Since it's late March, many of my running buddies are at the peak of their training for the Boston Marathon, which is three weeks from Monday. I'm sure most of you have heard the story of the Greek messenger Phidippides and the first Marathon. The poor guy died of exhaustion after running to Athens from the plain at Marathon to give news of the Greek victory there over an invading Persian army. His dying word, "Nike!", was not a plug for a running shoe, but the announcement of "Victory!" But the Reader's Digest version of the story misses most of the amazing facts about the achievements of both Phidippides and the Greeks. It's a tale of courage, daring, and amazing endurance. The Battle of Marathon was, in a sense, the first mass marathon, whose participants were the entire Athenian army. Read the riveting story here.
[HT - Kathy]
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