit specific time goals, such as breaking 4 hours in the marathon or 2 hours in the half marathon. And if you’re a Runner’s World+ Member, you get your training plans for free (along with many other member perks).
Popular Marathon Training Plans
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner's World, the author of The Runner's World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a seven-time marathoner with a best of 3:31—but she is most proud of her 1:32 half, 19:40 5K, and 5:33 mile.
